Gotham: Comic Book Influences (Obvious Spoilers...)

[BatmAngelus]

"Pinewood"

Bruce learns that Hugo Strange was behind his parents' murders. Strange, in this version, obviously plays the Lew Moxon role in calling the hit on Thomas and Martha Wayne.

Theo Galavan is resurrected as Azrael. It's possible that Strange in this continuity is the one who devises "The System" that compels Azrael to be an angel of vengeance and kill.

[Slash Man]

I noticed when Bruce sews up a rip in Selina's leather jacket, it seemed to be a nod to Catwoman's stitched up costume in Batman Returns.

[BatmAngelus]

good catch. Forgot about that.

"Azrael"

As previously mentioned, Galavan is now brainwashed into thinking he is Azrael and Strange is the one who provides him with the costume. One wonders if Galavan will pass the mantle onto Jean Paul Valley's father in the show.

Hugo Strange hints that he used the Pinewood program in order to cure humanity of its diseases and genetic issues, including death. This is similar to his motivation in Matt Wagner's Batman and the Monster Men. His manipulation of Galavan is also reminiscent of his manipulation of Jonathan Crane and turning him back into Scarecrow in the storyline Terror.

As Slash Man pointed out in another thread, Strange reads Alice in Wonderland in his attempts to figure out what "personas" to give to his test subjects. This implies that Strange will change one of his patients into the Mad Hatter.

[johnnygobbs]

As Slash Man pointed out in another thread, Strange reads Alice in Wonderland in his attempts to figure out what "personas" to give to his test subjects. This implies that Strange will change one of his patients into the Mad Hatter.

I hope this doesn't mean every villain will be a product of Hugo Strange's experiments.  So far we've already had Strange do his tinkering on Azrael, Mr Freeze, The Penguin, The Riddler, Firefly and possibly even The Joker.

[BatmAngelus]

Technically, all of those characters and their M.O.s existed prior to Strange. He did pair the Azrael persona to Galavan, but Azrael existed among the Dumas legends beforehand. He kept Freeze alive, but Victor was already freezing and killing people. Penguin, Riddler, and Firefly were also already corrupted before they met Strange.

"Unleashed"

People are speculating that the monstrous inmate that Selina witnessed was either an early Killer Croc or Solomon Grundy.

[BatmAngelus]

"A Legion of Horribles"

The bald man whose skin gets warped is identified as Basil, though from the ending, it's obvious that this is Basil Karlo/Clayface. Note that in the comics, Basil Karlo was originally an old actor who wore a mask whereas the Matt Hagen Clayface was the one who had the ability to shapeshift. Karlo later developed this ability too.

The Court of Owls is revealed to be backing Hugo Strange and are identified by their owl masks, much like in the comics.
UPDATE: The Grey Haired Woman on the TV screen may be a version of Maria Powers in the Court of Owls story arc.
Also, the Court is known for resurrecting the dead to become their Talons. Strange's experiments may lead to the creation of the Talons.

"Mr. Stirk" is the man with sharp teeth threatening Edward Nygma. In the comics, Cornelius Stirk is a Batman villain who's a cannibal, though this version of Stirk does not seem to be able to create hallucinations yet

This episode marks the first meeting between Bruce Wayne and Hugo Strange, as well as Bruce and Edward Nygma. Throughout the episode, Bruce noticeably wears black and gray, with a dark black coat.

[BatmAngelus]

"Transference"

This season was a major step up from the previous one and managed to effectively combine Hugo Strange's Monster Men with the Court of Owls, the origins of Azrael, and several other Rogues members.

Speculation: The long haired Bruce Wayne at the end is likely going to be Thomas Wayne Jr./Lincoln March and will be revealed to have been Bruce's twin rather than younger brother in this version. Maybe he'll be trained to be Talon.

Also, I swear I heard Cameron Monaghan's laugh and someone who looked like him in the escape of the inmates at the end. Perhaps Strange resurrected Jerome...and he got green hair, white skin, and red lips as a side effect?

[Slash Man]

Seemed like another nod to Batman Returns with Penguin's campaign committee set up in his mansion.

The Penguin's meeting with Mayor James and the ensuing crossfire was taken directly from the end of Almost Got 'Im