Batman Just Punched Out Commissioner Gordon

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for Batman #59 by Tom King, Mikel Janín, Jordie Bellaire and Clayton Cowles, on sale now.

Commissioner James Gordon has been Batman's oldest ally. In fact, Gordon's first appearance preceded Batman's own introduction in Detective Comics #27. Their alliance has largely been strong over the succeeding decades, marred only with the occasional dispute. In Tom King and Mikel Janín's Batman #59, however, the pair's relationship is suddenly strained more than ever. It may be more than just strained – thanks to Batman himself, it might be over for good. But Gordon might have a role in this possible breakup, as well.

Batman vs. Jim Gordon

In Batman #59, Penguin reveals to the Dark Knight that Bane is the one behind the murders that had implicated Mr. Freeze, and is also responsible for other recent machinations against Batman. When the disbelieving Batman arrives at Arkham Asylum to investigate, he finds Bane in an essentially catatonic state. Suspecting that the Penguin's allegations are true, Batman attempts to coerce the truth from Bane by giving him a brutal beatdown.

The commotion draws the attention of Gordon, who bursts into Bane's cell to confront Batman. As the bloodied Bane lies whimpering on the floor, Batman attempts to convince Gordon that Bane, despite all appearances, is actually fully competent and in control of Arkham, rather than being committed there. The incredulous Gordon tries to intervene, but when he does so, Batman does the unexpected, and unthinkable: he strikes his longtime ally. The punch doesn't appear to break anything – other than the two men's friendship.

The End of Batman's Longest Alliance?

Just as Batman's actions are surprisingly rash, Gordon's reaction is surprisingly restrained. Perhaps for the sake of their longstanding partnership, Gordon simply orders Batman to leave, rather than attempt to arrest him. Gordon warns him, though, that should he fail to do so, he would unleash Gotham's police force against him – as well as that of the Justice League, if necessary.

Perhaps also in the name of their relationship, Batman complies. Partnership or not, though, the emotional damage is already done. Gordon's pained parting words – "I'm sick of you. Get the hell out of my sight." – certainly puts an air of permanence to the pair's broken bond. While Gordon's remarks could be solely stated out of pure emotion, they're in response to an unprecedented occurrence, heightening the seriousness of his words.

NEXT PAGE: The Last Time Batman Hit Jim Gordon Was... Never

Has This Happened Before?

Batman striking Gotham's police commissioner, and his longtime friend, can certainly be construed as a turning point for their friendship. It's not like it's been a frequent occurrence, one that's happened before and can therefore be easily dismissed. It Batman has stuck Gordon before, it most certainly was a long time ago.

Such an action did occur, out of mainstream continuity, in Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's 2012 graphic novel Batman: Earth One. But the two hadn't become allies at that point, so there was no friendship at stake. More recently, and in continuity, Batman also took a swing at Gordon in Scott Peterson and Kelley Jones' Batman: Kings of Fear #2. Batman was under the influence of the Scarecrow's fear gas, though, so Gordon managed to block the punch anyway. And Gordon was a lot more understanding knowing Batman was under someone else's influence.

How Far Does Bane's Influence Reach?

Could there be more to Gordon's reaction, though, than mere anger at getting hit in the face? Any good cop would certainly stop Batman from smacking around an apparently incapacitated prisoner, but did Gordon maybe have another reason? Bane has been shown to be pulling the strings of not only Penguin, but also other Batman villains, among them the Joker and the Riddler.

Not all of Bane's enlistees have necessarily been villains, per se – one of his cohorts is Batman's Flashpoint-reality father. Could Bane have also enlisted other Batman supporting characters, some of them his allies? If he has, could one of them possibly be Jim Gordon?

Gordon tells Batman that he's been personally overseeing Bane's incarceration. If true, it would be improbable that Bane could have seized the level of control that he has without Gordon knowing, indicating that Gordon could be complicit in Bane's manipulations. If he's lying, then he's giving Batman a false assurance – not unlike the kind of manipulation Bane has already been undertaking against Batman. Either way, Gordon's playing into Bane's hands – a transgression certainly capable of ending a friendship.

Has Jim Gordon Gone Bad?

One of the Penguin's earlier statements becomes surprisingly relevant in light of Batman and Gordon's encounter. Penguin states that Bane, from the confines of Arkham, is "for all practicality, running Gotham City." Considering the known extent of Bane's reach, Penguin's words ring true, and if they are, it would be unlikely that Bane could "run" the city without Gordon's cooperation, at worst, or at least his knowledge, at best.

If so, it wouldn't be Batman's punch that potentially puts an end to their working relationship. If the once-incorruptible Jim Gordon is knowingly allowing himself to be manipulated by one of Batman's greatest foes, that might serve as the kind of betrayal that Batman simply can't overlook. And a corrupt Jim Gordon is a development that's arguably far more shocking than a punch to the face – even by Batman's hand.

Batman and Gordon might be on the outs, at least for now, but Batman's possible alliance with the Penguin is only beginning. Batman's going to need some answers, which might start to come as his investigation into Bane's covert operations continues in Batman #60, on sale December 5.

Jim Gordon, meanwhile, is probably going to need some ice for his jaw.