Gotham City

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Gotham City

The Gotham skyline with the Bat signal. From Batman: City of Crime. Art by Ramon Bachs and Nathan Massengill.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Batman #4 (Winter 1940)
Created by Bob Kane
In story information
Type City
Notable people Bruce Wayne
Alfred Pennyworth
James Gordon
Alan Scott
Notable locations Wayne Manor
Batcave
Arkham Asylum

Gotham City is a fictional city appearing in DC Comics, and is best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 (Winter 1940).

Gotham City is based on many large cities, especially New York City, but also Baltimore, Newark, Chicago, London, Boston and Montreal. The longstanding nickname "Gotham" was first attached to New York in 1807 by Washington Irving in his magazine Salmagundi.[1]

Contents

[edit] Creation

Writer Bill Finger is credited with the creation of Gotham City. Finger commented on the naming of the city and reasoning for changing Batman's locale from Manhattan to a fictional city: "Originally I was going to call Gotham City 'Civic City'. Then I tried Capital City, then Coast City. Then I flipped through the phone book and spotted the name 'Gotham Jewelers' and said, 'That's it', Gotham City. We didn't call it New York because we wanted anybody in any city to identify with it."[2]

[edit] Fictional history

In Swamp Thing #53, Alan Moore wrote a fictional history for Gotham City that other writers have generally followed. According to Moore's tale, a Norwegian mercenary founded Gotham City and the British later took it over—a story that parallels the founding of New York by the Dutch (as New Amsterdam) and later takeover by the British. During the American Revolutionary War, Gotham City was the site of a major battle (paralleling the Battle of Brooklyn and the Battle of Long Island in the American Revolution). Rumors held it to be the site of various occult rites.

Shadowpact #5 by Bill Willingham expanded upon Gotham's occult heritage by depicting a being who has slept for 40,000 years beneath the land upon which Gotham City was built. Strega, the being's servant, says that the "dark and often cursed character" of the city was influenced by the being who now uses the name "Doctor Gotham."

In Gotham Underground #2 by Frank Tieri, Tobias Whale claims that 19th century Gotham was run by five rival gangs, until the first "masks" appeared, eventually forming a gang of their own. It is not clear if these were vigilantes or costumed criminals.

Many storylines have added more events to Gotham's history, at the same time greatly affecting the city and its people. Perhaps the greatest in impact was a long set of serial storylines, which started with Ra's al Ghul releasing a debilitating virus called the "Clench" during the Contagion storyline. As that arc wrapped, the city was beginning to recover, only to suffer an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter Scale in Cataclysm. This resulted in the federal government cutting Gotham off from the rest of the United States in No Man's Land. This trio of storylines allowed writers the freedom to redefine the nature and mood of the city. The result suggested a harder city with a more resilient, resourceful, and cynical populace; a more dramatic and varied architecture; and more writing possibilities by attributing new locales to the rebuilding of the city.[citation needed]

The name "Gotham City" is generally associated with DC Comics, although it also appears in the first Mr. Scarlet story by France Herron and Jack Kirby from Wow Comics #1. Kirby historian Greg Theakston notes that this was published December 13, 1940, shortly before Batman #4 was published.[3]

[edit] Atmosphere

In terms of atmosphere, Batman writer and editor Dennis O'Neil has said that, figuratively, "Batman's Gotham City is Manhattan below Fourteenth Street at eleven minutes past midnight on the coldest night in November."[4]

Gotham City's atmosphere took on a lighter tone in the comics of the 1950s and part of the 1960s, similar to the tone of Batman stories of that era. However, by the early 1970s the tone of the city, along with that of the stories, had become grittier. Today, the portrayal of Gotham is a dark and foreboding metropolis rife with crime, grime, corruption, and a deep-seated sense of urban decay.

[edit] Architecture

Gotham's new skyline. Planned by Lex Luthor after the events of No Man's Land.

Different artists have depicted Gotham in different ways. They often base their interpretations on various real architectural periods and styles with exaggerated characteristics, such as massively multi-tiered flying buttresses on Gothic cathedrals. Also, the huge Art Deco and Art Nouveau statuary was seen in Tim Burton's movie version. Cyberpunk, Japanese, and Greek elements were presented in Joel Schumacher's series of films.

