InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Fly me to the moon."

brushed_velvet (brushed_velvet) wrote in scans_daily,
@ 2009-10-01 12:02:00

Entry tags:

char: batman/bruce wayne, char: jim gordon, creator: greg rucka, creator: klaus janson, creator: rick burchett

No Man's Land Vol.4 - Bruce reveals himself to Gordon
From No Man's Land Volume 4, chapter title 'Falling Back'.

Written by Greg Rucka. Art by Rick Burchett, James Hodgkins and Klaus Janson.

This scene was anonymously requested on another post and as I'd previously uploaded these scans to a different comm I thought I'd share them here too. Am I right in thinking that I can't link to the post with the whole scene elsewhere because it's against the rules?

Anyway, I absolutely adore Batman and Gordon so my love for this particular scene knows no bounds.

A little background first for those who aren't familiar with NML. Gotham has suffered a devastating earthquake with the government subsequently declaring it a No Man's Land. Batman was noticeably absent during the first few months after the quake because Bruce Wayne was in the capital, lobbying the government to support the city but when this endeavour failed he secretly returned home. Meanwhile Jim, along with his wife Sarah and a small group of officers, toughed it out, using some very questionable tactics at times to try to maintain order and obtain control over the increasingly ominous gang warfare which threatened Gotham further. This encounter is the first time Jim and Batman meet since Batman's return.

It starts off with two pages of a very awkward silence giving way to a rather subdued conversation about Jim's garden and how well he's tended it. Then Jim finally asks Batman a rather important question, namely, if he and Batman are friends. Batman affirming that they are provokes a mixed response in Jim

Jim goes on to thank Batman for saving Sarah from Two Face's gang and then confesses that originally he and Sarah wanted to leave Gotham but he couldn't get a job elsewhere - everywhere he applied to laughed at him, either behind his back or openly to his face, which got him thinking that maybe...

Two things I love about this page - the little movement lines in the 'No' panel and then Batman immediately calling Jim out like that!

Jim carries on ragging at Batman for not really being his friend because Batman wasn't there for him and doesn't trust or respect him. Batman insists that isn't the case

I'm not sure why but Jim using the phrase 'don't blow smoke at me' multiplies his awesome levels one hundred fold.

Batman's response is pretty simple

D'awww Batman! You're such a woobie at times. He then ratchets up the woobie factor by lauding Jim, telling him there's no man or woman living that he respects more before making a monumental decision because 'words don't mean anything, they don't fix the damage' and

Bruce's expressions in all these panels, particularly the first one, strike me as so very childlike which somehow just makes me flail even harder.

Bruce heeds Jim's request and by the time Jim has slowly turned around Batman is no longer de-cowled. They arrange to meet the following day to plan their next strategy with Bruce actually pausing to wish Jim good night.

And so ends a scene which I think can safely be termed a classic? Also, I have to admit, if Chris Nolan decided to do his own version of this for the (hopefully) third film, it's pretty much a given that I would spontaneously combust!

(Post a new comment)

	thandrak 2009-10-01 11:36 am UTC (link)
	This, right here, is one of the key notes of the relationship. And it's never been told so well. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	brushed_velvet 2009-10-02 06:50 pm UTC (link)
	Agreed. It really feels like a true moment driven by story and characterisation, not a cheap gimmick, which is all down to the build up I think. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	yaseen101 2009-10-01 11:45 am UTC (link)
	"..if Chris Nolan decided to do his own version of this for the (hopefully) third film, it's pretty much a given that I would spontaneously combust!" It could be done even if it doesn't involve NML. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	brushed_velvet 2009-10-02 06:58 pm UTC (link)
	I think Nolan definitely has the talent to incorporate this whilst putting his own stamp on it. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	ladymirth 2009-10-01 12:28 pm UTC (link)
	I read the entire NML TPB back-to-back just to find this scene. It was soo worth it. Classic. No question. Favourite line? "And they sure as hell don't walk out on you in the middle of a sentence!" Preach it, Gordon! dies laughing (Reply to this) (Thread)

	thatnickguy 2009-10-01 01:10 pm UTC (link)
	Honestly, I've always just assumed that Gordon knew Bat's identity. Because he works on the side of the law, he can feign ignorance if Bruce's identity was ever revealed to the public. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	starwolf_oakley 2009-10-01 02:06 pm UTC (link)
	Some of what Gordon says about people laughing at him resonates as well. he says (paraphrasing) "It's not like I expected to be commissioner of Central City" but that most people "Weren't impressed I needed an 'urban legend' to do my policing for me." (Reply to this) (Thread)

	retro_nouveau 2009-10-01 02:22 pm UTC (link)
	Very nice, definitely classic. Ranks up there with the annual holiday coffee. Panel after "I've never been good at saying good-bye" -- "I want to hug you but there's a burning barrel in the way." :) (Reply to this) (Thread)

	filkertom 2009-10-01 02:59 pm UTC (link)
	Current crews at DC and Marvel? See this? This is called writing. Try it sometime, won't you? Thanks. (Reply to this) (Thread)