Welcome to Gotham Central!
This is your one stop location for every Batman and DC Comics reference in Gotham season 2.
As usual, this show wasnt remotely shy about its DC Comics history this time around.
One day well get around to aggregating all of that into one mega guide.
But today is not that day.
Tomorrow probably isnt that day, either.
Well, itwillbe the Batcave.
In other words, its perfect for Batmans world, even in a pre-Batman world.
Theres even a song that references bats, for cryin out loud.Anyway…
The big guy that Barbara befriends is Aaron Helzinger, known in the comics as Amygdala.
Amygdala has been around since 1992, generally giving Batman agita with his great strength and low intellect.
We thought we had met Amygdala in season one, but we were wrong.
By we I mean me, and possibly you.
Well find out eventually.
This shows version of the Tigress (as Tabitha Galavan) is essentially an original creation.
I cant really think of any prominent similarities she shares with her comic book counterparts.
For the record, though, the original Tigress first appeared inAction Comics#1 in 1938.
She didnt fight Superman there.
There have been other Tigresses (Tigri?)
throughout DC history, but it would take an entire article to deal with them.
All you better know right now is…dont worry about it.
This is a new character.
Hit the drop down menu for future episodes!
Gotham: Season 2 Episode 2 Knock Knock
Yes, theGotham Gazetteis real.
DC Comics has also used theGotham Gazettefor various viral marketing bits and pieces here and there.
Edward Nygma is certainly on his way to supervillainy here.
It was traditionally more genius level intellect with severe OCD than the split personality on display here.
If thats the Riddler were ultimately going to get, I might just be on board.
Or he could be a really dumb version of Ras al Ghul.
Im hoping its the former, though.
Jeromes knockout gas trick with Gordon and Bullock foreshadows the Jokers love of chemical weapons.
Of course, this probably isnt foreshadowing after all.
Deputy Mayor Harrison Kane is probably a nod to Bob Kane, the artist who co-created Batman.
Cloud first appeared in Detective Comics #470 by Steve Englehart and Mike Gold.
Also, I just have to give them points for busting outLouis Primas Just a Gigolo.
Unlike most members of the GCPD, the comic book version of Josie Mac had precognitive abilities.
Comic book Mac had the ability to read objects so she almost literally had conversations with crime scenes.
The origin of the Galavan family is pretty close to the origin of the Court of Owls.
Galavan promised the arrival of an army loyal to him.
The first Firebug appeared inBatman#318 (1979) and was created by Len Wein.
Rigger vowed to destroy all the unsafe tenements in Gotham and became Firebug.
This week marked the first Catwoman style robbery for Selina Kyle.
The episode also showed Selina as a protector of the street kids of Gotham City.
I was really hoping for a nice Frank Gorshin cackle once the deed was done, though.
Gotham Season 2 Episode 7 Mommys Little Monster
In this episode,Gothams version of Silver St.
Cloud considerably diverged from her comic book counterpart.Gothams St.
Cloud we saw in Mommys Little Monster.
Of course, the big doings in Mommys Little Monster had to do with Edward Nygma.
We also got to hear Cory Michael Smith channel his inner Frank Gorshin by unleashing his first Riddler cackle.
Perhaps that was the first of many quality broods that Bruce will have in that iconic locale.
Edward Nygma committed his second murder while burying the body of his ex.
Didja notice those Riddler green booties Eddie was rocking?
A very nice touch.
Lets all be honest, this scene was silly.
This episode marked perhaps the first official team up of the Penguin and the Riddler.
That has to be notable, right?
And if you dont get that reference, it’s crucial that you watch the Adam West movie.
First appearing inBatman#666 (2007), Flamingo was created by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely.
Like his TV counterpart, Flamingo was a cannibal and an assassin.
He also joined the Secret Society of Super Villains in the pages ofForever Evil.
Wont anyone think of Doctor Double X?
Whatever the case, the seem to get their fashion sense from Kylo Ren.
Third, you ask?
Thats black comedy gold right there.
The same goes for a show or comic series dealing with Alfred Pennyworth during his soldiering days.
How brilliant was it to see Alfred in action this week?
