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Gotham City is a fictional city originating in DC Comics, first featured in Detective Comics #48. It is most famous for being the birthplace and home of Bruce Wayne and the protected domain of his alter ego Batman. It is the backdrop of all Batman's exploits and is featured in all Batman series.
Gotham is essentially a fictional variation on New York City which is also, on occasion, referred to as Gotham. It is not however, a direct or modern reflection of New York City, but instead seems to capture an exaggerated imagining of New York as it was at some time in the past. The animated Batman Beyond series features a changed futuristic version of Gotham that bears little resemblance to the Gotham of past series.
Gotham is typically portrayed as a dark, gritty city. As Batman appears largely at night, so does Gotham. Gotham reflects the character of its protector, who is a darker and edgier superhero particularly when compared with Superman who is much lighter and more hopeful and whose character is reflected in the bright and gleaming fictional city of Metropolis, which is also a variation on New York City.
It has become a tradition among comic book creators to name streets and locations in Gotham City for honored past comic book creators. For example, a crime may be said to happen on the corner of O'Neil Street and Finger Blvd, for Denny O'Neil and Bill Finger, famed Batman writers. Other examples are the R.H. Kane Building, named for Batman creator Bob Kane, the Novick Building, named for Batman artist of The Bronze Age of Comics, Irv Novick, and Robbins Tower, named for Novick's contemporary, writer and artist Frank Robbins. This tradition has been taken up by the animated TV series as well, as in the second episode of The Batman (2004), the GCPD detective calls for back up on the corner of "Rogers and Englehart", which stands for the artist/writer team of Marshall Rogers and Steve Englehart, who had a critically acclaimed and often reprinted run in Detective comics.
While Batman typifies Gotham, so does crime. It is a city rife with organized crime that reaches from the highest political offices to the lowest of henchmen. An exception to this is the G.C.P.D., which has been cleaned up due to the efforts of Police Commissioner James Gordon, with Batman's assistance. Gotham City is especially notorious for an excess of crazed villains many of whom have served some time in the infamous Arkham Asylum, a mental hospital for the criminally insane. Of these, The Joker, Batman's arch nemesis, is probably the most famous.
Places to Visit while in Gotham City
- Gotham City Police Department (GCPD) Headquarters—Houses the squadroom of the top GCPD detectives of Gotham's Major Crimes Unit, headed by recent transfer from Metropolis, Captain Maggie Sawyer with Sgt.Harvey Bullock,Det.Rene Montoya, Det. Josephine "Josie Mac" MacDonald, Det. Marcus Driver, Det. Thomas "Tommy" Burke, Det. Romy Chandler, Det. Josh Azeveda, Det. Joely "Joe" Bartlett, and others. Down the hall is the office of Police Chief Mackenzie "Hardback" Bock. Upstairs is the office of Comissioner James Gordon. Don't forget to check out the Bat-Signal on the roof.
- Crime Alley—The place where the Thomas and Martha Wayne were murdered by Joe Chill and Bruce Wayne's life changed forever. Legend has it that it used to be a fairly upscale neighborhood, until the Wayne double murder. Since then, the neighborhood has gone down hill and it has taken on a sinister aspect. It is rumored that Batman patrols there once a year, on the anniversary of the Waynes' death. Still, it is recommended that you visit during the day.
- Iceberg Lounge—Fashionable nightclub run by its owner, Oswald Cobblepot. If you find Mr. Cobblepot's appearance amusing, its best not to refer to him as the Penguin within his hearing.
- Knights Dome Sporting Complex—Home of the professional football team, the Gotham Knights. Gotham is home to other sports franchises, like the baseball team, the Gotham Goliaths.
- East End—This trendy neighborhood is coming back. Rumor has it that violent crime here has gone down, as the neighborhood has fallen under the protection of the Catwoman. However, burglaries have gone up.
- Gotham Superior Court—Where justice happens, or doesn't. If you look carefully, you can still see the discoloring on the floor from when Boss Maroni threw acid into the face of District Attorney Harvey Dent, precipitating the birth of the infamous villain, Two-Face.
- Gotham University—Once the teaching post of one Professor Jonathan Crane. Dr. Crane was dismissed for unsafe teaching practices. We could interview those on the Board of Regents at the time, but they have all been murdered by the Scarecrow.
- Arkham Asylum—Its full name is the "Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane", it is the involuntary home of Batman's more insane and maniacal foes. Run by Jeremiah Arkham, nephew of founder Amadeus Arkham, the asylum's regular residents include the Joker, Two-Face, Scarecrow, the Ventriloquist, and Poison Ivy. Due to security problems (patients seem to escape often), visiting hours are very limited.
- Wayne Manor— The Wayne family's ancestral estate, home of Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth, and childhood home of Dick Grayson. Under the mansion is the network of caverns known as The Batcave. Accessable through an old grandfather's clock in the mansion's study, the cave is the home of the Batmobile, the Bat-Computers, and Batman's famous trophy collection.
External Links
The Dark Knight viral websites
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