Monday PSA: James Gordon
A different kindof PSA tonight. A one-page, one-image PSA featuring James Gordon in the hospital.
Was it the Joker? Did Bane take out the commissioner? Or Poison Ivy? Riddler? Two Face?
Nope. It was the Marlboros. (And a bum ticker. And probably lots of donuts. And stress — did I mention stress?)
This anti-smoking message was brought to you by the American Heart Association, DC Comics, and the GCPD.
This PSA (found in Flash #58, January 1992) is an interesting one for several reasons:
- It is one of the few to actually address events that occurred in continuity.
- It focuses not on a teen hero or a schoolkid that children are supposed to relate to, but instead on a late-middle age chain smoking cop. So for all you 40-or-older cigarette-smoking comic book readers, this one’s for you.
And now to revert to form and be a total nit-picker: What’s with those electrodes on his chest? And why is his heart rhythm sinusoidal? That can’t be good. Why would the monitor be tilted down? Who’s his doctor, Ray Palmer? At least they drew his IV correctly.
March 21st, 2006 at 1:16 am
I think the tilted monitor, at least, is the victim of wonky perspective in the art.
I remember when Gordon’s heart attack happened, though. It struck me on the emotional front, but also I thought it worked in the storytelling sense - it was a surprise to us, but made sense.
March 21st, 2006 at 2:26 am
Jim. Aparo. art.
suck it! breathe it! Love it!
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:52 am
I love the phrasing of “those things were for guys not so tough.” So, guys that do those things are still tough, but not as tough as Gordon? Once you reach a certain toughness threshold, are those things forbidden?
“Whatcha up to after work, Jimbo?”
“Oh, I was thinking about maybe going for a jog along the river, then I’m meeting Barbara for dinner at this little vegan place off of Monolith Square. After that, I’m gonna pack up for the weekend trip down the shore. I’ve rented a little cabin for the weekend and-”
“Whoa whoa, Jimbo. Hold the phone.”
“What?”
“You ain’t doin’ any a that.”
“Why not?”
“Remember this mornin’? When you pistol-whipped that skell, was about to take a run at Kowalski? Well, my friend, you just graduated to the top rung of the toughness ladder. All that stuff you talked about? That’s for guys not so tough.”
“Oh… Okay…”
“Attaboy.”
July 8th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Although, talk about heart attacks, anyone else terribly touched by (ROT 13ed for spoilers) jura Syvag xrryrq bire bs n urneg nggnpx va gur Qentbaynapr abiryf? It was just so sudden and random, just like a heart attack is in life.
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