- "I first met a young Jim Gordon when he was a, uh... pain-in-the-ass, moralistic rookie detective. In the years since, he's evolved into a pain-in-the-ass, moralistic captain. I'd say he's my best friend, but in truth, he's my only friend."
- —Harvey Bullock to Jim Gordon and Lee Thompkins at their wedding[src]
Harvey Bullock is a detective of the Gotham City Police Department. 10 years before the death of Thomas and Martha Wayne, he served as the partner of Dix until he was severely paralyzed while they were investigating the Spirit of the Goat. In the present day, he is the partner/mentor of Commissioner James Gordon and a much more experienced detective.
After Gillian Loeb demoted Harvey, the latter retired from being a detective to live his life along with his lover, Scottie Mullen. After an attack at the GCPD and death of Commissioner Sarah Essen, Harvey returned to the force. Harvey was then promoted to full-time Captain of the GCPD after Nathaniel Barnes turned to madness when he was infected with the Alice Tetch virus. Unfortunately, Harvey was demoted back to the rank of detective after he (unintentionally) led his men into a trap set-up by Professor Pyg. Despite his grievances with Gordon following the incident (as Gordon was indirectly responsible for Pyg's reign of terror on Gotham as he was under the employment of Sofia Falcone, whom Gordon enlisted help from to take down Penguin), he continued to stand by Gordon and was one of many cops that stayed behind in the city following the cataclysm.
Following Gordon's promotion to commissioner, Bullock would continue to be Gordon's most trusted ally and friend for the next ten years.
Biography[]
Early years[]
When Harvey was a boy, his father often brought him to luchador wrestling matches at the Garden.[1]
Sometime in the past, Harvey joined up in the army and participated in the Great War along with his old friend Louie DePino.[2]
Ten years before his investigation into the Wayne murders, when Harvey was partnered with Dix, he had a case involving the Spirit of the Goat. The case lead to an abandoned theater, where Harvey and Dix find the limp body of a young woman, hanging by the wrists atop a set. When they encounter Randall Milkie, both men pursue him, however, Dix falls down a trap-door set by Milkie and is paralyzed from the waist-down. Harvey catches up with Milkie and shoots him in the chest, killing him before tending to his partner. A decade later, the case would come back to haunt Harvey when the Spirit of the Goat found a new "host".[3]
Partners with Amanda Wong[]
After Bullock's previous partner Marv was killed in a shootout during a drugstore robbery, he was assigned a new partner in Amanda Wong. Bullock had been partners with Amanda Wong for about a week when the two were sent to investigate a break-in at the Wayne Manor which had resulted in the death of one burglar and the theft of a Picasso.
Arriving at the scene of the crime, Harvey was ambushed by the reporter Lacey White whom he had previously entertained several flings with. After flirting briefly with her, he then had a short argument with his partner about his unorthodox way of doing things. Later, the two sat down with Thomas and Martha Wayne as well as Alfred Pennyworth to take down certain details. What the two concluded from what they had learned, was that the robbery did not meet the modus operandi of the other recent art thefts in Gotham.
Later that noon, Harvey and Amanda met up in the coroner's office to determine the background and identity of the dead thief. Edward Nygma revealed his name to be Byron Stone, after which Harvey remembered Stone being a freelancer who had worked with just about every faction in Gotham. The two then proceeded to Fish Mooney's nightclub, where Fish eventually pointed them to a potential lead.
On their way back to their car, the two were approached by a man in spiked hair who offered to provide information in the future. Harvey took his card to make him go away, so he and Amanda drove out and had a discussion about his relationship with Fish Mooney. Along the way, he glanced at the man with spiked hair's card which revealed him to be Oswald Cobblepot .[2]
Partners with Jim Gordon[]
Bullock and his new partner Jim Gordon were assigned to investigate a double homicide, though he originally tried backing out of the case when he realized that the victims were Thomas and Martha Wayne. He decided against it when Major Crime Detectives Renee Montoya and Crispus Allen arrogantly offered to take it off his hands. After Mario Pepper attempted to escape from him and Jim when they went to visit him, Bullock shot and killed Pepper in defense of Gordon.
Afterward, they were awarded attention from the press for being "heroes". Bullock later attempts to rescue Gordon from Fish Mooney's men from Mooney's plant, but ends up getting himself in the same situation. Shortly after the pair were saved by Carmine Falcone. Bullock later tells Gordon when they arrive at the docks, that the latter has orders to kill Oswald Cobblepot or he would be forced to kill both Cobblepot and Gordon himself.[4]
Bullock relaxes somewhat once his partner is "with the program", able to accept Gordon as 'a lighter shade of gray' in a way he wasn't as a white knight. He tries to mend fences with Fish Mooney and appears to accept her sort of apology that her temper got the better of her when she ordered the pair to be killed.[5]
Bullock and Gordon later track down a vigilante targeting corrupt citizens and strapping them to weather balloons. Bullock discussed the clues concerning the death of Ronald Danzer with Gordon. The discussion goes back to the Wayne case until they are they are interrupted by Davis Lamond of Gotham Juvenile Services. Bullock recognizes Selina as one of the kidnapped children from one of their closed cases, which he berates Gordon for. Bullock was then told that it was for something else, and to read the clues and find the balloons.
Later at the GCPD, Bullock and Gordon talked about the accusation of Detectives Montoya and Allen, with Bullock telling Gordon that would get nothing. Bullock and Gordon's investigation leads them to Carl Smikers, and while later interrogating Smikers, he swears he had nothing to do with the murders and just sold the balls to make money. After Gordon announces the identity of The Balloonman, Bullock and Gordon talk about where Lamond could be storing the Balloons and Gordon figures out it's the old Gotham Juvenile building.
