Mayor Mayfield
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Real Identity: Mayor Emerson Mayfield
Appearances (BTAC Comics): The Muscle, Mayor Mayhem Part One, Mayor Mayhem Part Two, and Mayor Mayhem Part Three
Skills: Politics
Emerson Mayfield is the scion of one of Gotham City's founding families and considers himself a favorite son. He became a popular City Councilman and served on Arkham Asylum's Board of Directors. Both he and Batman came onto the scene around the same time. Mayfield used the public's fears of Batman and the city's crime rate to fuel his mayoral run. He told a fake story of showing his mother a photo of Batman and she asked why he was dressed for Halloween. In reality, she was in a coma for the past two years. He even had high-powered business manager Ambrose Chapell on his payroll to hide all his slush funds and graft. Every word Mayfield spoke was either self-serving, twisted, or an outright lie. Mayfield emphasized the police became a joke and the city needed new leadership for the sake of sanity. He promised the streets would be returned to the people and they would take part in a new era of true and lasting law and order. He won in a landslide victory. Everyone who was anyone in Gotham showed up at his election-night celebration.
Mayfield gathered city officials into City Hall to unveil his M-Force, an elite paramilitary squad similar to a S.W.A.T. team, that only answered to him. Mayfield believed it would get the people excited and could shake up the criminal element. When Commissioner Gordon brought up Batman already scaring the people, Mayfield deferred to the rising young star of the District Attorney's office, Harvey Dent. Dent flipped his coin and stated it would be preferable if he were sanctioned. Mayfield agreed. Mayfield touted them to the public as the answer to his platform promise of restoring law and order to Gotham City. In reality, most members were ex-military with blemished records, one court martial. A couple were Arkham Asylum patients with anger issues. The leader was nicknamed "Shotgun" and Mayfield used his influence at Arkham to get him released despite his transfer from Stonegate Penitentiary for violent tendancies. In reality, they were just Mayfield's private army tasked with obliterating criminal elements and stealing their stolen loot for their own gain and to assassinate any threats, like Batman.
Summer Gleeson already heard a rumor that Gordon disapproved of it. Mayfield lied he was one of its greatest champions. Gordon secretly met with Batman and shared the results of his background check on the squad members. M-Force soon hit one criminal enclave after another. It became clear they had no real tactical planning and just attacked with an all-out assault with take-no-prisoners bloodlust. Their brutality and massacres were easily covered up. Commissioner Gordon watched as the morgue was lined with bodies. Mayfield had the press office working overtime, making the M-Force sound like Gotham's godsend. Several days after the Z Street Gang hit Gotham National, they were the next target of M-Force. Batman intervened and saved the life of one gangster. At 3 am that night, Batman followed Shotgun to a meeting with Mayfield. Shotgun presented a briefcase filled with $400,000, half of what the Z Street Gang stole from the bank. He reported the rest was turned over to the police under the guise of the rest already having been distributed among the gang.
Batman set up a miniature projector displaying an image of himself to distract the pair. Shotgun opened fire while Batman stole the briefcase and left. The money was turned over to Gordon. He held a press conference condemning Batman. Mayfield admitted some in City Hall believed Batman was on their side. Summer Gleeson asked him if he agreed. Mayfield speculated he was an equal participant of the bank robbery, if not its mastermind, and turned in the money to save his own skin. Batman eavesdropped on a window ledge outside the room. After the press conference, Mayfield told Shotgun to put the team on high alert until Batman was a corpse. Batman shadowed Mayfield relentlessly and used every tool in his arsenal to monitor his movements like cameras and wiretaps. He also shook down criminals for intel. Mayfield got wise to Batman and set up a trap at the old Gotham County Jail then spread false info he and M-Force were planning something big at the jail. Batman arrived two hours before the supposed midnight meeting and was immediately shot at. He ran right into their trap and an electrified cell door was closed on him.
Mayfield told the M-Force they just needed to have the right bait to catch a troublesome bat and he was just a man in a costume. Mayfield stopped himself and commended Batman for being a highly skilled individual with a great passion. Mayfield proposed a truce and even offered to join forces for their mutual profit. Batman refused to work for him. Mayfield was disappointed, told the M-Force to carry on and he was never there, and left. Chapell met with Mayfield and announced it would be business as usual again. Chapell was pleased and was about to update him on their offshore connections but Batman burst in through a window. Mayfield tried to claim he was with his accountant all night but watched as Chapell ran out of the room. He announced the M-Force killed themselves in a crossfire and he had a counter-offer. He told Mayfield to resign. Mayfield was aghast and declared he was a Mayfield, his ancestors built Gotham, and the Mayor's Office was his by right. He pointed out everything Batman just said was hearsay in court and he couldn't touch him.
