Bully Says: Comics Oughta Be Fun!

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Today in Comics History, November 29: Commissioner Gordon is born again

This is an expanded, updated, and combined version of posts originally published November 29, 2012.

The window of opportunity for wishing him this is narrow!

The window of opportunity for wishing him this is narrow!

from Batman #587 (DC, March 2001), script by Greg Rucka, pencils by Rick Burchett, inks by Rodney Ramos, colors by Noelle Giddings, color separations by Wildstorm FX, letters by Willie Schubert

Commissioner Jim Gordon, Pal o' Batman, has his second birthday within one year! Today, November 29, is his post-Crisis birthday. (Pre-Crisis, as seen here, it was January 5, and he's 122 years old. Ollllllld.)

He looks GREAT for being 113.

from "The Private Life of Commissioner Gordon" in World's Finest Comics #53 (DC, August 1951), script by David Vern, pencils by Dick Sprang, inks by Charles Paris
Curiously, the Super DC Calendar '76 lists today as pre-Crisis Jimmy Olsen's birthday. No word on what it is after worlds lived and died and the DC Universe was never the same gain, though.

'Batman, were you using my Xerox machine to make copies of your butt?'

'Batman, were you using my Xerox machine to make copies of your butt?'

from Super DC Calendar 1976 (DC, 1975), letters by Ben Oda
Anyways! Nowadays, Jimbo gets his birthday cake after Thanksgiving, as seen here!

from Batman #587 (DC, March 2001), script by Greg Rucka, pencils by Rick Burchett, inks by Rodney Ramos, colors by Noelle Giddings, color separations by Wildstorm FX, letters by Willie Schubert
(Click picture to Bullock-size)
Even though Batman "forgot" to buy him a gift. Cheapskate billionaire.

'Actually, I got you a gift card for Bruce Wayne's Steakhouse, now at seven convenient locations throughout the Gotham area, including EX-eter.'

'Actually, I got you a gift card for Bruce Wayne's Steakhouse, now at seven convenient locations throughout the Gotham area, including EX-eter.'

Now, Reneé Montoya, boy, she can buy me gifts anytime.

It's the edition with the color photo insert from the Elliott Gould movie.

After Gordon leaves his birthday party, he gets shot while he's trying to apprehend Catwoman. Ouch! Those kinda birthday presents we don't need!

Noelle Giddings had the cost of all this red ink taken out of her salary.

Noelle Giddings had the cost of all this red ink taken out of her salary.

How do we know those scenes took place on November 29? Well, check the police report, complete with annotations by a howlin' mad Montoya!

'I'm not dead yet!'

from Batman: Gotham Knights #13 (DC, March 2001), script by Greg Rucka, pencils by Rick Burchett, inks by Rodney Ramos, colors by Digital Chameleon, letters by Willie Schubert
Luckily though, Commissioner Gordon got a helicopter for his birthday.

'But I wanted a bulldozer!'

from Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #126 (February 2000), script by Greg Rucka and Devin Grayson, pencils by Damien Scott and Dale Eaglesham, inks by John Floyd, colors by Pamela Rambo, color separations by Wildstorm FX, letters by Willie Schubert
Happy birthday, Jimbo! Get better soon! And I hope you get those giant replacement light bulbs you asked for.