Sarah Essen Gordon

Sarah Essen Gordon
Sarah Essen Gordon as seen in Detective Comics #741 (February 2000)
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Batman #405 (March 1987)
Created by	Frank Miller David Mazzucchelli

Sarah Essen Gordon is a fictional character in the DC Universe, created by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli as a supporting character in the Batman mythos.

Fictional character biography

She first appears in Batman #405, part of the Batman: Year One storyline. Then simply Sarah Essen, she is a detective partnered with then-lieutenant James Gordon. Her exact age is never revealed, but it is later revealed in Greg Rucka's "No Man's Land" novel that she is 12 years younger than Gordon. She and the married Gordon start a brief affair, but when Commissioner Loeb attempts to blackmail them, Gordon ends the affair and confesses his actions to his wife Barbara. Sarah leaves Gotham for New York City soon after.

Editor Denny O'Neil later chose to revive the character as both an investigator and a love interest for Gordon. When she returns in Batman #458 (January 1991), it is explained that Sarah had married a New York cop who was killed in a drug bust. Gordon had long since divorced his wife Barbara, and the two begin a serious and open relationship, eventually resulting in Gordon proposing to her on a night when the police station is under attack by a trio of electric-based super-villains. The two get married soon afterwards in Legends of the Dark Knight Annual #2 (1992). In the post-Infinite Crisis continuity (as seen in flashbacks in 2011's Detective Comics #875), Gordon and Essen were married much earlier, when Jim Gordon was still a lieutenant, and she had a more active role in raising her stepdaughter.

When James Gordon is demoted by Mayor Armand Krol in Batman #519 (June 1995), Sarah is given the job in his stead. Gordon later resigns from the GCPD in the same issue. She continues Gordon's collaboration with Batman and Robin but does not like the job. Later, Sarah herself is fired from the GCPD by Mayor Krol, who is now a "lame duck" after recently losing in the Mayoral Election against Marion Grange. Essen is replaced as Commissioner by Andrew Howe, a close friend of Armand Krol. New Mayor Marion Grange later re-instates James Gordon as Commissioner, and also re-hires and promotes Sarah to serve as liaison between the GCPD and the mayor's office.

Sarah Essen Gordon's death as seen in Detective Comics #741 (February 2000).

Sarah is murdered by the Joker in Detective Comics #741 (February 2000), at the end of "No Man's Land" arc. The Joker had kidnapped dozens of infants and was holding them in the basement of the police station. Sarah is the first to reach Joker's position. Although she has him at gunpoint, the Joker tosses an infant at her, and Sarah instinctively drops her weapon to catch the child, saving it from injury. The Joker then shoots Sarah in the head. The Joker seems to find none of his sadistic humor in this, as he is shown frowning as he walks away. He promptly surrenders to the police that arrive immediately afterward. Batman and Gordon catch up with the Joker soon after discovering Sarah's body. Batman steps aside, unable to bring himself to intervene. In retaliation, Gordon shoots the Joker in the leg. At Sarah's funeral, her stepdaughter Barbara comments, "I always called her Sarah, and now it's too late to call her Mom."

Other versions

The Dark Knight Returns

Main article: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

Sarah was an unseen presence in Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, an alternate future story. In it, she is his loving, stay at home wife. Gordon, by now a retiring police commissioner, inwardly repeats, "I think of Sarah. The rest is easy," as a kind of mantra. She is only glimpsed near the end, when she and Gordon embrace in silhouette.

All Star Batman and Robin

Main article: All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder

In issue #6, Gordon is talking to Sarah on the phone. Though he is married to Barbara at the time, dialogue indicates that Gordon still loves Sarah.

In other media

Film

• Detective Sarah Essen appeared in Batman: Year One voiced by Katee Sackhoff.

Video Game

• In Batman: Arkham City, although Sarah Essen herself is not explicitly referenced, 'Sarah' is the password used by Gordon's men when they infiltrate Arkham City- a suburb of Gotham that has been converted into a new 'prison' for Gotahm's criminals by Hugo Strange- so that they can identify themselves as cops to Batman.

Preceded by Stan Kitch	GCPD Major Crimes Unit Shift Commander {{{years}}}	Succeeded by Harvey Bullock
Preceded by Jim Gordon	Gotham City Police Commissioner {{{years}}}	Succeeded by Andy Howe