Summer Gleeson
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Real Identity: Summer Gleeson
Appearances (BTAC Comics): Mentors Part 1, Red Son Rising Part 1, Court Fight Part I, The Muscle, Mayor Mayhem Part One, Mayor Mayhem Part Two, and Mayor Mayhem Part Three
Skills: Investigative
Summer Gleeson is a lead female investigative reporter in Gotham City. Summer Gleeson was just out of college and beginning her career when Emerson Mayfield was elected mayor. During a press conference about the M-Force, Gleeson asked where Commissioner Gordon was and asked for comment on the rumor he disapproved of the squad. Mayfield lied he was one of its greatest champions and got called away to a meeting. After Batman recovered $400,000 stolen from the M-Force from the Z Street Gang, Mayfield held a press conference condemning him. 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 robbery, if not its mastermind, and turned in the money to save his own skin. Over a decade later, on a Halloween night, Scarecrow and his Skeleton Crew stormed the studio at the GNC building and held Gleeson and the news crew hostage until Batman, Robin, and Batgirl intervened.
One night, Gleeson reported about an aerial battle between Batgirl and Roxy Rocket moments after they were sighted in Midtown. She interviewed Maureen and Jordan Hill and Hamilton Hill, Junior after the murder of Mayor Hill. Gleeson reported on the arrest of Rupert Thorne after he was named in an assassination attempt on Detective Renee Montoya and a surprise announcement from controversial former mayor Emerson Mayfield's bid to replace the late Hamilton Hill. 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. He 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.
Gleeson 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. He 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. Gleeson later reported on Mayfield's surge in the polls and cited how he silenced protestors at his outdoor rallies. At the Iceberg Lounge rally, she was among the reporters who tried to get a comment from Bruce Wayne backstage. Wayne replied he was just an interested bystander. Gleeson wasn't buying it. Wayne blurted out Mayfield was really quite extraordinary. It was mistaken as an endorsement.
On Election Day morning, Barbara Gordon was put under Mad Hatter's mind control and went to Summer Gleeson for a live interview. She claimed Hamilton Hill, Junior sent her 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. Gleeson stayed on air to cover the election results. She dubbed it "mayoral madness" and noted the close battle for the office. Mayfield replied he had no comment and was stepping away from the media to allow Gotham to vote with its conscience. She later reported Junior won the election despite the last-minute scandal.
Some time later, she reported the final tally was Junior had 58 percent of the votes, Mayfield had 42 percent, and there was one write-in vote for local nuisance Harley Quinn then stated after revelations from intended murder victim Barbara Gordon, Mayfield was remanded to Arkham Asylum for observation, Hill Junior recieved the full support of City Hall, and anti-crime advocate Bruce Wayne endorsed Junior.