Upon arriving at the old juvenile facility, Gordon and Bullock find another balloon but get ambushed by Davis Lamond, who holds Bullock at gunpoint. Bullock gets free and manages to attach the final weather balloon to Lamond with the intention of releasing the balloon, but Gordon grabs onto it and orders Bullock to shoot the balloon. After a short debate with Gordon, Bullock shoots the balloon.[6]
Bullock and Gordon were assigned to the case of Councilman Ron Jenkins' death, and Harvey was unmotivated and wanted to end the case quickly. However, even though Jim believes that it was a political act, Harvey contradicts him because councilors would normally rather be bribed, and not killed. Bullock and Gordon interrogate the first suspects in Jenkins murder. Though Bullock initially suspects Nicky, Gordon believes in his innocence. Bullock and Gordon later visited another hitman at a prison, bribing him for information about Councilman Zeller killer, and learned his name was Gladwell and his job location. The Detectives quickly went to the Lansky building where they failed to intercept Gladwell, though they got to his desk, finding evidence showing that he had killed the councilman. Since the only clue left to them to prevent gang warfare was the paper with letters, Bullock decided to make a visit to Fish Mooney. Harvey discovered from Fish that Falcone was determined to gain control of Arkham because if he lost, it proved that rumors of him being old and weak were true. Harvey noted that she was joyful about the prospect, though if Falcone fell, so did she. However, Fish told Harvey that if he were to fall she could always count on her plan B. Bullock later arrived at the Mayor's residence, threatening to shoot if Gladwell didn't back away from Gordon. Soon after Gladwell, attempted to finish his job to kill the mayor, despite being surrounded by Bullock and Gordon. This caused the two Detectives to fire at Gladwell, killing him.[7]
Bullock and Gordon, who were on lunch, hear the sound of the alarm and went to the store where the owner, badly injured, informs them that the attacker had stolen his ATM with his bare hands. At the GCPD, Harvey and Jim went over the evidence they had obtained with Captain Essen. Bullock and Gordon began to explore Gotham in search of information about the drug addict musician, Benny, who they ended up finding under a bridge. Surrounded by milk containers, Benny asks them to find the man with the mangled ear for more of the drug that he gave him, afterward, the detectives tried to arrest him, Benny attempted to lift the ATM to throw at them but his skin became pale and dropped dead before the two. The next day both the streets of Gotham and the GCPD collapse are over-run by people under the influence of the drug, dubbed "Viper". After running tests on the drug, Edward Nygma, informed the detectives of the effect the drug had. Bullock and Gordon later received a visit from Taylor Reece, a public relations lawyer for WellZyn, and after hearing about the man with a mangled ear, she blames Stan Potolsky, a former employee of WellZyn's. Harvey then leaves to get an arrest warrant for Potolsky. The Detectives later went to Gotham University where Potolosky's former teacher, Professor Isaac Steiner and after Steiner reveals his part in helping Potolosky and inhales Viper, he got the upper hand of Bullock, forcing Gordon to shoot him. Though before he died, the Professor informs them that Potolosky would strike back against Wayne Enterprises. The two then went to the Wayne Enterprises charity event, with Bullock evacuating the building before the drug got spread. Though already having fulfilled his plan to expose WellZyn, Potolosky asks Bullock and Gordon to visit Warehouse 39 before throwing himself off the ledge of the building to his death. Later, Gordon and Bullock visited the Warehouse, but were surprised to find an empty lab inside.[8]
At the crime scene of Amanda Hastings death, Bullock informed Gordon of what they were dealing with, and the two went to see Amanda Hastings' parents, where they inquired whether they knew anyone who would want to cause harm to Amanda. There they meet the Hasting family's therapist, Dr. Marks, who specialized in hypnotherapy. The two Detectives were unable to get any useful information out of Mr. Hastings, however, Harvey notes that Mr. Hastings despite being devastated, is steady opening and closing his fist. Bullock is later surprised when he's correct about the murderer putting a penny into the back of the head of Amanda Hastings, something only known to a few. Bullock later explained to Gordon and Captain Essen that they left that specific detail out of the reports as the Spirit of the Goat was most likely to have admirers. Given that this was a fact that very few knew, Essen forces Bullock to go and see Dix to see if he told anyone, or had any ideas about the case. On the orders of Essen, Gordon and Bullock visit Dix in a nursing home, where he is confined to a wheelchair after falling through the trapdoor ten years ago. Dix is aware of the case and due to the murderer having the same m.o, down to the penny, Dix suggests they Randall didn't work alone in the past and instead had been a part of a conspiracy. Later, Nygma's research finally results in a name: Raymond Earl who, according to his supervisor, had been last seen at the abandoned theater, the same which Bullock killed the first Spirt of the Goat.[3]
Bullock and Gordon quickly moved to the scene and found Ember hung similarly to how Amanda Hastings had been, but alive. At the top of the theater Harvey and the Goat fight, with the two eventually falling down the stairs. Armed with a hammer, the Goat gets up and attempts to attack Harvey though Jim arrives, defeating the Goat. At the GCPD, Bullock confesses that Dix's conspiracy theory got to him, and after Jim leaves to rest, Harvey sees Earl begin to repeatedly squeeze his fist in his hand which makes the detective finally realize who was actually responsible for the murders of the Goat. Bullock visits Dr. Marks, who was in the middle of a session with Mr. Hastings. Analyzing the records of the Dr., Harvey managed to find out that she offered her services to several patients for free over the years and that two of her patients were Randall Milkie and Raymond Earl. He had also discovered that method of having her patients open and close their fist was a strategy hypnotherapist used to negative compulsions, putting together that Dr. Marks had brainwashed Milkie and Earl into becoming the Goat. Finding herself caught, the doctor admitted to have brainwashed her patients and avoid arrest, the doctor orders the Mr. Hastings to kill Bullock, however Bullock quickly defeats Hastings and shoots the Dr. Marks, who was trying to escape, in the leg. When Allen and Montoya find a witness who saw Gordon "kill" Cobblepot they get warrants for both he and Bullock's arrest. But as Bullock and Gordon are about to be taken into custody, a very much alive Cobblepot turns up at the precinct, much to Bullock's anger.[3]