I would kill for a period piece Alfred Pennyworth series in the vein of MarvelsAgent Carter.
Alfred Pennyworth: Servant of Justice.
Get on it, DC.
I guess the Order upped their training methods by the time they trained Azrael.
With all this tomfoolery between Bruce and Silver St.
I dont think theres any way Bruce and Silver could get engaged now.
So, Bruces favorite animal is an owl.
That makes the Court of the Owls that much more ironic.
Nygmas little Riddle to Lee sure had the name Grundy in it, huh?
Solomon Grundy is a classic creature feature I wouldnt mind seeing pop up inGotham.
We had our first mention of Dr. Hugo Strange at the end of this episode.
Strange is one of the first recurring villains Batman ever faced, predating both the Joker and Catwoman.
Picture Freud meets Mengele and you have an idea what to expect from Hugo Strange.
Hmm, come to think of it, Galavan being genetically enhanced?
Perhaps the first Azrael?
Gotham Season 2 Episode 12: Mr.
Freeze was originally called Mr.
Zero and was pretty generic.
The freeze gun wielding scientist would have been forgotten if not for the 1966BatmanTV series.
It was positively Shakespearean, only with freeze rays.
This added wrinkle transformed Freeze into one of Batmans most tragic villains.
The comic followed suit and Mister Freeze soon went from the scrap heap to the A list.
We never got to see the pre-cryo suit version of Freeze before so this episode broke some new ground.
It heavily handedly broke that ground but it was new ground nonetheless.
Now were going to hit the way back machine and introduce Hugo Strange, one of Batmans oldest foes.
Were talking before America entered World War II old here.
Strange first appearedDetective Comics#36 (February 1940) and was created by Bill Finger and Bill Finger.
That giant intestinal parasite Bob Kane is still listed as a co-creator, but it was Bill Finger.
Now get a load of these early schemes of comics first Dr.
I bet we get some of that pituitary business on future episodes ofGotham.
Hugo Strange would be brought back in the 70s where he became a persistent member of Batmans rogues gallery.
And by god, how freakin perfect was B.D.
Wong in this role?
A nice little touch to a classic.
It was very good to see Nora as a character this week rather than just a plot point.
I freakin loved the design of Mister Freezes battle suit.
It had a certain charming Silver Age clunkiness to it that reminded me of a movie serial.
It still looked good in action despite it looking like a prop from a Buster Crabbe short.
The transformed Freeze really,reallylooked like the Eli Wallach version of the character didnt he?
Wallach was the third of three actors that played the cold hearted villain in the 1966BatmanTV series.
We covered the Bruce Wayne Matches Malone connection in past footnotes columns.
But it seems like Malone will play a much larger role in Bruces life.
Anyone wondering if Lee Thompkins is pregnant with Barbara Gordon the future Batgirl?
And if she is,why would they name the child Barbara?!?!?
Of course, the Mutants were a vicious street gang that ran rampant in Frank Millers classicDark Knight Returns.
Both are experts into the human mind that use fear inducing toxins to manipulate their victims.
InGotham, a younger Bruce had to learn his own lessons about murder.
I dig the fact that Bruce will adopt the Marches Malone identity in the future.
The female Joker and her punk club reminded me of the Jokerz fromBatman Beyond.
We saw the debut of the Riddlers signature green question mark in this episode.
That little symbol would look good on a sports coat or a bowler hat, no?
I dig the idea that the more corrupt Nygma becomes, the more he starts wearing his classic duds.
I need to see a jello green bowler hat at some point though.
The Penguins father is, of course, played by the great Paul Reubens.
It was nice to see the future Poison Ivy back this week.
Maybe one day the series will actually, you know, do something with her.
Ten cool points ifGothamfigures out a way to incorporate an oversized typewriter into an episode.
One of the most notable, The Killing Peck appeared inSecret Origins Special#1 (1989).
In this story, a bully named Sharkey pushes Oswald Cobblepot to the breaking point.
Sharkey gives Oswald the Penguin name and mercilessly brutalizes the shy, pudgy youth.
It got so bad that Oswald began training himself in martial arts.
When Oswald finally fought back, Sharkey killed all of Penguins birds.
