Gotham – Harvey Bullock
By Steve Lam
First off, I want to say, “Shame on me!” Shame on me for not doing an article on the character who’s been in every episode since the beginning, and the one who almost has the same billing as future commissioner James Gordon. I’m talking about Harvey Bullock, the blunt detective played by seasoned actor Donal Logue. Set up as a corrupt cop, we’ve seen in Spirit of the Goat that Bullock isn’t such a bad guy, and like Gordon, he was once a man who didn’t take things sitting down and believed in making a difference. Let’s explore the character of Harvey Bullock and where Gotham might be taking him.
Comic Book Biography
Nicknamed “Mr. Corrupty”, Harvey Bullock was created by writer Archie Goodwin and artist Howard Chaykin, and first appeared in Detective Comics #441 (June 1974). His introduction was brief, but he already made his distaste of Batman loud and clear. Bullock would not show up again until Batman #361 (1983) as a detective — under orders from corrupt Gotham City Mayor Hamilton Hill — who tries to derail Commissioner Gordon. His attempts at foiling Gordon were perceived as accidents from his inherent clumsiness, so as to cover up his true agenda. When Gordon has an almost fatal heart attack from one of Bullock’s acts, Bullock becomes overwhelmed with guilt. To atone for what he did, Bullock changes his ways and becomes a good cop. However, the audience finally sees that his clumsiness may not have been a ruse at all. He later befriends Robin based on their interest in old movies.
The post-Crisis Bullock produced another origin change for the character. Working in the Major Crimes Unit, he’s perceived as an honest cop, but in reality, he’s corrupt. This post-Crisis version was later retconned and Bullock was set up as a beat cop who was loyal to Gordon. He also saves Gordon’s life and helps him stop the Joker from blowing up Gotham City.
Years later, Bullock would make detective and Gordon would bring him in on a trusted task force that had the sole purpose of taking down mob boss Sal Maroni. Other members of the task force included Maggie Sawyer, Harvey Dent, Detective Cohen, and Crispus Allen. After this, Bullock would be partnered with Renee Montoya. The two would later grow close and loyal to each other.
In Batman: Cataclysm, Bullock would once again save Gordon’s life. Despite the fact that Bullock had his arm impaled by a metal tube during an earthquake, he brutally removes the object to search for Gordon at GCPD. When Gotham City is shut down by the government and other officers abandon Gordon, Bullock still stays by Gordon’s side and assists him. After Lex Luthor re-opens Gotham City, Bullock is promoted to lieutenant and commands the Major Crimes Unit. Soon, a disgruntled police officer, Jordan Rich, attempts to assassinate Gordon. Bullock then purposely leaks Rich’s whereabouts to the mob, which leads to Rich’s death. When faced with mounting evidence of what he did, Bullock resigns from the force and becomes a suicidal alcoholic.
DC’s One Year Later story event in 2006 sees Bullock back at GCPD and given a second chance. Both Batman and Bullock have buried the hatchet and agreed to work together. Later stories show that Bullock has a mother and two cats. We also learn that Bullock was once a welterweight Golden Gloves competitor and that he was good enough to become a professional, but opted not to, with his excuse being that he hated the strict lifestyle.
Other Incarnations
Harvey Bullock’s most famous appearance, aside from Gotham, has been on the hit animated show Batman: The Animated Series (1992 – 1995). He’s voiced by Robert Costanzo, and the character is very much like his comic book incarnation — blunt, overweight, and unrefined. And like the comics, the character starts out with a huge disdain for Batman. However, after having been rescued by Batman multiple times, Bullock develops a deep respect for the Dark Knight. The character would go on to make guest appearances in Superman: The Animated Series, another DC show that occurs within the Batman: The Animated Series universe. For feature-length films, Robert Costanzo would voice him again in three other animated movies — which also occurred in the same universe as the animated television shows — Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993), Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (1998), and Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003).
Bullock has also been a character in video games. In the video game Batman: The Animated Series (1993), Bullock’s voice can be heard warning Gordon about the Penguin’s bombs. He’s seen in Batman: Chaos in Gotham (2001), Batman: Dark Tomorrow (2003), Lego Batman: The Videogame (2008), and DC Universe Online (2011). And in Batman: Arkham Origins (2013), Robert Constanzo provides his voice again for Bullock, who’s an ally of Captain Gordon.
On BBC Radio 1, Bullock is a character in the Batman: Knightfall storyline adaptation. Here, Eric Meyers provided the voice for Bullock.
Gotham‘s Bullock
Sloppy, out of shape, corrupt, abusive … yep, that pretty much sums up Gotham‘s Harvey Bullock. Say what you want about the character, but at least he’s consistent. We’ve now seen Bullock go from hating Gordon, to actually liking the guy. At the end of LoveCraft, he offers to buy drinks for the soon-to-be-transferred detective. Is Bullock’s character arc finished? Most likely not. Could Bullock’s reasons for changing be so attached to his partnership with Gordon that Bullock will go into a downward spiral once Gordon leaves?
I can definitely see the writers giving Bullock multiple potential partners who he flat-out rejects. Each one just doesn’t have that “Gordon” feel to him … or her — the one that reminds you of that old sofa with the sitter’s butt imprint well-worn into it. That’s something Bullock would say.
Here’s an even bigger theory. Could Bullock, by himself, start taking up the Wayne murder cases in a bid to get his partner back? That would be the next step in his arc. He’s kosher with Gordon now, but he still doesn’t want to open up old wounds regarding the shooting of Mario Pepper. This would definitely continue Bullock’s path to righteousness.
We’ll just have to wait and see what the writers have in store for us. Harvey Bullock may not be the biggest character in the Batman universe, but he’s definitely not the smallest. So why give him a small story? Here’s to hoping that the post-fall finale episodes really play up Bullock’s strong points and give him more depth.
Fox will air new episodes of Gotham starting on Monday, January 5, 2015 at 8:00PM EST.