Bullock confronts Gordon in the locker room and reveals his plan to kill him, in the hope that Falcone will be merciful towards him. But when Bullock is distracted by two officers entering the room, Gordon knocks him to the ground and asks for Bullock's help. Bullock refuses, however, he later has a change of heart after a few drinks when he turns up at Gordon's home and says that he will have nothing to lose either way so will help him. The pair team up, and the next morning arrest Mayor Aubrey James for conspiracy to frame Mario Pepper. They drive him to Falcone Manor to arrest the crime boss, but Falcone reveals he has Barbara, as she had turned up to his home to beg for Gordon's life. Despite Bullock's pleas that Falcone is lying, Gordon surrenders and it is discovered Falcone was telling the truth when she is brought into the room by his enforcer Victor Zsasz. All Falcone says that by all rights they will have to die, he decides to let them go as Gordon believed him, which was a step in the right direction.[9]
Bullock and Gordon were assigned to the case of Coleman Lawson, who's body had been found by the river. Later, Harvey and Captain Essen discussed Jim after the other GCPD officers had walked out on him when Victor Zsasz had arrived at the GCPD. Having exhausted all their resources, the detectives visit the black market to try and talk to a doctor responsible for dealing with wounded criminals. After squeezing him for information, they got the doctor who treated the man with the missing thumb, after which a card for Sionis Investments had fell out of his pocket. Soon after, Bullock and Gordon reached Sionis Investments to meet with Richard Sionis, however before meeting with him, they notice several employees with wounds on their faces. After accidentally stopping Adams while going into the bathroom, Bullock and Gordon later find out from him that Sionis ran a sort of circuit where he forced all potential employees to fight to death for a job. Unfortunately before they could get Adams to sign a confession, Sionis sent his lawyers to represent Adams. Later, deeply concerned about the whereabouts of his partner, and there being too many address to check alone, Bullock decides to get help from the rest of the cops at the GCPD. However all of them refused to help, so Harvey yells at them to remind them that Jim is also a policeman and they offered him no help when he was in need of it the most. Bullock is later thanked by Gordon for doing so.[10]
Bullock tells Jim about the escape of Hargrove, but notices something strange, with Gordon telling him that Barbara left. Later, Bullock and Gordon interrogated Ian's brother, John Hargrove who informs them that in the past, his brother just destroyed buildings where weapons were being manufactured and that he himself surrendered himself to the police after two people died after his last bombing. Bullock and Gordon later inform Captain Essen that Hargrove and the men he was working with had stolen a compound called HMX ,ten times more powerful than the C-4, after killing the guards. Nygma infored Bullock and Gordon about the discovery of the distinctive plate between the remains of the bomb that went off last night, which belonged to an abandoned metal factory. Wasting no time, the two detectives arrived at the factory where they found Hargrove working on yet another bomb. Relieved by the Detectives arrival, he informs them that his captors were trying to strike against Falcone. The Russians then arrive at the factory and start a shootout against the police as to recover Hargrove and his bomb and then escaped. Later, Bullock discovers that Kasyanov worked for Nikolai and if he was trying to lead a coup against Falcone then must be being backed by someone who had money and hated Falcone. Bullock and Gordon are able to arrive on time to stop the Russians from stealing Falcone's money, with reinforcements, but before they could arrest the Russians, a bomb placed under the van went off, killing Kasyanov and all his men. Later Bullock informs his partner that Hargrove and all the criminally insane inmates at Blackgate had been transferred to the old Arkham Asylum building by the order of mayor.[11]
Bullock and the rest of the police arrive at the manor and during which Bullock discovers Gordon and Harvey Dent's plan to try to solve the murder of the Waynes. This causes an argument between the two partners but Alfred quickly silences the two, because all that mattered at that moment was to find Bruce. Jim offers that the murderer may have been sent by Lovecraft, so he asks Bullock try to find Selina and Bruce as he tried to get Lovecraft to call of the assassins. Bullock later interrogated Mackey, a known associate of Selina, and Alfred using the bribe of money gets Mackie to confess that Selina had been working with a new fence, and that Fish Mooney would know who the fence was. Soon after, Harvey and Alfred reached the club asking to speak to Fish, however she only arrives after seeing Alfred threaten Butch. Bullock later called Gordon informing him of the children's location, The Factory, where Selina's fence was based at. Bullock and Alfred arrive at the Factory where they quickly opened fire against the assassins pursuing Bruce and Selina. Bullock and Gordon later part ways after Gordon was demoted to Arkham duty.[12]
Alerted by Gordon's call Bullock visited the Asylum, happy to see his former partner, but seeing as Lang refused to call it in, and he had the skills in order to perform electroshock therapy, Bullock takes Lang to the GCPD for questioning. Bullock is surprised to find the Penguin locked in a cell and refused to release him as he liked having him there, right where he could see him. Bullock then went on to interrogate Lang, asking him who on his staff could possibly do such a thing. Lang defended his staff members, telling Bullock that they had all been with him for the past 5 years and they had all come to Arkham together, except one person. Soon after, Harvey calls Gordon to inform him that Dorothy Duncan was actually a patient and not a nurse. Later at the GCPD, Bullock and Gordon reported to Captain Essen what had happened and how Duncan had stayed in the basement of Arkham when it originally closed, disguising herself as a nurse when it was re-opened.[13]
Bullock and Gordon are informed by Nygma that Jack Gruber is an alias of Lester Buchinsky, a former bank robber for the mafia who was betrayed by Salvatore Maroni, his former boss. Later, Bullock and Gordon speak to Maroni about Buchinsky and want to use him as bait for the Electrocutioner.[14]
