Bob the goon
Context
Bob was Joker (Jack Napier)’s right-hand man in the 1989 Batman movie.
He stood out to me because of his loyalty. Something was going down, and Bob was right there.
For more context check out the character profile for Tim Burton/Michael Keaton’s Batman.
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Background
- Real Name: Bob.
- Known Relatives: Unrevealed.
- Group Affiliation: Joker’s gang.
- Base of Operations: Axis Chemical Plant.
- Height: 5’6″ (1.67m). Weight: 165 lbs. (75 Kg.).
- Eyes: Blue. Hair: Light brown.
Powers & Abilities
Bob is a hired gun working for Jack Napier.
Jack is going places and one day will run the crime world of Gotham. Bob sees the potential and intends to be there when he does.
Bob stands out among his peers because of his initiative and loyalty. He isn’t head and shoulders above them, but he’s the guy who’s always there. He acts to save his boss, and doesn’t make big mistakes.
He’s usually armed with a .45 Colt semi-auto pistol and a large Bowie knife.
He’s also a decent photographer.
History
Crime ran rampant in the densely populated city, Gotham. Streets were overrun and public officials helpless. With Gotham’s 200th anniversary festival coming up everyone was anxious.
As a result:
- The Mayor ran his campaign on curbing the current crime spree. He promised to make Carl Grissom, leader of Gotham’s underworld, pay in court.
- Harvey Dent, a new District Attorney, wanted to change the city’s reputation.
- Commissioner Gordon took action. He would identify and locate the crime lords of Gotham. The GCPD meant to shut them down, but many officers were on the take.
Batman and Napier
Meanwhile a new vigilante, the Batman, made his debut.
Rumors said that he couldn’t be killed. That he drank blood. Officially, the police denied his existence.
As to Jack Napier, once a small-time criminal, he was gaining notoriety. He was eager to make a move against his own boss, Carl Grissom. Jack wanted to run things. And he was sleeping with his boss’s wife.
Unfortunately for Jack, Grissom already knew about the affair.
When Dent moved against Axis Chemical, Grissom sent Jack there. The job was to destroy anything linking his organization to the company. But it was a setup.
Crime doesn’t pay
The police got an anonymous tip and converged on the chemical plant. Batman came too. He caught up with Jack and had him firmly in his grasp.
But Bob, Jack’s exceptionally loyal bodyguard, pointed his gun at the commissioner’s head. He forced Batman to let Jack go.
Jack fell into a vat of toxic chemicals. He was then flushed into Gotham’s sewers. The chemicals, the damage, and the trauma transformed Jack into his new persona, the Joker.
Meanwhile, Bob and most of the crew escaped.
Change is in the cards
When Bob and crew reunited with Joker, they all got Joker patches sewn on their coats.
Joker and his gang killed Grissom and took over Gotham’s underground. They then started a crime spree. But the vigilante Batman countered each of his moves.
Bob gathered information for Joker. While Batman’s identity remained a mystery, he learned of two reporters chasing any stories about Batman. Alexander Knox and Vicki Vale.
What about Bob?
With the festival coming, Joker planned to get all Gothamites into the streets. He called a truce and promised to drop twenty million dollars on the crowd.
He then challenged Batman to a duel. A one-on-one fight.
During the parade, Batman foiled the Joker’s plan to poison everyone. Frustrated, the Joker asked Bob for a gun.
When he handed it to him, Joker shot Bob dead on the spot.
Description
Bob wears his hair greasy, straight, and long but thinning on top. He has a sparse beard and mustache.
He wears a black fedora and trench coat. Pin-striped suit and tie. Black fingerless gloves and dark shades.
After Jack became the Joker, Bob wore a purple leather jacket with Joker face patches sewn on it.
When in public, Bob smiled and mimicked his boss.
Bob always carries a gun.
Personality
Bob is the type of guy you’d want to hire. He’s sharp, observant, and quick.
He’s also the guy who’s practically invisible. Silently watching in the background until needed.
Bob takes care of things. While waiting for a meeting he will wipe down the car or scope out the area to make sure it’s clear.
He shifts nervously from one foot to the other when he’s on the job and there’s nothing to do.
Always with his eye on those he’s protecting.
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Quotes
“Let him go, or I’ll do Gordon !”
Joker: “Bob. I want you to go down to the Globe and follow that reporter, Knox. Take your camera. See what he knows about this Batman. And Bob…” (Deep breathing) “Remember… you… are… my number one… guy !”
Bob: “Yes, sir.”
“Check his wallet.” (While trying to identify an unconscious Batman.)
Joker: “Bob. Gun.” (Bob unzips his coat and hands the Joker a revolver. Joker promptly shoots Bob.)
DC Universe Adaptation
(This section proposes ways of using this character in DC Universe stories).
Oh yes. I see Bob the Goon working in the DCU proper.
He doesn’t have to work for the Joker, still, whoever he works for he’ll stick with.
He could be a friend of Echo and Query.
DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Bob
A 198 points Character (without equipment).
| Dex: 03 | Str: 02 | Bod: 03 |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 03 | Min: 02 |
| Inf: 02 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 03 |
| Init: 010 | HP: 005 |
Skills:
Artist (Photography): 03, Detective (Legwork): 04, Thief (Stealth): 03, Weaponry (Firearms, Melee): 03
Advantages:
Area Knowledge (Gotham City), Expertise (Photography), Lightning Reflexes, Sharp Eye.
Connections:
Joker (Low).
Drawbacks:
Serious Irrational Attraction to loyalty.
Genre:
Gritty – While the events of the movies were outlandish, the effects of the Hero Points expenditure of the characters seemed fairly limited.
Motivation:
Mercenary.
Occupation:
The Joker’s goon.
Wealth:
003
Equipment:
- Badass Colt M1911A1 [BODY 05, Projectile weapon: 04, Ammo: 14, Advantage: Edge (Projectile weapons), R#2].
- High-end, armour-piercing knife [BODY 04, Enhance (EV): 01 (Cap is 06), Sharpness (EV): 01, Descriptor: Piercing].
- Shades [BODY 01, Shade: 01].
Design notes
I’ve tried to make Bob stand-out among his peers through his Advantages and his equipment.
Robert Wuhl reprised his role as Alexander Knox in Supergirl: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One (2019). That episode established the Batman film takes place on Earth-89, a reference to the year of its release.
It was Jack Nicholson who convinced the filmmakers to cast his close friend Tracey Walter as Bob the Goon.
Bob gets an action figure
Bob the Goon was one of only three action figures produced by Kenner for the 1989 Batman movie toyline. On his action figure bio, his name is: Robert ‘Crazy Bob’ Capistrano.
This action figure also had a kicking-action. Never seen in the film. If you want to highlight it add some Martial Artist linked to his Dex.
Tracey often joked that this figure brought him immortality. Good old Bob.
Oh yes, the action figure
Almost ran out of room, eh. Here it is.
Source of Character: The 1989 Batman movie, played by Tracey Walter.
Helper(s): IMDb, Batman writeup (Tim Burton version), wikiquote , Batman1989.com, Brent Walters, pufnstuff, Michael Davis.
Writeup completed on the 16th of May, 2020.