Within the Batman mythos, 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. The "Gotham Style" idea of the writers matches parts of the Gothic Revival in style and timing. In a 1992 storyline, a man obsessed with Pinkney's architecture blew up several Gotham buildings in order to reveal the Pinkney structures they had hidden; the editorial purpose behind this was to transform the city depicted in the comics to resemble the designs created by Anton Furst for the 1989 Batman film.[5][6][7]

After No Man's Land, 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.

[edit] Police and corruption

A common theme in stories set in Gotham is the rampant and recurring corruption within the city's civil authorities and infrastructure, most notably within the Gotham City Police Department. During stories set early in Batman's career (most notably Batman: Year One), Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb was depicted as having his hands in many pockets. However, Batman found evidence for conspiracy charges, forcing Loeb to resign his position. Later stories depicted subsequent commissioners as also being corruptible, or open to various forms of influence. In other stories, Batman has had to take on crooked cops, either acting in collusion with supervillains, working for the mob, or on their own. Later stories, featuring James Gordon as the new Commissioner, show the two characters often uniting to purge corruption from the force. Gordon was the commissioner for about 9 to 10 years of continuity, then retired, handing the police force over to his replacement, Commissioner Akins.[citation needed] Recent stories have returned Gordon to the position of Commissioner, unfortunately to find corruption taking a greater hold since his departure.

[edit] Gotham Underground

  • Unified Crime Family
    • Black Mask- During the events of Batman: War Games, Black Mask gains control over all gangs in Gotham City. He works with The Society to kill Batman. He is eventually killed by Catwoman and a power vacuum leads to a series of gang wars. Recently a new Black Mask has returned in an effort to reunify the Gotham gangs. [8]
    • Great White- Warren "The Great White Shark" White becomes the successor to Black Mask's crime empire, successfully running all crime in Gotham from inside Arkham Asylum. [9] During Intergang's bid for power, Great White is beaten and hidden behind a door in Blackgate prison in order to keep him out of the way. After freeing Arkham's inmates the new Black Mask takes control over Warren and his men.
  • Crime Families
    • Falcone Crime Family (Italian)- Run by Carmine "The Roman" Falcone, who maintained a stranglehold over all of Gotham City's crime before the rise of 'masks.' He is murdered by Two-Face and his daughter, Sofia Gigante takes control,[10] however upon her death and the murder of many other family member, the family loses its grasp over the city. [11]
    • Galante crime family (Italian)- Control the East side of Gotham. Taken over by Tobias Whale [12]
    • Maroni Crime Family- headed by Luigi "Big Lou" Maroni until his death, where his son, Sal Maroni takes control of the family. He is responsible for scarring Harvey Dent and is eventually murdered while in prison.
    • Odessa Crime Family (Russian)- Arms dealers, taken over by Tobias Whale[12]
    • Riley Crime Family (Irish)- Run by Sam Riley, Peyton Riley's father, until his death. It is implied Johnny Sabatino kills him.
    • Sabatino Crime Family (Italian)- The first crime family of Gotham. Johnny Sabatino was married off to Peyton Riley as a sign of peace between the Irish and Italian mobs. Their marriage was loveless and he tries to kill her. Peyton returns with Scarface and tries to kill Johnny and they both fall into the water after a struggle and disappear. [13]
  • Gangs
    • Ghost Dragons- Run by King Snake. Lynx was assigned as their field leader and eventually killed King Snake to gain control over the gang. Lynx was accidentally beheaded by one of her own gang members.
    • Intergang- Lead by Bruno Mannheim, Intergang employs Johnny Stitches to take control over the Gotham City underworld. They successfully take down Penguin's gang and buy out Tobias Whale to gain full control.[14] It is yet to be seen how they will deal with Black Mask's claim to dominance.
    • Penguin's Gang- Run through Penguin's Iceberg Lounge. Penguin was once the premier gang power in Gotham. Ousted by Intergang but was restored by Batman.[14] He is currently fighting for dominance over Two-Face's gang. [8]

[edit] Geography

Gotham City map (1999)
Cartography by Eliot R. Brown for No Man's Land and Gotham City Secret Files and Origins

Gotham City's geography, like other fictional cities' geographies in the DC Universe, has varied over the decades, because of changing writers, editors and storylines. At various times the depiction has Gotham on the shores of "Lake Gotham". The majority of appearances, however, place Gotham on the eastern coast of the United States.