Bullock introduced Gordon to Arnold Flass. The three meet with a night janitor named Leon Winkler, who was a witness in a public homicide. Gordon, after interrogating some guards, confronts Officer Delaware upon his role in the guard duty and finds the same drugs in Delaware's car that were on the murder victim. Due to the illegal search, Essen removes Bullock and Gordon from the murder investigation. At a restaurant, Bullock tells Gordon that Flass and his men have taken possession of drug stash houses, and that Flass is protected by serious people. Gordon and Bullock arrive at a stash house where Delaware and his men claimed that they have the search warrant on this stash house. Later at the GCPD, Essen tells Bullock and Gordon that Internal Affairs has ruled Winkler's death as a suicide and advises that they move on to the next victim. At Gotham's port, Bullock meets with Mooney where she tells Bullock that she will lay low for awhile as Bullock advises Mooney not to return to Gotham City. She declares that she will return to kill Penguin and they kiss goodbye.[15]
When the GCPD finds the body of Adam Jodowsky, Bullock is present and is given advice by Captain Essen, to watch himself, as Detective Flass had many friends on the force. At the GCPD, Bullock talks to Scottie Mullen, Adam Jodowsky's sponsor, and a member of the phobia group had been apart of. Going to the furniture factory that made the chair used to hang Jodowsky, Gordon and Bullock to the surprise of both, find a guy, wearing a pig mask, torturing the kidnapped man. After shooting the masked man, Bullock decides to visit Scott's phobia group to give the good news, however Gordon insists on further research to make sure the man they shot wasn't working alone, because of the post-mortem incision made in Jodowsky's body before being killed. That night Bullock attends the phobia group, confessing his biggest fear to the rest of the attendees of being killed in the streets while a criminal goes through his pockets. Bullock instead wanted to die in a warm, cozy bed, in the arms of a beautiful woman. After Bullock speaks, another attendee, Tod exposing his greatest fear, failure, having thought that he had passed it to his son as well, a fear he himself had inherited from his own father. After Scottie hadn't returned for several minutes, Bullock arrives as "Tod" drives with her held hostage in the back of his van. Knowing that the greatest fear of Scottie was drowning in a pool, Harvey manages to discover when she was seven, she almost drowned in a pool at Lemmars Park, prompting him and Gordon to go there. There, Harvey throws himself into the pool to save the woman, and Jim chases Tod into the boiler room, simultaneously shooting at him. Unfortunately, Crane gets away after closing a door, cutting Jim off. However, Bullock successfully saves Scottie's life.[16]
The next day, while the police search the home of the most recent victim of Todd, Gennaro Marx, Bullock gives Gordon the rundown once he arrived. Later using a school yearbook of the school that Gennaro Marx worked at, Bullock discovered Todd's true identity, Gerald Crane. The Detectives went to Aquinas High School intending on finding out information about Crane, and the headmaster, Judith Barthel informs them that Crane was very overprotective of his son Jonathan and that his wife died several years ago in a car accident. Back at the GCPD, Bullock and Gordon discover that Crane had intentions on creating inoculations for himself and another person, dubbed "Subject B". Bullock and Gordon later discover that Crane's real fear he had been generated by the guilt of not being able to save his wife from a fire that had occurred in their house, years ago. With that information they decide to visit the old Crane house. Bullock and Gordon arrived at the old house Crane house, where, Gerald and Jonathan attempted to escape through the courtyard. Fearing nothing, Gerald takes his gun and shoots at the Detectives, though they quickly shoot him down. Finding Jonathan convulsing due to being administered a large dose of fear toxin by his father, Gordon quickly tells Bullock to call an ambulance.[17]
Investigating Alphonse Grayson and Owen Lloyd separately, Bullock and Gordon discover that the grudge between the two families dated way back to World War One, over an accusation of a stolen horse.[18]
Bullock and Gordon are assigned to solve the theft carried out by the group and after learning that a smoke bomb had been set off in the bank a week previous, they decide to analyze previous recordings of the theft to try to find if it was connected to the robbery. At Kleg's Auto, Bullock and Gordon found Gus Floyd's body inside a refrigerator. At the GCPD, with the help of the witness,Bullock and Gordon manage to find Clyde Destro, however instead of arresting him they let him go in order to follow him and track down the rest of the Red Hood Gang. After hearing shots from the inside of Destro's apartment, Bullock and Gordon quickly enter the apartment and call an ambulance for the Destro, and there they discover that the band had been robbing banks that denied Destro loan's in the past, and that there next target would be the International Savings Bank of Gotham. The next day the Red Hood Gang, now only down to three people, closed in on the bank, but were surrounded by the GCPD.[19]
Bullock was forced by Commisioner Loeb to testify that he had falsified evidence against Arnold Flass. He and Gordon are later informed by Captain Essen that Flass had been exonerated. Later Bullock confessed to Gordon that Loeb had dirt on him and half of the GCPD, and years ago he had been given a task similar to Gordon's of killing a criminal, but instead of sparing his as Gordon did, he had killed him. Bullock later crashes through a gate with his car and rescues Gordon and Harvey Dent. With Bullock's help, they pick up Griggs, and Bullock hangs him out of the car while Jim drives, with Griggs confessing that the only person who knew where Loeb kept his files was Falcone. With this revelation, and with great regret, Bullock and Gordon visit Oswald's to ask the Penguin for his help and he is pleased to assist them after Jim promises him a favor and five minutes alone with Loeb's files. Later, that night Gordon, Bullock, and Penguin reach an old farm located on the outskirts of the city where the Penguin had heard Falcone tell Loeb on the phone, that the farm was safe. There they are welcomed in by an elderly named Jude and Marge, under the guise of being a security team sent to check out the farm's security. Unexpectedly, the elderly couple, having figured out that they were not who they claimed to be, opened fire against them however they managed to subdue them quickly, leaving Penguin to watch them while they checked the attic. There they discover Loeb's daughter, Miriam, and after having a long talk with Miriam, who had serious mental issues, the detectives end up discovering that she was the real killer of her mother, the Commissioner's wife, and to prevent her from being sent to Arkham, she had lived there for 20 years with Marge and Jude. Bullock later receives Loeb's file on him from Gordon, and warns his partner about Penguin coming to collect his favor one day.[20]
