Warning: MASSIVE SPOILERS for Batman: Curse of the White Knight #4
Sean Murphy’s re-imagining of Gotham City in Batman: White Knight earned enough acclaim to launch a sequel series, putting a new spin on even more Batman iconcs. But now, Batman: Curse of the White Knight has delivered a twist no fan saw coming–and one they never wanted to, either.
There’s a new version of Azrael coming for the head of Batman in the White Knight world, but to get to him, this ‘avenging angel’ has just killed one practically-untouchable member of the Batman Family. Make no mistake: Azrael’s decision to kill Jim Gordon may be the tipping point in his mission, since he’s just made it personal with every cop in Gotham.
The moment in which Azrael runs his flaming sword through the chest of Jim Gordon (in Curse of the White Knight #3) feels just as wrong as it should be. As Bullock, Montoya, Duke, and the readers all freeze, stunned at the sight of Jim Gordon’s life presumably ended in an instant. Before Jim’s cigarette can hit the pavement he manages to get a shot off at close range, releasing him from Azrael’s blade to fall several stories into an alley below.
That’s exactly where Curse of the White Knight #3 left the story, on a full-page spread of Jim crumpled on the pavement, bleeding out. While terrifying and upsetting, the ending did leave things on a mercifully uncertain note. Yes, a sword through the chest is a definitive injury… but comic book characters have survived worse. But in the end Murphy was simply saving the true pain for the next issue.
Opening on a flashback of Jim telling a young Barbara to hurt people who try to do the same to her, the grown Batgirl fights to get to her father, being rushed into emergency surgery. She’s there to see the efforts fail, and Jim Gordon die (as makes the most sense, considering the damage inflicted). But it’s only as she flees in a panic that Bruce finally arrives… realizing from Barbara’s mood that the unthinkable has truly happened. This new enemy has come to kill, but it wasn’t Batman he took.
It’s a heartbreaking scene, with the image of Batman cradling the body of Jim Gordon (rendered to perfection by Murphy and Hollingsworth) not likely to be forgotten by any Batman fan. And while it’s Barbara Gordon who responds to the death of her father with murderous rage, there’s no question Batman is going to make Azrael pay for killing his oldest ally and friend. Not to mention the best cop in Gotham City.
That will have to wait for the second half of the Curse of the White Knight series, with four of the eight issues still left ahead. Until the next issue arrives in November, readers can check out the full plot synopsis and credits below:
- BATMAN: CURSE OF THE WHITE KNIGHT #4 (OF 8) Written by: Sean Murphy Art by: Sean Murphy, Matt Hollingsworth Cover Art by: Sean Murphy, Matt Hollingsowrth After a shocking tragedy strikes the Bat-Family and Montoya takes the reins, Babs defies the GTO and goes rogue in the hunt for Azrael. When her new methods prove almost too effective, Batman intervenes-leaving Harley to her own devices in the wake of her own emergency.
Batman: Curse of The White Knight #4 is available now at your local comic book shop.
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