TheSecret Originstales related Penguins brutal revenge.
As I said, the origin currently being unfurled inGothamis completely new.
Betcha didnt know Gaiman write a Riddler tale, didja?
That should be of particular interest to anyGothamfan currently enjoying Edward Nygmas descent into madness.
Does Oswald inherit his trademark monocle along with the estate?
So Lee left Jim and lost the baby.
Who dresses like that?
Like in this weeks episode, Edward dons a nice patterned sport coat.
Because whatever problems you might find withGotham, Smiths version of the Riddler is just note perfect.
I guess this week saw Nygmas first incarceration into Arkham Asylum.
We get it, its Arkham, but cmonGotham, you’re free to do better than that.
After killing his father?
Stretching the bounds of credibility aside, who doesnt like a good cannibal revenge scene?
Excluding Gordon, thats pretty much Team Batman, right there.
I really dig Mister Freezes battle armor, but that hair has got to go.
The armor is badass, but the hairdo makes Freeze look like an albino Anderson Cooper.
Wow, thats a bold move having Freeze kill Karen Jennings, the aforementioned talon hand girl.
Yes, Theo Galavan over dramatically screamed the word Azrael.
Like, Azreal is important, but not Penguin, Riddler, Catwoman level importance.
Once again, there has never been an established connection between Azrael or Hugo Strange.
Did yall catch that cool but of Joker graffiti in the background of Mister Freezes dramatic reveal?
The legend of Jerome grows.
The episodes title references Pinewood Studios, where Tim Burtons firstBatmanmovie was filmed.
The Gotham City set built at Pinewood was one of the largest in movie history.
After Jean Pauls fathers death, the programming asserted itself and Valley became Azrael.
Batman helped Azrael break his programming and takes the young man on as an apprentice.
All children of 90s comics love know what happens next.
In the famousKnightfallstoryline, Batmans back is broken by Bane and Azrael becomes the new Batman.
In all seriousness,Knightfallwas a hugely popular storyline making Azrael an indelible part of Bat lore.
Of course, Bruce Wayne healed up and took the mantle of the Bat back.
None of the elements used in the ascension of Theo Galavan as Azrael ever appeared in a comic.
Weird but cool dynamic there.
This pretty much defines the Riddler, a villain whose ego wont let him lose.
Well, with this episode, I understand why this is a side roadGothamdrives down.
Azrael was brought in simply so the Penguin can blow him up with a bazooka.
I guess the brain trust ofGothamreally doesnt like the 90s?
Thats exactly what happened to the comic book Azrael, Jean Paul Valley.
Ignominious death of Galavan aside, the series does honor the Azrael lore established in the comics.
Why in the name of Bill Finger would you give away the return of Fish Mooney in a preview?
Nice spoiler Gotham, jeez.
And by created by Bob Kane, I mean Karlo was probably at least co-created by Bill Finger.
Anyway, Karlo was the first in a long line of villains calling himself Clayface.
He was also one of Batmans earliest name foes.
The cartoon version combined Hagens powers with Karlos acting oriented motivation to create kind of an amalgamation Clayface.
The first live action Clayface I might add.
About time, too, the character has only existed for 76 years.
Firefly was a bit vampy and over the top but you have to love that costume.
Fireflys battle suit is a perfect visual match for the characters comic book uniform.
And hey, if this Firefly dies, does that mean Fox cancelledFireflya second time?
But admit it; half of you fried yourself up a grilled cheese tonight, didnt you?
Heck man, Cory Michael Smith even made with a nice Frank Gorshin cackle.
So, were there enough villains in this finale?
Go homeGotham, and have a nice long summer break and think about what you did.
Done lost your damn mind.
The Court of Owls first appeared inBatmanVol.
2 #2 (October 2011) and was created by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo.
The Owls are a secret society that have been running Gotham from the shadows for centuries.
They are a creepy as heck organization that pushed Batman to the limit when the New 52 began.
Secrecy is a top priority to the Owls which was why they ordered Strange to bomb Indian Hill.
Anyway, track down DCs Court of the Owls in trade paperback, its top shelf stuff.
Oh good, more villains.
So the point of the season long Theo Galavan as Azrael arc was…?