Batman countered he could outside of court and readied his fists. Mayfield caved and they made a deal. On the day of his resignation, Mayfield proclaimed the memory of M-Force's heroic sacrifice on the war on crime would live on forever in the people's hearts. He announced the strain of public life took a toll on his health and he had to step down to preserve it. Mayfield retreated to his family's estate down the coast. He was remembered as a controversial mayor and was succeeded by politicians like Hamilton Hill. Nearly 15 years later, when the office went into flux in the wake of Hill's death, Mayfield concluded the time was ripe for him to return to public office. He recruited Mad Hatter. He constructed a device that sends out a signal that tampers down aggression in others, while imbuing them with a sense of euphoria. It was then concealed in Mayfield's cane and could be activated by his thumbprint. Mayfield no longer feared Batman.
To tie up loose ends, Mayfield reached out and was advised to hire an underworld fixer named The Muscle. For $100,000, the Muscle killed Ambrose Chapell, an old business associate, stole some incriminating documents, and blew up Chapell's boat. The Muscle arrived at Mayfield's estate and turned over the documents. He didn't care to hear about Mayfield's plans and only wanted to be paid. Mayfield obliged him and transferred the funds then told him it was a pleasure doing business and they might work again. He looked up and the Muscle was already gone. Several days later, Mayfield announced a possible return to the political scene. Summer Gleeson interviewed Mayfield on Good Morning, Gotham a month later. She formally introduced him as "Mr. Mayfield." He told her she was fine with "Emerson" or "Mr. Mayor," then called them old friends. He recalled he was her first interview. She clarified he was her first major one.
Mayfield continued to recall she was fresh out of college and he predicted she was going to be a big star. She admitted that was true. He boasted he could always call them. She steered the conversation back to his absence and inquired about how he resigned under a cloud. He quipped clouds were meant to be blown away then touted how he left Gotham in better shape than it had ever been with the crime rate taking a nosedive and jobs on the rise. Mayfield admitted he never saw eye to eye with Batman and never could trust someone who wouldn't show his face. He admitted he resigned due to health issues but he hoped his successors would do better then they didn't. Gleeson asked why he chose to return. Mayfield claimed he missed the city and the people. The appearance of Chapell's washed up corpse and Mayfield's surprise announcement led Batman to conclude his return would be nothing but trouble. He gathered Nightwing, Batgirl, and Robin in the Batcave with Alfred Pennyworth and apprised him about their history.
Mayfield soon announced his candidacy for mayor of Gotham City. He touted being healthy as a lion and ready to finish the unfinished business he began 15 years ago. He promised more than leadership and he would act as the people's cane and be their support then they would walk together into a new future and a greater Gotham. During another outdoor rally, Mayfield invited more Hamilton Hill Junior supporters. He admitted he wasn't perfect then asked them to open their hearts for just one minute and maybe they would hear something they always wanted to hear from someone who wants to serve them. Hill's supporters were silenced and he enjoyed a surge in the polls. Batman infiltrated Mayfield's home. Mayfield claimed he could sense him thanks to taking up Tai Chi and recalled Charles de Gaulle's "Old age. It's a shipwreck." Batman recalled he saw what was left of his old business manager, Ambrose Chapell. Mayfield feigned innocence and stated he cut off all his old ties long ago and was starting life anew.
Mayfield told Batman about the stroke he suffered and interpreting his recovery as a second chance from God then deciding to make up for his past sins by running for mayor again and do things right the second time around. He hoped Batman would give him a chance, too. Batman briefly entertained the notion but his willpower was too strong and he snapped and grabbed Mayfield by the collar. He stated he knew he was up to no good and when he found out what it was, he was going down and he would see to that personally. Security alerted Ms. Hanbury, Mayfield's manager, about a breach. She went to check on Mayfield and found him ruffled at his balcony. He informed her he had a little heart-to-heart with Batman. He claimed he almost had him but his mind was too strong, almost inhuman. Hanbury asked how much Batman knew and if they were in trouble. Mayfield said they weren't yet but they were too close to victory to take a chance and decided to bring in someone.
Hanbury noted they had several players in the wings and asked who he had in mind. Mayfield was amused she called it "player" and revealed he was thinking about "the actor." Clayface was tasked with taking out Batman. Mayfield held his last rally before the Tuesday mayoral election at the Iceberg Lounge. Mayfield noticed Wayne backstage and declared they could make an exception. Wayne downplayed his presence and claimed he just dropped by to see what the buzz was all about but hoped to avoid the crowds. Mayfield promised he would have made arrangements if he knew ahead of time and found him an area to watch from backstage. Mayfield complimented him on looking like his father and mentioned he knew him. Wayne was mesmerized by the festivities and mistakenly blurted out to reporters he thought Mayfield was extraordinary. Mayfield had Barbara Gordon promoted to Director of Media Relations and met with her the next day at his home. He expressed how much it meant for her to be on his team since he and her father never always saw things eye to eye but claimed there was no man in Gotham he had more respect for. Gordon oddly felt compelled to vote for him if the election were held that night.
