Detective Flass

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Detective Arnold John Flass was a fictional comic book character, a member of the Gotham City Police Department in the Batman series. He was created by Frank Miller. Although he was a minor character at best, Flass played a pivotal role in the Dark Knight's modern origin and, as such, has been adapted into the film Batman Begins.

[edit] Batman: Year One

1986's Batman: Year One introduced Flass as a cheerful and chummy jock with a dark side. Burly, blond, and clean shaven, Flass was Jim Gordon's partner on the G.C.P.D. and Gordon's first introduction to Gotham's seediness. Indicative of much of the Gotham City police force of the time, Flass was extremely corrupt, often on the take for powerful politicians and crime figures. He was resentful of the strong moral character of Gordon (whom he condescendingly referred to as "Jimmy") and attempted to teach him a lesson. Flass and several other officers accost Gordon and beat him mercilessly. Gordon soon turned the tables on Flass, beating and humiliating him, thus beginning his crusade against the corrupt element in the police force.

Batman later captured Flass and turned him over to Gordon, who charged him for affliation with the underworld. Then-Assistant District Attorney Harvey Dent offered Flass a plea bargain he couldn't refuse: in exchange for testimony against Carmine "The Roman" Falcone and then-Police Commissioner Gillian Loeb, Flass would receive a lighter sentence. Flass accepted the offer.

After Year One, Flass made only occasional cameos in the Batman series. A character similar in appearance was present (ironically) at the wedding of Jim Gordon and Sarah Essen, indicating that the former partners had perhaps buried the hatchet. However, it might not have been Flass, for he was the third victim of the Hangman killer during the limited series Batman: Dark Victory.

[edit] Batman Begins

The 2005 film Batman Begins also featured a version of Detective Flass. Although similar in character and slightly resembling that to Year One, Flass in Begins was depicted as stocky, black-haired and unkempt (probably based on the appearance of Dt.Harvey Bullock in the comics), although he was still characterized as being highly corrupt. Flass was in the pocket of crime boss Carmine Falcone and served as protection during one of Falcone's drug shipments (the first appearance of Bruce Wayne as Batman in the film). He was last seen when he inhaled Dr. Jonathan Crane's fear toxin released by Ra's al Ghul in Gotham and before he could shoot down two boys who he thought were monsters thanks to the toxin, Sg. Gordon knocked him unconscious and hand-cuffed him to a pipe. His conclusion is unknown, as he was not seen from that point onwards. He may yet appear in the upcoming Begins sequel The Dark Knight. Detective Flass was portrayed by Mark Boone Junior.