In Joker #6, the Clown Prince of Crime shows that he still isn’t finished ruining the life of one of Batman’s closest allies, Commissioner Jim Gordon.
WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for The Joker #6 by James Tynion IV, Guillem March, Arif Prianto, Tom Napolitano, on sale now.
Jim Gordon’s hunt for the Joker has literally taken him across the world. Unfortunately, after doing so much to locate the Clown Prince of Crime, the wily villain once again managed to slip away. Gordon’s pursuits led him to Paris, but by the end of his trip Gordon was framed for murder. He knew immediately that Joker was behind his predicament, and sure enough, the clown was watching him the whole time. This is a cold reminder of just how much the Joker enjoys toying with Gordon even after all these years and even worse, that he is in complete control of the situation.
Gordon had tracked Joker to Paris, but realized that so long as he was using his benefactor’s resources he would always have someone looking over his shoulder. He decided to tap his own resources and called Harvey Bullock, hiring him to help follow some leads. But just before hanging up he was accosted by several armed officers from Interpol. Their lead detective explained that Gordon’s fingerprints were all over the scene of a murder of four scientists. Gordon bitterly realized that the Joker had framed him as he was placed in the back of a squad car to be taken in as the Joker watched from a nearby rooftop.
This was his way of reminding Gordon that following him was not in his best interests. Joker knows that the others pursuing him will not respond to reason so there is no point in trying to fend them off with anything but violence. Jim Gordon is built differently, however. His reasons for pursuing the Joker extend beyond pride or revenge, and is more a matter of protecting what matters to him. Unfortunately, the Joker has spent a fair amount of time isolating the things Gordon cherishes and tainting them.
The Joker has crippled the former commissioner’s daughter and personally tortured him physically and psychologically over the course of a single night. It seems as if when Batman isn’t around to be hurt, then Jim Gordon is always the perfect substitute in Joker’s eyes. It’s as if the Joker derives some kind of sick pleasure out of hurting Gordon, which wouldn’t be much of a stretch considering his mental state.
The Joker has taken so much from Gordon over the years that it’s hard to imagine what the commissioner has left for the madman to take. However, the insane villain has sunk to new lows by framing Jim for murder. Gordon has built his entire career by being a good man in the midst of the storm, holding steady against corruption and chaos. This is no doubt at least part of the reason why the Joker is taking so much pleasure in his latest action against the lawman.
It’s actually a rather cruel joke. Gordon had just retired only to be arrested for a major crime. It’s the sort of dark sense of humor the Joker has been known for. But even though he did it to ruin even more of Gordon’s life, there was also another reason behind the villain’s sick actions.
The Joker warned Gordon what would happen if he continued his hunt. He’s not naïve enough to think the charges will stick, but he still somehow managed to murder four people and plant Gordon’s fingerprints all over the crime scene. While Jim Gordon is no stranger to how evil the Joker can be, he may be underestimating just how much the evil villain can still hurt him.
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