Will Joe Chill Ever Be In Gotham?

Recently, I wrote an article about Matches Malone and how I was pretty disappointed that Gotham was changing the character who murdered Bruce’s parents. On top of that, the re-characterization of Matches as a hitman seemed odd and out of place — Matches was never a violent person in the comics and was actually a criminal foil. So in the latest episode, “Pinewood,” you can imagine my letdown when they kept going down this alternate route and made Doctor Strange the main architect of the Wayne murders.

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Now, I’m fully aware that Gotham is not the first to change essential elements of Batman’s mythos. The Tim Burton / Michael Keaton Batman (1989) switched out Joe Chill for Jack Napier — who later becomes the Joker. It wasn’t okay then, and it’s certainly not okay now. Batman’s comic source material contains enough surprises and twists that Gotham‘s writers don’t even need go about changing things around.

I’m still finding it difficult to understand why the writers needed to go down this path. They could’ve easily had Joe Chill be hired by Strange, or not even involve Strange at all. One of the most compelling reasons for Bruce becoming Batman was due to random crime. The Christopher Nolan / Christian Bale Dark Knight Trilogy covered this philosophy extensively. In that series of films, Bruce learned that crime and evil were concepts that couldn’t be attacked by pure physical means. Hence, why he became a symbol to the people of Gotham City. His original intent was to inspire people and then let another concept — the concept of Batman — guide the citizens of Gotham City.

The one thing the writers of Gotham did justly was Bruce’s interaction with Matches. His encounter with his parents’ murderer made him gaze upon the eyes of a man and not a “monster.” At the end, Bruce made the choice to allow Matches to live. Now, if this powerful scene had involved Joe Chill, it would’ve been perfect. Bruce’s quest to rid Gotham City of crime was ignited by his parents’ murders. The fuel that keeps this fire fed is his need to understand the criminal mind and the need to stop evil everywhere.

Joe Chill was the perfect metaphor for that, and not because he’s a super-villain or daring criminal mastermind. He was just a hired hitman who carried out orders from a mob boss (according to Pre-Crisis and Modern Age versions). It made him a sort of an amorphous being who embodied what was wrong with Gotham City — an extension of crime and evil.

Many will argue that Matches is pretty much the same thing, and it’s just a name change. My question to them is: then why do it? If the situation, reasons, and everything else is the same, why switch out an established character in the comics for someone else? It really doesn’t serve any purpose. Or should we still have hope of seeing Joe Chill? Could Chill be set up as someone who’s above Hugo Strange? That would be even (sorry for the pun) stranger.

Next: Catch up on Gotham with a Recap of 'Pinewood'

I really don’t see anybody else being above Strange for the time being. It certainly looks as if he’s pulling the strings, and has been for quite a while. The man has been working for Wayne Enterprises, so this corruption — involving Arkham Asylum, Indian Hill, and Pinewood — probably goes back quite a while.

What about you? Are you disappointed that Joe Chill wasn’t the one responsible for the murder of Bruce’s parents? Do you still hope to see Joe Chill? Sound off in the comments.

Fox’s Gotham airs on Mondays at 8:00PM EST.

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