Batman – Batman: Of the Asylum – MK Stangeland Jr.

Page 1

(6 Panels)

Panel 1: Exterior shot of ARKHAM ASYLUM. The weather is dark and cloudy, giving the place the atmosphere that might normally be expected. However, the actual building itself, if one looks past the dark and gloomy atmosphere, should look much less depressing than one would normally expect of ARKHAM – rather, the building itself should almost come across the opposite of what one would expect of the ARKHAM that we are used to.

TEXT BOX 1: (JAMES GORDON) Dr. Gordon’s Personal Medical Journal – May 1^st

Panel 2: Interior shot of DR. GORDON’s office – it’s the office of the head of ARKHAM ASYLUM, with focus on the rooms main desk. Sitting at the desk is JAMES GORDON, and he is writing in a journal.

TEXT BOX 1: (JAMES GORDON) I believe that I have fully adjusted to my position as head of Arkham Asylum since filling the position left vacant by Dr. Arkham himself.

TEXT BOX 2: (JAMES GORDON) In that time, there has come into our care one individual who particularly fascinates me.

Panel 3: Interior panel of a cell inside of ARKHAM ASYLUM. It’s a dark room, and looks like an approximation of that giant computer area from the BATCAVE, or at least as close as someone could get if they were a resident of an asylum. Sitting in the chair, wearing a crude mask and cape over his inmates outfit, is BRUCE WAYNE.

TEXT BOX 1: (JAMES GORDON) The patients name is Bruce Wayne. His backstory is an deeply sad one. He has multiple conditions; I could spend several pages listing and explaining them.

TEXT BOX 2: (JAMES GORDON) His uncle, a kind old man named Alfred Pennyworth, is paying for the best care money can buy. He visits as often as he can.

TEXT BOX 3: (JAMES GORDON) What I find most curious, however, is that when anyone other than Mr. Pennyworth addresses Mr. Wayne by his real name, he replies with only three words.

Panel 4: Panel 4 should take up the left portion of the bottom of the page, setting up and leaving room for panels 5 and 6 to follow right next to it. Focus should be on BRUCE WAYNE, upper body, as he sits in his chair.

BRUCE WAYNE: I.

Panel 5: Panel 5 takes up the bottom middle of the page, right between panels 4 and 6. Panel is closer to BRUCE WAYNE, focusing more on his face.

BRUCE WAYNE: Am.

Panel 6: Panel 6 takes up the bottom right third of the page, finishing the three panel sequence started by panel 4. Panel has closed in on BRUCE WAYNE’s head.

BRUCE WAYNE: Batman.

(End Page)

Commissioner Gordon – The Real Problem – MK Stangeland Jr.

(6 Panels)

Panel 1: COMMISSIONER GORDON and BATMAN (BRUCE WAYNE) stand next to an active Bat-signal. COMMISSIONER GORDON hands three to five file folders to BATMAN. We have an opportunity to see what’s written on some of the tabs, which have the names of some of Batman’s enemies on them, such as ‘JOKER’ and ‘SCARECROW’.

GORDON: I went through the Department’s records. Put these files together myself. I have more if necessary.

BATMAN: What are they?

GORDON: Something that we somehow overlooked.

Panel 2: BATMAN has the first file open, though the angle of the panel only allows the reader to see the backs of the pile of folders that BATMAN is holding.

GORDON: It’s a rough assessment of how many times some of Arkham’s worst have escaped custody and the amount of damage they’ve caused each time they’ve done it.

Panel 3: GORDON hangs his head in shame as he thinks about how long the matter has managed to escape him.

GORDON (1): I had someone ask me a question the other day.

GORDON (2): “What about next time?”

GORDON (3): It made me realize that for all the good you’ve done over the years, Arkham has been the one major problem you’ve never solved.

Panel 4: GORDON looks back up at BATMAN. BATMAN’s closed the folder as he looks at GORDON in order to give the Commissioner his full attention, though his face betrays nothing about what’s going on inside his head.

GORDON (1): The law allows them the protection of the insanity plea.

GORDON (2): Our own moral codes keep us from seeing to it that they meet with any unfortunate accidents.

Panel 5: Close up on BATMAN’s face.

BATMAN: What are you asking for?

Panel 6: Panel focuses on GORDON.

GORDON: I want you to ask Mr. Wayne if, before he starts funding even more Batman, perhaps could think about funding a replacement for Arkham.

(END PAGE)

Commissioner Jim Gordon - Forsaken - Sime McDonald

PANEL ONE
Entirely black.

THUG

[off panel / no word balloon tail]

Relax, Gordon.

Close your eyes.

You're tired.

CAPTION

The smell of creeping rot in the walls mingles with cordite from his weapon.

Blood pumps out from his wound like oil from a ruptured pipe.

PANEL TWO

In the darkness we can make out the silhouette of Jim Gordon, propped up in a corner beside a window that provides no illuminiation, natural or artificial. His revolver is in one hand; his other is clasping his gut as blood pools from a deep gash. I'm in two minds about representing the darkness in this panel; perhaps graytone the entire panel? Or provide Gordon's outline in white?

CAPTION [1]

This is not how James Gordon wants to die.

Alone in the darkness.

THUG

[off panel / no word balloon tail]

This'll all be over soon, Gordon.

Let it happen.

Let the darkness take you.

CAPTION [2]

There is still so much to accomplish.

So much that must be done.

PANEL THREE

Lighting flares and the room is momentarily lit. Gordon's attacker is right in front of him; rake-thin, gangly, long serrated knife in his hands. Gordon has his revolver raised.

SFX

BOOM!

CAPTION

Gotham needs him.

PANEL FOUR

Another black panel, save for the SFX.

SFX

Click.

CAPTION

The dead man's click tells him the city has forsaken him.

THUG

Hahahah!



 PANEL FIVE

Similar panel as #2. The silhouette's of Gordon and the thug are visible. But now the thug is closer, leaning over Gordon, knife inches from his throat.

CAPTION [1]

Their relationship was always a one-way street.

Gordon sacrificed all for Gotham.

Gotham gleefully took it from him.

CAPTION [2]

What did Gordon expect in return?

PANEL SIX

Another explosion of light as lightning flashes - - - revealing THE BATMAN, clutching the thug in a choke-hold, the knife falling from his grasp.

SFX

BOOM!

CAPTION [1]

Gotham may have forsaken James Gordon.

THUG

Gack!

CAPTION [2]

Its Dark Knight hasn't.



Why James Gordon?

"Gotham City.

Maybe it's all I deserve, now.

Maybe it's just my time in Hell."

- Liutenant James Gordon, Batman: Year One

In a surreal world of crazy clown psychopaths, scar-faced murderers and costumed vigilantes, James Gordon represents our only glimpse of realism in Gotham City. He is a humble man, dedicated to combatting evil and corruption however he can, as best he can. His desire to save Gotham from its inherent darkness is unrelenting. He is a man we can root for, who sets the kinds of standards we hope our law enforcers can reach. James Gordon is a man with flaws, like us, who strives to do right and doesn't always succeed. Who fails and falls and gets back up again. Whose determination is something we can aspire to.

Also? He's just a damn cool character who has thankfully been revitalised, initially under the stewardship of Scott Snyder in his Detective Comics run, and now continued in the DCnU. Gordon has been the focal point of some brilliant comics in the past and will surely inspire the Thought-Balloons crew to some of their best.

As always we welcome you to join in below.