Bullock is convinced by Gordon to join him in investigating Grace Fairchild's murder. Bullock begin to go to bars looking for information about Grace, eventually finding a barwoman who remembered seeing her leave months ago with a "hot" date. Later, Nygma couldn't find the missing evidence on the case, though he did find a photocopy of an image of a hand painted broken heart. Seeing this, Bullock pales at the realization that they were dealing with a known serial killer. Bullock tells Gordon of the history of the serial, known as the Ogre, who kidnapped young and beautiful women and then killed them. The reason he hadn't been stopped however, was because the Ogre used to take revenge on those who tried to catch him, killing their loved ones. Realizing that he had been setup, Bullock and Gordon go to find Officer Moore. Bullock and Gordon interrogate Moore until he confesses that he brought the case to Jim under the orders of Commissioner Loeb.[21]Bullock told Gordon that first detective who investigated the Ogre came home one night and found his wife murdered. They later met with Detective Ben Mueller the first officer to ever investigate the Ogre. However, Mueller is reluctant to help since he still had a daughter, but Jim managed to persuade him to reveal the contents of the lost evidence.At the plastic surgery clinic, Bullock and Gordon meet with Dr. Darren Cushman to find out about the first victim of the Ogre which, according to the doctor, was recommended to them a client. Unfortunately to find out the client's name they would need a court order. With the court order from Judge Harkness, Bullock discovers that the nurse was recommended to them by a lady named Constance van Groot, a member of one of the oldest families in Gotham. The Detectives arrive at the van Groot home, and quickly find a man trying to hang himself. Once he was safe, Bullock cases the manor until he finally finds the body of Constance van Groot, who had been dead for more than a decade. At the Wayne Enterprises charitable ball, Bruce and Selina dance awkwardly while the rest of the attendees stare at them. Bullock and Gordon interrogate Jacob Skolimski and find out that the Ogre was actually his son and denied all accusations being made against his son. At the GCPD, Bullock, Gordon and Captain Essen all gather leads on the case to try to find out who the Ogre was. Despite not having a picture in the file "Jason Van Groot" of the clinic, they manage to get a sketch of him. [22]
Bullock arrived at the GCPD with a JV Pimp who claimed to have information about who the Ogre was. Later, they discover that the Ogre frequents a brothel called The Foxglove, an extremely exclusive place that was only never used the same place twice. Bullock was later given the invitation for Foxglove, to go instead of Gordon. Bullock reached the Foxglove and begins to look for clues pertaining to the Ogre, but after witnessing several highly sadistic activities, he chooses to reveal his true identity and summons the rest of the GCPD to there. Bullock and Gordon later get tipped of as to where The Ogre lived, and there discovered that him and Barbara were heading for her parent's house, after The Ogre called Jim. There, Bullock is knocked out by the Ogre, but later Bullock comes to and appears from behind distracting the Ogre long enough for Gordon to shoot the Ogre in the head killing him instantly. Bullock along with the rest of the G.C.P.D. are involved in the all-out war between the Falcone crime family and Maroni crime family when Salvatore Maroni wants Falcone dead for apparently trying to put a hit on him (which in reality was actually Cobblepot, as part of his scheme to take over Gotham City's underworld).[23]
Bullock saves Gordon and Falcone from Maroni's men at a hospital, and escape alongside Cobblepot and Butch Gilzean. They head to a warehouse, where they end up being captured by Fish - who has returned to Gotham after fleeing weeks previously after being exposed for trying to kill Falcone, along with her new gang. Bullock along with Falcone, Gordon and Cobblepot are restrained, although Fish decides to spare Bullock. It is revealed she is in alliance with Maroni, who has promised to give back all her territories. But a conflict brews between the pair, which is mostly down to sexist behaviour from Maroni who keeps referring to Fish as "babes" in a mocking manner. Fish shoots Maroni dead, which causes a shootout between her gang and Maroni's. Bullock unties Gordon and Falcone and they escape, only to be recaptured by Selina Kyle. Before Fish can do anything to them, Cobblepot appears and fires a machine gun, killing Fish's crew. Bullock, Gordon, and Falcone escape, allowing Cobblepot to confront Fish and kill her, ending the mob war. Falcone then retires from a life of crime and leaves Gotham City.[24]
Resignation and later reassignment to the G.C.P.D.[]
After the conclusion of the mob war, Bullock and Gordon were demoted to traffic duty as punishment by Commissioner Gillian Loeb for helping Falcone (as he had switched alliances with Maroni). Having had enough, Bullock resigned and started working as a bartender. Civilian life proved to be much positive for Bullock, as he stopped drinking heavily, got better sleep and was now engaged to Scottie Mullen. After Gordon ended up being sacked by Loeb, he contemplated doing a "favor" for Cobblepot but decided against it, and Bullock told him he made the right decision. But in the end Gordon did the debt for Cobblepot, who later forced Loeb to give Gordon his job back and resign as commissioner.[25]
When Gotham City began to get terrorised by a group of criminals known as The Maniax, Gordon turned up at Bullock's bar for help. Bullock didn't return with him but gave him some advice on leads on the case. After Essen was killed along with other police officers during a massacre at the precinct, Bullock returned to duty in order to help Gordon.[26]
Bullock and Gordon began working to track down Maniax leader Jerome Valeska. They headed to the home of his father Paul Cicero who had worked at the same circus Jerome did and previously covered up for him when Jerome murdered his mother. When knocking at his door, they hear Cicero cry out in pain and after entering, see he has been stabbed in the eye and killed. When Bullock goes to check him, he accidentally moves his hand causing a mysterious gas to be released which causes Bullock to start passing out. Gordon manages to drag Bullock into the corridor, where he has a brief confrontation with Jerome before being knocked unconscious by an assailant of his. Bullock and Gordon are later taken to the GCPD and recover in the locker room. Whilst Gordon goes to deal with Jerome who takes hostages at a children's gala, Bullock visits Cobblepot to warn him to stay away from Gordon. That same night Jerome's reign of terror ends when he is stabbed in the neck and killed by Theo Galavan.[27]
