Gotham City (DC Universe Supplement)
Gotham City is best known as the home of Batman.
History[edit]
A Norwegian mercenary founded Gotham City and the British later took it over. During the American Revolutionary War, Gotham City was the site of a major battle. Rumors held it to be the site of various occult rites.
Atmosphere[edit]
Gotham is a dark and foreboding metropolitan city rife with crime, grime, corruption, and a deep-seated sense of urban decay.
Architecture[edit]
The person cited as being influential in promoting the unique architecture of Gotham City during the pre-American Civil War era was Judge Solomon Wayne, Bruce Wayne's ancestor. His campaign to reform Gotham came to a head when he met a young architect named Cyrus Pinkney. Wayne commissioned Pinkney to design and to build the first "Gotham Style" structures in what became the center of the city's financial district.
Lex Luthor took the challenge of rebuilding Gotham City after the events of Cataclysm. Gotham's old Art-deco and Gothic structures were replaced with modern glass skyscrapers and buildings.
Police and corruption[edit]
Gotham is plagued by the rampant and recurring corruption within the city's civil authorities and infrastructure, most notably within the Gotham City Police Department. Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb had his hands in many pockets. However, Batman found evidence for conspiracy charges, forcing Loeb to resign his position. Subsequent commissioners also end up being corruptible, or open to various forms of influence. Batman has had to take on crooked cops, either acting in collusion with supervillains, working for the mob, or on their own. James Gordon, a recent Commissione], uncorrupted, often unites to purge corruption from the force. Gordon was the commissioner for about 9 to 10 years, then retired, handing the police force over to his replacement, Commissioner Michael Akins. Corruption levels raised which resulted in James Gordon taking his old job back.
Geography[edit]
Gotham is a city on the eastern coast of the United States.
Gotham City and Metropolis are on opposite sides of a Delaware Bay, with Gothom City in New Jersey and Metropolis in Delaware.
Blüdhaven, a city that for several years was home to Nightwing, is located near Gotham City.
Notable residents[edit]
Many DC Universe characters are at home in Gotham. The most notable characters are Batman and Robin. Some of the most prominent characters directly connected to Batman whose adventures are set in Gotham are Nightwing, Huntress, Barbara Gordon and most recently Batwoman.
Other DC characters have also been depicted to be living in Gotham, including Jason Blood, Ragman, The Question, Plastic Man, Zatara and Zatanna, Simon Dark, and Tommy Monaghan, the anti-hero Hitman. The superhero teams Section 8 and the Justice Society of America are also shown operating in Gotham City.
Batman is not the first hero in Gotham. Alan Scott, the Green Lantern, before and during World War II, lived in Gotham, and later ran his Gotham Broadcasting Corporation. Additionally, the Justice Society of America, Doctor Fate, and the Black Canary have operated in Gotham.
Notable areas, landmarks, institutions and businesses[edit]
Gotham City is a major economic center within the United States of the DC Universe; its important industries include: manufacturing; shipping; finance; fine arts, represented by its numerous museums, galleries, and jewelers; and the production of giant novelty props. In addition to its commercial seaport, it also supports a naval shipyard.
Major businesses based in Gotham City include its most noteworthy corporation: Wayne Enterprises, which specializes in various industrial aspects and advanced technological research and development. Its charitable division, The Wayne Foundation, is a major supporter to the city's major charity, arts and research endeavors.
Noteworthy newspapers in Gotham City include the Gotham Gazette and the Gotham Globe.
Gotham sports[edit]
- Baseball: The Gotham Goliaths. Other proposed team names include the Gotham City Eagles, the Gotham Knights, the Gotham Giants, the Gotham Griffins, and the Gotham Monarchs.
- Basketball: The Gotham Gators are the city's professional basketball team. Gotham's basketball team was formerly known as the Guardsmen. There is also a women's team known as the Gotham Valkyries and Gotham Amazons.
- Football: The Gotham Knights are the local football team. Gotham Goliaths and Gotham Wildcats have also been used as franchise names.
- Ice Hockey: The local ice hockey franchise is known as the Gotham Blades.
Arkham Asylum[edit]
Arkham Asylum is the primary but involuntary residence of many of Batman's foes. Brick and stone cells of an old-fashioned asylum dominate the building. Its manager is always a member of the Arkham family. Its current manager is Jeremiah Arkham, the nephew of founder Amadeus Arkham. Perhaps the most notable trait of Arkham is that a seeming revolving door is on it, whereby Batman's villains either escape or are freed very shortly after being admitted. Characters often comment on this situation, either comically or seriously remarking on the need for better security and care at Arkham.
Other Notable Landmarks[edit]
- Crime Alley — Bruce Wayne used his influence to keep the street preserved during the rebuilding of Gotham, making it the only part of the present-day Gotham City to remain.
- The Narrows — An island in the middle of the Gotham River, situated between Uptown and Downtown Gotham. It is home to a severely dilapidated and crumbling neighborhood, as well as the infamous Arkham Asylum. The area is so dangerous cops only go there in force. It is connected to the main parts of the city by nine drawbridges.
- The Palisades - Mentioned by Bruce Wayne as being the site of Wayne Manor, apparently on the outskirts of the city, to the extent that Harvey Dent isn't sure if it's within Gotham City.
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