Historically, "Gotham" is a nickname for New York, first used by Washington Irving in the early 19th century.[15] For most of the publication history of Batman in comics, Gotham has been assumed to be a New York City analogue;[15] Frank Miller has said that "Metropolis is New York in the daytime; Gotham City is New York at night."[16] DC Comics president and publisher Paul Levitz says that Gotham is "New York from 14th Street down, the older buildings, more brick-and-mortar as opposed to steel-and-glass. Or, you know, Boston."[15] New York Times journalist William Safire describes Gotham City as "New York below 14th Street, from SoHo to Greenwich Village, the Bowery, Little Italy, Chinatown, and the sinister areas around the base of the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges.[17]

However, longtime Batman artist Neal Adams considers Gotham to be based on Chicago (whose nickname is "New Gotham"), pointing to its history of corruption and organized crime, and adding, "One of the things about Chicago is Chicago has alleys (which are virtually nonexistent in New York). Back alleys, that's where Batman fights all the bad guys."[15] Film adaptations have varied: Tim Burton's Gotham was based primarily on New York, while the films directed by Christopher Nolan have shown a Gotham more closely based on Chicago.[15] In Nolan's films "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight", the license plates of the cars registered in Gotham strongly resemble those of Illinois but display "Gotham" as the state.[18]

Maps shown in various comics have depicted the city in different places. Many of the maps directly use Manhattan, Vancouver, and other real coastlines as their basis, while others are completely original. One map showing Gotham City in relation to Metropolis, the home of Superman, published in New Adventures of Superboy #22 (October 1981), placed Gotham City and Metropolis on opposite sides of a Delaware Bay, with Gotham City in New Jersey and Metropolis in Delaware. On "The Batman" Gotham is shown as being near a large coast and far enough away from Metropolis to fly a plane there. In Swamp Thing vol. 2, #53 (October 1986) the geography of Rhode Island was the basis of another map of Gotham City. The current definitive maps of Gotham City are those based on the ones produced for the No Man's Land story arc. Christopher Nolan commissioned a map of Gotham for his movie Batman Begins that also used the No Man's Land map as a basis. The airport was moved to the Northeast, Narrows Island was inserted between Midtown and Downtown, and Wayne Tower was moved to Midtown, about where the "54" marker on the map to the left is located.[19]

The distance between Gotham City and Metropolis has varied over the years, ranging everywhere from being hundreds of miles apart to being twin cities on opposite sides of a large bay. Blüdhaven, a city that for several years was home to Nightwing, is located near Gotham City. Additionally, the Seven Soldiers of Victory series Klarion the Witch Boy, calls New York City the "Cinderella City", referring to nearby Metropolis and Gotham as its "ugly stepsisters". In Nightwing #153 (2009), the final issue of the series, Nightwing states that it takes forty minutes by plane and six hours by train to get from New York to Gotham.

Man-Bat #3 refers to Gotham City being in the Central Time zone.

According to the Planetary/Batman one-shot, a Gotham City also exists in the Wildstorm universe. It is similar to its DC Universe counterpart, but is not usually home to costumed vigilantes. In Captain Atom: Armageddon Gotham City does not exist in the Wildstorm universe.

One older theory was proposed by Mark Gruenwald, who later went on to be a major writer/editor at Marvel Comics, and published in the 1970s in the DC house fanzine, The Amazing World of DC Comics in an issue dedicated to the Justice League. Gruenwald suggested that Gotham City is located somewhere in the state of New Jersey while Metropolis is located in close proximity to Washington, D.C.

Gotham City, NJ driver license

Detective Comics #503 (June 1983) includes several references suggesting Gotham City is in or near New Jersey. A location on the Jersey Shore is described as "twenty miles north of Gotham." Robin and Batgirl drive from a "secret New Jersey airfield" to Gotham City and then drive on the "Hudson County Highway". Hudson County is the name of an actual New Jersey county.