A few days after Jerome's death, a new captain named Nathaniel Barnes makes a big entrance at the police precinct in which he fires a few corrupt officers and arrests one, making it clear he wouldn't stand for corruption. After Gordon has a talk with him, Bullock isn't too convinced that it will work as he has seen guys like Barnes in the past trying to put right and it hasn't worked. Bullock becomes a part of Barnes' new Strike Force team which consists of new non-corrupted recruits to fight against the corruption in Gotham, with their primary goal in being building a case against Cobblepot. Gordon acts as Barnes' second-in-command in the team.[28]
Bullock along with the Strike Force raided one of the Penguin's cash houses, where the people inside processed the money. Bullock and Gordon had a stakeout outside the library, after tracking the arsonists patterns. Bullock later witnessed Officer Luke Garrett being burned alive by Bridgit Pike.[29]
Bullock interrogated Ivy Pepper about the whereabouts of Selina Kyle, and though she refused to talk at first, Bullock gave her an ultimatum. Either he called the children's home to come and get her, or get her a candy bar and forget to get someone to watch her. Later, Bullock and Gordon arrive at the Pike apartment where they found the two charred bodies of Joe and Cale. Bullock and Gordn then went over the evidence, with Gordon questioning why they were burning down Wayne Enterprise buildings.[30]
When a searching warrant was put out for Cobblepot after he attacked the newly elected mayor Theo Galavan, Bullock and Gordon staked out a bar where Butch Gilzean was operating along with his new gang after betraying Cobblepot. Whilst waiting for Butch to show up, Gordon deduced that Galavan was not all he seemed due to the bad things that have happened after his arrival in Gotham. Bullock and Gordon enter the bar to question Butch, but are disrupted when Victor Zsasz shows up outside with his underlings demanding everyone to leave. Although Butch's gang abandons him, Bullock and Gordon stand their ground until backup shows up. When sirens are heard in the background, Zsasz and his crew flee the scene. Bullock and Gordon then notice Bullock made his escape during the chaos, leaving behind his fake hand which they had handcuffed to a pipe.[31]
Bullock watched Gordon interrogate Barbara Kean from a one way glass window. In Barnes' office, Jim offers to go see the thing that Barbara wanted to show him. Bullock and Barnes agree that Barbara wanted to lure them into a trap, while Leslie advocates for Barbara being sent to a hospital as quickly as possible to resume her treatment. Despite this, Gordon manages to convince Barnes to comply with his request because she was their only link to Galavan, and it was worth the risk.Captain Barnes tells Bullock that Gordon was too wrapped up in everything emotionally, and he needed to make sure that one of them wouldn't be sucked in by Barbara's mind games. While driving to see what Barbara wanted, Bullock and Gordon ignored Barnes' order over the radio, continuing on. Suddenly a truck rammed the patrol car and left Bullock unconscious while Gordon was abducted. Later at the GCPD, Harvey listens to the audio recording of the patrol until he comes to a realization of where Barbara had taken Jim. He then informs Captain Barnes that Jim had been brought to the Gotham Cathedral, as Barbara wanted a do-over for the wedding the two never had. Bullock and several Strike Force members arrive, chasing down Tabitha on Jim's orders. Bullock, Gordon, and several officers later went to China Docks in search of Mayor James, who they found there.[32]
Galavan was later arrested for the kidnapping of Mayor Aubrey James but was acquitted as James retracted his statement and blamed a now missing Cobblepot instead. After punching out Galavan in the courtroom Gordon was dragged off, and unknown to others was kidnapped by two officers working for Galavan. After the officers turned up dead, Barnes put out a search for Gordon.[33]
Shortly after Gordon's disappearance, Bruce Wayne himself went missing, which was the work of the Order of St. Dumas. At the precinct Alfred Pennyworth was let out of his cell after he had barely survived being killed by Tabitha Galavan and members of the Order, and along with Bullock and Lucius Fox knew they needed Gordon to help launch a rescue mission for Bruce. Nearby Edward Nygma sniggers, causing the three to probe him for information on Gordon's whereabouts. In typical Nygma style he gives a riddle, which Fox successfully solves in a second, deducing that Gordon is holed up safe at Nygma's apartment. Finding Gordon there along with Oswald Cobblepot, they team up in order to launch an attack at Galavan's apartment. Selina Kyle helps them gain entrance, and they climb the stairs to prevent the sacrifice of Bruce. Bullock holds back due to being out of energy, and the others head on and shoot down and kill many members of the cult. Just as Order member Father Creel attempts to lunge at Gordon with a knife, Bullock appears and shoots him dead. Bruce is rescued unharmed, and Galavan - who is betrayed his Tabitha and his niece Silver St. Cloud who make their escape - is taken away by Gordon and Cobblepot and executed to stop any chance of him escaping justice.[34]
Cobblepot goes fugitive after the killing of Galavan. After being chased down by a mysterious figure, he turns to Bullock and Gordon for their help. The pair of them warn Cobblepot that he is wanted by Barnes, and take him outside of Gotham in which Gordon warns him to stay away for good. However, after they leave Cobblepot, he returns to the city anyway.[35]
A month after Galavan's murder, Gordon is cleared of his part in the crime and returns to the G.C.P.D. Bullock and Gordon get back to work and start working on another case after a cop was found the night before frozen to death. Later on, the same assailant robs a pharmacy and freezes both the pharmacist and the guard. The criminal makes his escape and Bullock tries to drive after him, only to crash into the frozen guard, shattering him into bits. The frozen pharmacist is taken to the precinct morgue. They identify the assailant as Victor Fries due to him leaving a pill bottle behind by accident, which has his wife Nora's name on it. Nora is arrested and taken into police custody, where it is revealed she is sick and Victor has been doing the abductions to find a way to save her.[36]
