Origin – Pre-Crisis

Before Crisis on Infinite Earths, James Gordon was a police detective who at first, did not like Batman’s attempt in vigilantism and became bitter and resentful of the caped crusader. Jim did not like Batman’s method of tracking down criminals and torturing them because it was going above the law. Eventually Batman was able to talk to Jim and they were able to set aside their differences and worked together to help rid crime in Gotham. Eventually Jim was able to succeed Commissioner Gorgan and become the police commissioner of GCPD. Jim deputized Batman and he became a law enforcer. Jim now frequently contacts Batman for help in solving crimes and to fight supervillains.

Origin – Post-Crisis

After Crisis on Infinite Earths, James Gordon was re-introduced into the Batman word during Frank Miller’s run on Batman entitled “Batman: Year One.” James Gordon was a Special Forces veteran with hand-to-hand combat skills. He and his pregnant wife Barbara moved from Chicago to Gotham City. Jim was transferred to the corrupted Gotham City Police Department. Jim became the only honest cop in Gotham and soon finds out that his only ally against the criminal underworld was Batman. Batman was never deputized and Jim and Batman would make contact in private and away from the public eye. Whenever Jim needed to talk to Batman, he would use the Bat-Signal that was placed on top of the GCPD building. Also at the end of the Year One story arc, Jim was rescued by Batman without his mask on and seemingly appeared to have seen him as Bruce Wayne. However Jim denies that he saw anything due to not wearing any glasses at that time.

Originally, Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) was the daughter of James Gordon. However in the retcon, she is actually his niece and adopted daughter. It was later hinted that Jim may have been her biological father but was never fully explained. Jim also has hinted that he knew Barbara was Batgirl but never actually mentions it. Later Jim and his wife Barbara divorce.

During the Killing Joke story arc, the Joker shoots and paralyzes Barbara and kidnaps Jim. He cages strips Jim down and cages him at an abandoned amusement park. He forces Jim to look at photos of Barbara beaten badly, and naked in hopes of driving Jim insane. Later Joker reveals that he was trying to prove that anyone could go insane after having “one bad day.” However, Jim was able to maintain his sanity and told Batman to apprehend Joker peacefully to show Joker that their way works too. Afterwards, Barbara was paralyzed from the waist down and had to start using a wheelchair.

During No Man’s Land, Jim would later fall in love with a fellow officer named Sarah Essen. Jim quickly marries her but their relationship would take a turn. Essen questioned Jim why he needed Batman so much and this put strain on their marriage. However she was fatally shot and killed by the Joker. Jim had the Joker at point blank and was convinced by Batman to not kill the Joker. Instead, Jim shoots him in the leg in hopes of crippling him. The Joker got the joke that it was pay back for crippling Barbara and began to laugh uncontrollably. Since Batman had abandoned Gotham and then seemingly returned and acted as if nothing had happen, Jim lost all his trust in Batman. Batman intended to regain Jim’s trust and decides that he would reveal his secret identity to Jim. Batman hoped that this would symbolize his trust for Jim by offering to reveal that he is Bruce Wayne. When Batman proceeds to take off his mask, Jim turns his back and replies that he does not want to know and demanded Batman put the mask back on. Their relationship returns to normal a gain. Later Jim was shot by a common crook that was looking for revenge.

In the recent films (Batman Begins and The Dark Knight) Gordon (Gary Oldman) plays a large part in making the Gotham Police force honest again and (mainly in The Dark Knight) tracking down and arresting Criminals. In The Dark Knight Gordon is taken hostage by Two Face who tries to show Gordon what it's really like losing a loved one by attempting to kill his Son. Fortunately, Batman saves them all and Gordon lives on, perhaps for another Film...

Retirement

Jim retires from the Gotham Police Force after serving over 20 years in Gotham. He decides to remain in Gotham and would occasionally get visits from Batman who would also seek advice from Jim. Michael Akins has taken Jim’s place as the Police Commissioner of the Gotham Police Department. Later Barbara would require surgery to save her life from a Braniac virus. Jim would visit Barbara at the Metropolis hospital and Barbara would reveal the truth to Jim. She tells him that she is currently going by the code-name Oracle and was an information broker for the heroes, and about her past work as Batgirl. Jim reveals to Barbara that he knew she was Batgirl and told her he was proud of her work now with the heroes and her past accomplishments.

Return out of Retirement

One Year after Infinite Crisis, it has appeared that Jim has returned to the GCPD as police commissioner. He states that he has been back for about 3 months already and also mentions that he is back together with his ex-wife Barbara. It is still unknown to why Jim returned as police commissioner.