The Atlas of the DC Universe, published in 1990 by Mayfair Games Inc. as a supplement to the DC Heroes role-playing game (under license from DC Comics), places Gotham City in southern New Jersey (and Metropolis in Delaware). This source was never directly recognized in a published DC Comic, although it is based upon the previously mentioned map from New Adventures of Superboy #22, and fits Mark Gruenwald's placement.

A Gotham City driver's license shown in Batman: Shadow of the Bat annual #1 (1993), contains the line "Gotham City, NJ", placing Gotham City in New Jersey.

In the Batgirl series, as well as in the Vertigo Comics' Sandman series, Gotham is implied to be an entire state, analogous to New York, with Gotham City as its capital. In both cases, the book refers to "Upstate Gotham".

One viral website for the movie The Dark Knight depicts Gotham City Rail train routes in a map[20] that shows some of the city's streets as well as Gotham International Airport, which is depicted as being in an adjacent county or city.

Of the five feature-length Batman films, only the third, "Batman Forever," (1995) was filmed partly in New York City, with additional locations in California, Oregon and Israel. Of the others, "Batman" (1989) was filmed in London. "Batman Returns" (1992) was filmed on the back lots and sound stages of Warner Brothers in Burbank. "Batman and Robin" (1997) was filmed in California, Texas, Canada, Vermont and Austria. "Batman Begins" (2005) was filmed in London, Chicago, Iceland and Waukegan, IL. "The Dark Knight", (2008), the film depending most on exteriors, was filmed entirely on location in Chicago, including recognizable shots using the Sears Tower, the Trump Tower, LaSalle St. and Navy Pier (for the Joker's seemingly fatal joke involving the two boats).

[edit] Notable residents

Many comic book series and characters are set 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.

Within the DC Universe continuity, Batman is not the first hero in Gotham. Stories featuring Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern, set before and during World War II depict Scott living in Gotham, and later depictions[21] show him running his Gotham Broadcasting Corporation. Additionally, the Justice Society of America, Doctor Fate, and the Golden Age Black Canary have been depicted as operating in Gotham. Black Canary's daughter, the Modern Age Black Canary, is based in Gotham through much of the Birds of Prey series. Arella (formerly Angela Roth), a supporting character in Teen Titans and mother of Titan member Raven, is shown in flashback to have resided in Gotham City as a teenager.

Apart from Gotham's superhero residents, the residents of the city feature in a back-up series in Detective Comics called Tales of Gotham City[22] and in two limited series called Gotham Nights. Additionally, the Gotham City Police Department is the focus of the series Gotham Central, as well as the mini-series Gordon's Law, Bullock's Law, and GCPD.

[edit] Mayors in the comic books

Several mayors of Gotham have appeared in the comic book series that collectively form the "Batman Family" of titles:

[edit] Officers of the law in the comics

[edit] Notable areas, landmarks, institutions and businesses

Gotham City map behind James Gordon's desk, in The Long Halloween (art by Tim Sale)

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.[citation needed]

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. In the Silver Age comics, the editor-in-chief of Metropolis newspaper The Daily Planet, Perry White, had once worked for the Gazette early in his career.

