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"Gotham has always had a reputation as a city plagued by gang violence, drug trafficking, vandalism, and arson. Many years of "the Batman" has curbed that problem, but at what cost? Are the people of Gotham willing to live in a city where fear is a substitute for order?"

―Luis Pascual^[src]

Gotham City is the birthplace and residence of the fearsome vigilante known as the Batman. It is a large bustling city located on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, in the federated state of New Jersey, only across the bay from its sister city, Metropolis, Delaware in the District of Metropolis.

Always a literal cesspool filled with criminals, corruption, pollution and vermin infestations, Gotham is considered by some to be the most dangerous and criminally corrupt city in the world. By day, an attractive and alluring tourist location, while by night, every decent persons' worst nightmare.

History

Foundation

Founded centuries ago in 1635 by a Norwegian mercenary, Gotham City grew to become one of the world's leading economic hubs and a center for history, technology and the arts.^[1]

20th century

Gang Violence

In the 1970s, Gotham experienced a period of extreme civil unrest and gang wars. These conflicts forced the businesses in the city's famed Clocktower to exit.^[2]

Murder of the Waynes

Thomas and Martha Wayne were gunned down by Joe Chill after leaving the Aragon Theatre.

In 1981, eminent philanthropists Thomas and Martha Wayne were murdered by mugger Joe Chill after watching The Mask of Zorro at the Aragon Theatre. The crime left their only son Bruce the last remaining member of the Wayne Family, who witnessed the murder of both of his parents at just 9 years old.^[3]

Legend of the Batman

""Crime Wave in Gotham." Other breaking news, "Water... wet.""

―Perry White to Clark Kent^[src]

In the mid-1990s, a vigilante known as "the Batman" waged a one-man war on crime. Armed with a prototype high-tech armored suit, numerous gadgets and a custom combat vehicle, the vigilante went on to take down both the Falcone and Maroni crime families,^{[citation needed]} as well as other extremely formidable criminals, ranging from the flamboyant psychopaths Joker and Harley Quinn, to the mercenary Deadshot, and cannibalistic metahuman Killer Croc.^[4]

Bertinelli Massacre

Stefano Galante watched on while Victor Zsasz, Happy, and Carlo Rossi gunned down the Bertinellis.

To further fund his criminal empire, Roman Sionis placed a hit on the Bertinelli Crime Family, once the most powerful crime family in Gotham City. He ordered some of henchmen and members of the Galante Crime Family to obtain the Bertinelli Diamond. The entire crime family was massacred with only Helena Bertinelli surviving. She would later become a crossbow wielding assassin to kill the people involved in the massacre to avenge her family.^[5]

21st century

Assault on Arkham Asylum

"All hands on deck." ―Billy Batson, Shazam!

This article section is incomplete and requires expansion.

Capture of Deadshot

"All hands on deck." ―Billy Batson, Shazam!

This article section is incomplete and requires expansion.

Capture of Firefly

"All hands on deck." ―Billy Batson, Shazam!

This article section is incomplete and requires expansion.

Assault on Wayne Enterprises

"All hands on deck." ―Billy Batson, Shazam!

This article section is incomplete and requires expansion.

Chase of Joker and Harley Quinn

"All hands on deck." ―Billy Batson, Shazam!

This article section is incomplete and requires expansion.

Lex Luthor's campaign

Chase of the kryptonite

"All hands on deck." ―Billy Batson, Shazam!

This article section is incomplete and requires expansion.

Duel at Gotham Port

Two years after the Black Zero Event, a grizzled and cruel Batman came to the conclusion that Superman was a threat to humanity, and must be destroyed. He fashioned three kryptonite gas grenades and a kryptonite spear, and arrived at the abandoned Gotham Port, where he set up traps and put the kryptonite spear in place. When all was ready, Batman activated the Batsignal and waited for Superman to appear.

Superman arrived and attempted to explain how they were being manipulated by Lex Luthor, however Batman refused to listen, and claimed he already understood the situation. Superman demonstrated his strength to Batman while Batman, knowing that his odds could only improve if Superman was placed into a weaker state, used a kryptonite gas grenade to weaken him. Batman bested Superman and tackled him down into a building where the two battled it out. However, just as Superman gained his strength and invulnerability back, Batman reloaded his grenade gun and fired another kryptonite grenade, giving him an even greater advantage. Batman grabbed his kryptonite spear and sliced it across Superman's face as Superman pleaded with him to save "Martha", just as Lois Lane arrived and explained that coincidentally, his own mother was named Martha. Finally realizing that Superman's existence on Earth was never a threat and by obsessing on Superman turning evil, he himself became the embodiment of this evil himself, and threw his spear aside.

Rescue of Martha Kent

"All hands on deck." ―Billy Batson, Shazam!

This article section is incomplete and requires expansion.

Battle against Doomsday

"All hands on deck." ―Billy Batson, Shazam!

This article section is incomplete and requires expansion.

Layout

Map of downtown Gotham City.

Downtown Gotham City is comprised of many smaller neighborhoods.

Neighborhoods

Locales

"The answer is always more." ―Max Lord, Wonder Woman 1984

It is suggested that this article, or a section of this article, could benefit by being expanded upon.

Organizations

Gotham Organized Crime

Black Mask's criminal organization - Inactive
Golden Lions - Inactive

Gotham City Crime Families

Gotham City Hunters
Gotham City Sirens
Harley Quinn and Associates
Joker's gang
Lords of the Avenues
Mercedes gang
Sprang Bridge Soldiers

Known inhabitants

Current inhabitants

Former inhabitants

Visitors

Note: Some Visitors end up becoming inhabitants of Gotham after spending an extensive amount of time within the city. This includes "foreign" i.e. Lex Luthor; villains who are incarcerated in either Blackgate or Arkham.

Currently in Gotham

Slade Wilson/Deathstroke ^u

Note:

^uThis individual will come to Gotham at some point in future content

Formerly in Gotham

Knightmare Flash

Lois Lane
Martha Kent ^x

Note:

No symbol indicator This individual was born and/or grew up in Gotham

º This individual came to Gotham and remained there, either by making it their home, as part of a mission, or having been incarcerated

†: This individual is deceased

^ This individual left Gotham willingly

ⁱ This individual left Gotham unwillingly

^x This individual came to Gotham unwillingly

^u This individual will come to Gotham at some point in future content

The current status and/or whereabouts of this individual are unknown

References

↑ Wallace, Daniel (February 16, 2016). Time Out Shortlist Gotham and Metropolis (Gotham City). United States: Time Out Group. p. 8.
↑ Wallace, Daniel (February 16, 2016). Time Out Shortlist Gotham and Metropolis (Gotham City). United States: Time Out Group. p. 33.
↑ Goyer, David S., Terrio, Chris (writers) & Snyder, Zack (director) (March 25, 2016). Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
↑ Wallace, Daniel (February 16, 2016). Time Out Shortlist Gotham and Metropolis (Gotham City). United States: Time Out Group. p. 63.
↑ Hodson, Christina (writer) & Yan, Cathy (director) (February 7, 2020). Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).

External links

The DC Extended Universe Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Gotham City.

Gotham City on DC Database
Gotham City on Wikipedia

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