Hours later, Gordon sneaked into the off-limits strategy room and discovered Mad Hatter. Mayfield knocked her out from behind with his cane. He mused the Tai Chi was paying off. Some time later, he noticed Gordon regained consciousness and told Hatter their Alice returned from the Looking Glass. He apologized for the bump on the head and claimed he thought she was a reporter at first. Hatter reported there was no damage done to the cane but warned Mayfield it was hardly a blunt instrument. She asked what the device was. Mayfield and Hatter obliged her and explained. Hanbury returned to the room with tea. She overheard Mayfield talking about how his enhanced cane was a godsend for politicians. She quipped it would be good for comedians, too, and some people didn't see a difference between the two. She took off her disguise and started talking in her regular accent. She announced Hill Junior and Mayfield were in a dead heat in the polls.
Barbara Gordon instantly recognized her. Hare pointed out she warned Mayfield not to hire her because she was a curtain twitcher and nothing but Barney. Mayfield asked Hatter for the American translation. Hatter summarized she said Gordon was trouble. He didn't disagree. On Election Day, the newspapers took Wayne's comment at the rally and printed it as an endorsement for Mayfield. A headband with Hatter's mind control circuitry was placed on Gordon's head. She told Summer Gleeson, in an interview, that she was recruited by Junior to infiltrate and sabotage Mayfield's campaign. Gleeson asked Gordon if she felt used by Junior. Gordon stated she felt used in the worse way and was ashamed. She added Mayfield was a kind and generous man while Junior was out for himself and power then claimed Junior had her steal from the police department's classified files. Batman deduced she was under Mad Hatter's mind control and he was working for Mayfield.
Mr. Wing was sent to Emerson Mayfield's estate to provide additional security as a political favor. March Hare wondered why the "budgie" was around. Wing retorted by telling her not to get her ears in a twist and called her "Lola." Mayfield explained he was there for protection since Batman was now aware of Mad Hatter's involvement in his scheme. He presented a suicide letter he wrote for Gordon to copy in her own handwriting. Hare asked Gordon how she felt about that. Still under mind control, she blankly stared. Spies at Arkham tipped Mayfield off about Batman. He and Hatter relocated from the former's estate to Arkham Asylum. Mayfield issued a comment to the press that he was stepping away from the media to allow Gotham to vote with its conscience. As a diversion, Gordon's phone was taped to the front bumper of a WGOB news van. Nightwing following its GPS signal, searched the call logs, connected Hanbury to March Hare and located them near the news building. He intervened and freed Gordon from the mind control headband. They dispatched Hare and Wing.
After interrogating Penguin about Mr. Wing, Batman deduced Mayfield went to Arkham to surround himself with ruthless underlings. The staff was compromised with Hatter's technology and inmates were freed. Hatter promised Mayfield would turn Gotham into a wonderland for criminals if he was voted into office. Mayfield promised his first act as mayor would be to close down Arkham and give them all pardons if they killed Batman for him. Riddler was skeptical he would keep his promise. Two-Face did not think it mattered, and they should take over by force. Mayfield commended him on being the brightest light during his first administration. Scarecrow liked the idea of ruling by fear. Mayfield asked the Joker if he would join in. The Joker, still in his patient garb, found politics boring and predictable. He hit a soda machine, drank a Soder, stated he stabbed someone face to face so he could laugh at his victims, and went back to his cell. Batman and Robin burst in through the skylight.
During the battle, they heard Joker's laughter. Batman went to him while Robin freed the guards. Joker was laughing over the election results and informed Mayfield he lost. Mayfield was shocked. Joker was tickled he used dirty tricks, a smear campaign, and mind control and still didn't win. He mockingly congratulated Mayfield, who he called "Mayor Mayhem." Mayfield was infuriated and grabbed Joker by the neck spouting off Gotham was his, his legacy and his destiny. Batman came between them and the guards hauled Mayfield away while he blamed Batman. Joker called him a sore loser. He vowed he would see Batman dead. Joker mused politics were entertaining and thought about running for mayor next time. Barbara Gordon, free of Mad Hatter's control, went to Summer Gleeson with the truth of what happened to her. Mayfield was remanded to Arkham for observation.