Barnes and Gordon come up with a plan to lure Victor by taking a sickly Nora to the medical wing at Arkham Asylum. Bullock comes along as do other police officers, but Victor proves too strong for them and freezes his way through the asylum. Bullock and a few cops find themselves trapped as security doors keep them imprisoned in a corridor, although Gordon manages to narrowly escape. Over the intercom chief psychiatrist Hugo Strange claims there is a problem with the system. This setback allows Victor to successfully escape with Nora, along with Leslie Thompkins who came along to watch over her. After Victor's escape, Bullock and the officers are set free. The police head to Victor's home and tell him to come out. At this moment Nora killed herself by switching cartridges in his freeze gun, so the formula that was meant to freeze her and bring her back later was in place of the more deadly substance. This caused Victor to freeze her, only for her to die and break apart. Victor let Leslie go, and then froze himself with his suit. His body was taken to the morgue at Arkham, where he was declared dead (although in reality a mutated Victor survived and was being held in Indian Hill).[37]
Bullock and Gordon later arrive to see Alfred, and he informs them they discovered the Wayne killer was Matches Malone and informed them fearfully that Bruce had gone to kill him. The next day, Bullock reveals to Gordon that Malone was never a suspect in the Wayne murder as he spent the last few years without work, successfully flying under the radar.[38]
Gordon was arrested for the murder of Strike Force recruit Carl Pinkney and imprisoned at Blackgate Penitentiary, which he declared was a setup. Bullock supported Gordon, especially after he decided to break off from Leslie as he felt she shouldn't be burdened by him and bring up their yet-unborn child without him. But Bullock later broke the heartbreaking news to Gordon that Leslie lost the child, and had moved away. Realising Gordon wouldn't survive, Bullock turned to former don Carmine Falcone to help break Gordon out of prison. Falcone agreed to the plan and used his contacts to fake Gordon's death and get him away to safety. Bullock and Gordon met Falcone on a bridge outside Gotham, and when Falcone gave the ultimatum for Gordon to either leave the country or return to Gotham, Gordon chose the latter so he could clear his name and find Leslie.[39]
Bullock kept tight-lipped about Gordon's location in Gotham and refused to say he knew anything about where he was, regardless of Barnes' threats. Gordon managed to successfully clear his name after exposing Nygma as the culprit who killed Pinkney in order to frame him. But Gordon chose not to return to the police force yet, as he still wanted to track down the people responsible for hiring out Matches Malone to kill Bruce's parents.[40]
Acting captain[]
Gordon found himself hunted down by an individual calling himself "Azrael", an apparent warrior who wanted Gordon dead. When Gordon was about to be attacked by Azrael, Bullock and other officers showed up and shot at Azrael, who managed to make his escape. Later that evening, Azrael attacked the precinct and fatally wounded Barnes by stabbing him in the stomach. Azrael fell from the roof and was unmasked and revealed to be a very-much-alive Theo Galavan, who then ran off into the night after being spotted by news crews.[41]
Bullock reluctantly took over as captain as Barnes was still making a recovery in hospital. Bullock and Gordon tracked down Tabitha at Butch's mansion in order to get her help in finding Theo. She gave them some insight into Azrael and claimed the man Theo was now wasn't himself and that someone has done something to her brother. She leads them to a Dumas crypt at Gotham Cemetery where her grandfather is buried along with an ancient sword that was claimed to have belong to Azrael. Whilst there Theo himself shows up and beats Jim up and tries to kill him. Tabitha tries to reason with Theo and get through to him, but the memory jog proves to be a huge disadvantage as he recalls his mission to kill Bruce and fatally stabs Tabitha for betraying him. Theo fails again to kill Bruce, and is instead blown apart by Butch Gilzean outside Wayne Manor.[42]
Bullock covers up for Butch and doesn't confirm to the press that Azrael is a revived Theo Galavan. Bullock gets a search warrant to search Hugo Strange's office at Arkham Asylum, as the apparent dead subjects taken to him (such as Victor Fries) have been spotted alive and well. But upon arriving at the office they discover he has shredded documents, and Bullock decides to get another warrant to search the whole asylum, feeling Strange is hiding something.[43]
After Bullock lost communication with Gordon, he sent a team to the asylum, but they found themselves greeted by what appeared to be Gordon. They returned with him to the precinct, where he claimed there was nothing wrong or suspicious at the asylum, which confused Bullock as it contradicted his earlier statements. Gordon continued to act weird and not bothered by the current predicaments, even when Alfred enquired about what happened to Bruce and Lucius as they themselves went missing after visiting the asylum. The "Gordon" before them was exposed as a fraud, which came about after Barbara Kean knew something was up as the fake Gordon tried to hit on her, and after slapping him exposed him as a shapeshifter named Basil - another experiment of Strange's. Bullock again dispatched the squad to the asylum, although Gordon, Lucius and Selina Kyle turned up safe at the gates. Strange was then brought into custody, although he warned about a bus full of the monsters he created being transported through Gotham City, and it would be disastrous if they escaped. Bullock put out a search for the bus. At this time Gordon made the decision to leave Gotham City instead of helping with finding the monsters, as he wanted to search for Lee. After saying goodbye to Bullock, he took his car and departed into the night. Despite Bullock's adamance that the bus must be found, it crashed and the monstrous passengers were released upon Gotham.[44]
6 Months later[]
Replaced by Jim Gordon as captain[]
The Creation of No Man's Land[]
Shortly after, Harvey received a phone call from Penguin. Bullock answered the call impolite as always. As Penguin just said "Harvey", Bullock asked if this is Oswald, whereon he gave Lucius Fox a hand gesture that suggested he should overhear their conversation. Even though Bullock claimed that he is kind of busy at the moment, Cobblepot revealed that he has information regarding Jeremiah Valeska's plan, but Harvey simply asked him what information he has. As one of Jeremiah's followers lying on the ground was still moving and groaning, Tabitha immediately shot him dead right next to Penguin's ear, who covered his ear in annoyance. Having noticed the shot, Bullock asked if he just heard gunfire, but Oswald ordered him to just listen, whereon he revealed that Valeska is not honoring the six hours, that he will blow the bombs as soon as he can watch the catastrophe from a safe distance.
