Panel One.
The Joker sits in a dimly lit cell in Arkham Asylum. Think Hannibal Lecter’s cell in Silence Of The Lambs, with a safety glass wall at one side. We’re looking at him from behind his chair so we can see beyond him to the people outside. Batman. Nightwing. Harvey Bullock. Renee Montoya.
Harvey Bullock: What have you done, freak? What have you done to Jim Gordon?
Joker: Gordon…
Panel Two.
Switch the angle so we’re seeing this scene from the perspective of the observers now. The Joker sits in shadows, his face obscured by his hand. Only the top of his distinctive green hair and purple pinstripe suit is visible in this shot.
Joker: Gordon…
Joker: Tee hee hee…
Panel Three.
Reaction shot from the gathered heroes. Batman is grim and tight-jawed. Nightwing is glancing nervously at his mentor. Bullock looks like he’s chewing on a nettle. Montoya is trying not to cry.
Joker (O/P): Gordon?
Panel Four.
The Joker lifts his head and stares straight at us, that familiar evil grin scarring his face. Except this isn’t the face of the Joker. It’s the face of Commissioner James Gordon, distorted and Joker-ised. His mouth torn wide and scarlet, skin burned white, receding hairline dyed green. He’s wearing his glasses, but obviously the lenses are cracked.
Gordon/Joker: GORDON’S ALIVE!!!
Hmmm...interesting bait and switch. Makes me wonder how Gordon/Joker got in there in the first place, and so which page of a story this beat would come. In media res opening page, or end of first issue of the arc page...? So many decisions.
ReplyDeleteAs for the final line, ha, that's pretty funny. Starting to seriously wonder now why Ben didn't write a Flesh Gordon page. Or why I didn't...
Great use of bait and switch, you really hooked me in. I cant say where in a story, issue or arc this would fit in or where the story would go, but I don't care one bit. I totally love this as an idea on every level it works for me. Jokered up Jim would look so creep and scary for fans.
ReplyDeleteGreat script Rol. Poor Jim, but it is the way it had to end. No way was someone as important to Batman be spared an honourable and clean death.
ReplyDeleteIs it just me or did Joker/Gordon sound like Brian Blessed on the last line??
ReplyDeleteHad me thinking the whole way.
Nice