Jim Gordon: "Coconuts..."
I am so glad I am continuing my journey with this series for the first time alongside the DC high volume podcast, there is so much amazing voice work and sound effects that elevate the work on the page. After the chief of police was found dead last issue with a hangman's game on his person, Batman knew exactly who to go to, to find more answers...none other than riddler, who batman proceeded to hang by his leg from the same bridge the chief was found hanging from. Batman gave him the note, which was left out of the paper's, and tasked Nygma with studying it and getting him more information. I know Robin shows up in this series, and it feels like such a fun tease for that seeing batman outsource some of his detective work instead of relying on Robin saying: "Holy Puzzles Batman!" With the chief gone a void has been left, and the previous commissioner Gil, who was ousted from the department on so many corruption charges Santa doesn't even go near his neighborhood, has decided to swing by and shove it in Jim's face, alongside all the other mistakes he has made...especially reminding him of two-face. As Bruce continues to fall into his obsession that Batman must be the one to solve this case on his own, Alfred is obviously starting to get worried and has even setup a Thanksgiving meal with Selina Kyle for Master Bruce. Bruce is continually filled with guilt about Harvey, and even lets Alfred know that he almost told Harvey about his secret identity, and can't help but think if he had opened up and trusted Harvey more...then he never would of turned into two-face in the first place.
Elsewhere, Gordon and Porter are dragged out to the Falcone burial site to talk to Mario, who has decided to go behind his sister's back to reach out and ask for assistance and to aid them in whatever way he can in their investigation...his sister and her gang did NOT like this and rolled up on our team here immediately. As much as I love Sofia, she is obviously loosing it...even to the point she accidentally called Mario, Alberto. She has her own team of detectives hired to protect her father's grave and the DA and Commissioner will be getting nowhere near it. As Jim and Porter leaves, the night is made even worse as Jim tries to invite her to thanksgiving dinner...only to find she already has plans. Speaking of Alberto though, Sofia isn't the only one loosing it, as pent up in that mansion of his he has started to hear voices...and not just any voice, but the voice of his father! Goading him into continuing else he be forgotten. I can't help but think this is Harvey trying to break Alberto...and immediately succeeding.
I am a little confused about the next scene on thanksgiving night in a Gotham Hotel as a dark figure walks upstairs to possibly Porter's room and embraces her, who has she made plans with? Mario perchance? Wayne's thanksgiving is not going well though, but Selina sure is the life of the party. Alfred really needs to start taking a saw to those extra long tables, save Selina the trouble of dragging her chair all the way down to Bruce's end of the table, lol. But even with Selina in his presence, Bruce seems distant and cold, constantly thinking back to waiting for his father to come back from the hospital so they can enjoy thanksgiving...constantly reminded that he doesn't have a family.
The bat signal lights up a bit different tonight as instead of a BAT, a QUESTION MARK takes it's place. Which batman appropriately responds by destroying the light the first chance he got. How else is the riddler supposed to get into contact? But what riddler has to say immediately draws this game back and puts it on a totally different level. The game found on the chief's body was hangman...a game you traditionally DON'T play alone. This game is being played by two people! Batman was already gone by the time riddler turned around, but that night former Commissioner Loeb, who once thought himself untouchable, had a visitor. A visitor who broke down his door, trashed his house, and strung him up on one his own chandeliers. He once thought he was untouchable...until Batman, Gordon, and a young Harvey Dent came into the picture. And tonight is no different, as the hangman's game on Loeb's body is from the desk of Harvey Dent. "Two Can Play This game"