Oswald then told Harvey that Jeremiah said something about rewiring the bombs to communicate with each other, he called it a direct sequence. As soon as he heard this, Lucius stopped listening to Penguin's call and immediately started to search around the maps and technical plans lying on the desk. Since Lucius repeated "communicate with each other", Bullock noticed that Fox knows what Cobblepot is talking about and simply ended the call, whereon Penguin yelled "Harvey!" full of anger before throwing the flip phone onto the ground. At the GCPD, Lucius explained Harvey that it is a backup system from when they operated as batteries, meaning that they can be disrupted by disarming the first bomb in the sequence, like removing one light from a string of Christmas lights. However, Harvey pointed out that they have no idea where the bombs were.[45]
Personality[]
- "You're a cynic. A slovenly, lackadaisical cynic."
- —Jim Gordon to Harvey Bullock[src]
Harvey is a hardened enforcer of justice. Jaded by his time and experiences in Gotham, he knows that justice in a place like that isn't always ethical; as such, he has no qualms doing the morally grey; quite often he'll take evidence, such as Itallian suits a smuggler was caught with, or drink a beverage out of a fridge a body was in. But he wasn't always like that. In fact, when Harvey's former partner Dix told Jim what Harvey was like when he was working with him, Jim could barely believe what he was being told. Despite this, he is loyal, dedicated and even willing on occasion to put his life on the line for others. Harvey is often known for his unique sense of humor, often making sarcastic quips. According to Harvey his two favorite things are "drinking and ignoring people". As he's a homicide detective, Harvey will walk away from cases if there wasn't a murder involved, such as the ATM robbery in Viper; at the same time, Harvey tends to have a limited vocabulary, not knowing words like "altruism".
Abilities[]
- "He's a cop. He was born to be a cop."
- —Sarah Essen to Jim Gordon[src]
- Expert detective: Harvey is a very qualified detective, as he knows how to solve mysteries by examining. His investigative skills were called "legendary" by Officer Tannenbaum. When he was Dix's partner, he noticed Shelly Lawson had not been dead for long based on the candles surrounding her being freshly lit. After becoming Jim Gordon's partner, he figured out that Doctor Marks was behind the Spirit of the Goat serial killers based on Robert Hastings and Raymond Earl exhibiting signs of hypnotism. Bullock deduced the location of where Barbara Kean kidnapped Jim Gordon and Lee Thompkins based on the recording of Barbara's interrogation. Bullock was also able to tell when Jim Gordon was being impersonated by someone based on their erratic behavior. During the events of No Man's Land, Harvey found out it was Victor Zsasz who shot Gordon after he found a fragment of one of his bullets at the crime scene. He also figured out Zsasz shot him under the influence of Ivy Pepper. The late Sarah Essen has stated that Bullock was "born to be a cop," and he later proclaimed to Nathaniel Barnes that "[he] would make a kick-ass P.I." In the Captain's absence, Harvey is the ranking detective of Gotham Central.
- "If I pull this trigger, your brains are blown through the back of your skull."
- —Harvey Bullock to Jeremiah Valeska[src]
- Expert marksman: Harvey can use various firearms and shoot with precision. He prefers a revolver as his sidearm, and was accurate enough to shoot and kill Randall Milkie, Mario Pepper, Gerald Crane in a shootout, and shot Creel when the latter was midair. He was also able to shoot Doctor Marks from several stories up with his sidearm. He paralyzed Officer Patel when he shot her, believing her to be Professor Pyg at the time. He was prepared to shoot down Jerome Valeska's blimp with a sniper rifle, and he threatened to shoot Jeremiah Valeska in the head. He later accurately shot Jane Cartwright accurately in the chest with his revolver.
- Skilled hand-to-hand combatant: Harvey has some skills in unarmed combat. He was able to defend himself from a hypnotized Robert Hastings, and knock out a scientist with one punch.
- Leadership: Bullock became the substitute Captain of the GCPD on multiple occasions, following Sarah Essen's death until Nathaniel Barnes took up the mantle. He later filled in for Barnes after he was grievously wounded by Theo Galavan, filling Barnes with pride, much to his shock. Bullock later took over once again after Barnes became the Executioner, and filled in for Gordon whenever he was absent.
- "Uncle Harvey has connections."
- —Harvey Bullock to Jim Gordon[src]
- Networking: Along his years in Gotham, Bullock has already met various kinds of persons in various levels of the city, which can provide information, help or even deals in his investigation. He claims to have more contacts in The Narrows more than anyone else in the GCPD.
Gallery[]
Main Article: Harvey Bullock/Gallery
Appearances[]
Trivia[]
- The character was created by Archie Goodwin and Howard Chaykin and he first appeared in Detective Comics #441 (June 1974).
- This is the first live-action incarnation of the character Harvey Bullock.
- In the prequel novel "Gotham: Dawn of Darkness", Harvey mentions that he fought in the Great War. Since in the episode "The Blind Fortune Teller" James Gordon confirms that the Great War is indeed World War I, it appears that Harvey is a veteran of World War I in the universe that the show is set in.
- In "13 Stitches" he reveals that he was in high school sometime after 1959, which was several decades after World War I in the real word. Prior to this, the episode "They Who Hide Behind Masks" revealed that Ra's al Ghul was killed and first revived in the year 125 A.D. and that he had lived for 2000 years since then, thus seemingly placing the show's setting sometime during or after the year 2125, thus seemingly placing the events of World War I as taking place around the vicinity of 2090, given Harvey's age of 51 during the fourth season.
- In the same novel, Harvey reveals that at the time the story is set (which is two months before the events of the pilot episode) he has been part of the GCPD for over 20 years, having served nine of them as detective.
- In "A Dark Knight: Reunion", Harvey mentions that he is 50 years old. This makes him around more than 61 years old in the finale.
- Harvey's mentioned a few times that he's Irish-American.
- Whenever he leaves the employ of the GCPD, he tends to end up a bartender. As he puts it, it combines his two favorite things "Drinking and ignoring people".