[edit] Comic book continuity

  • Ace Chemical Processing Inc. — The factory where a costumed criminal named the Red Hood fell into a vat of chemicals and became the Joker, in Alan Moore's Batman: The Killing Joke.
  • Amusement Mile — An amusement park in Gotham, lined with ferriswheels, rollercoasters, and other attractions typical of a theme park.
  • Batman lighthouse — Inspired by the Statue of Liberty
  • Blackgate Maximum Security Penitentiary — The city’s main prison, located on Blackgate Isle. Batman: The Long Halloween suggests that it was preceded by Gotham Penitentiary.
  • The Bowery — Described in the comics as Gotham City's worst neighborhood. Bordered by Crime Alley to the north, The Bowery is home to Crown Point, a smaller inner-district ridden with crime, homelessness, and prostitution.
  • Brentwood Academy — A privately run high school once attended by Tim Drake during Chuck Dixon's tenure as writer of Robin vol. 2.
  • Burnley
  • The Cauldron — An area known for organized crime. The Irish Mob runs most of The Cauldron and it is home to some of the most prestigious hitmen in the city, per Hitman by Garth Ennis and John McCrea.
  • The Clocktower — A tower in central Gotham which at one time contained the secret headquarters of Barbara Gordon, for her activities as Oracle. The "War Games" storyline shows the destruction of the Clocktower.[volume & issue needed]
  • Chinatown — Gotham's primary Asian district.
  • Crime Alley — A small side street, located in the East End, formally "Park Row." It is a dangerous, crime-infested area. This is where Joe Chill killed Thomas and Martha Wayne in front of their young son, Bruce, after the family had visited a cinema. In addition, this is the location where Batman first met Jason Todd, when the youth attempted to steal the tires from the Batmobile. This is also where Doctor Leslie Thompkins maintains her clinic, and where Batman battles Superman in Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.
  • Diamond District — An area run by the Penguin during the No Man's Land series.
  • The East End — An underdeveloped part of Gotham laden with poverty, crime, prostitution, and the circulation of illegal drugs. Some writers occasionally blend the East End together with Crime Alley as a single area in the city. In the Catwoman series, especially volume 3, Catwoman takes an active interest in protecting this area.
  • Falcone Penthouse — This was the home of Carmine Falcone before Two-Face killed him. This was also the place where Batman first encountered Catwoman, and first faced Two-Face, all of this in Batman: The Long Halloween.
  • Fashion District — An area run by the Penguin during the No Man's Land series.
  • Financial District
  • Finnigan's — A bar popular with uniformed police officers in Gotham.
  • Gotham Bay - Gotham Bay borders the Eastern coastline of Gotham City and allows access to the Blackgate Prison facility.
  • Gotham City General Hospital - This is one of the largest and busiest medical care units in all of Gotham City. Members of both the Justice League of America and the Justice Society of America were once admitted as patients here. Both Thomas Wayne and Thomas Elliot served as resident surgeons at this hospital.
  • Gotham County High School — A public high school once attended by Tim Drake.
  • Gotham Docks — This is the city's harbor. Among other stories, the harbor figures in Batman: The Long Halloween as the place the coroner's body is found.
  • Gotham Heights — An affluent area also known as "Bristol" and/or "Crest Hill", due to mutual proximity of the three neighborhoods. This is where Wayne Manor is located.
  • Gotham Public Library - Barbara Gordon once worked as a librarian at the Gotham Public Library in Gotham City.
  • Gotham Square — A central area of the city resembling New York City's Times Square.
  • Gotham Tower Apartments - One of the more lavish apartment complexes in Gotham City, Poison Ivy once used the penthouse suite as a base of operations
  • Gotham Village — In 1970s comics this was a bohemian area, based on New York City's Greenwich Village.
  • Grand Avenue — The city's main theatre district based on New York City's Broadway.
  • The Hill
  • The Iceberg Lounge — A nightclub in the city center operated by the Penguin.
  • Killinger's Department Store — A large department store similar to Macy's in New York.
  • Little Odessa — Neighborhood that is home to many Russian immigrants.
  • Monarch Playing Card Co. — The playing card factory adjacent to Ace Chemical Processing that the Red Hood was attempting to rob before encountering the Batman and fleeing.
  • My Alibi — An underworld bar in the city center.
  • New Town- An area in which during the No Man's Land series, was the district operated by the Ventriloquist and his puppet Scarface.
  • Old Gotham — The Gotham district more well-known for the location of Oracle's Clock Tower and the GCPD headquarters.
  • Otisburg
  • Peregrinator's Club - This is an exclusive gentleman's club located in Gotham City. The criminal known as Facade targeted several of the club's members as robbery victims and faced off against the Batman here.
  • Plant Factory — The place where Batman first fought Poison Ivy during his first year of operation. It apparently burned to the ground by the end of the battle.
  • Ritm Marlton Hotel
  • Robinson Park — The city’s main park. During "No Man's Land," Poison Ivy claimed this area as her own. Named for 1940s Batman artist and Joker co-creator Jerry Robinson.
  • The Stacked Deck — A seedy nightclub where the most notorious criminals in Gotham go to hide out sometimes.
  • The Staue of Alan Scott - It was revealed in Detective Comics #784, that there is a statue of Green Lantern Alan Scott in Gotham. It was erected in the 1940s as a tribute to Gothams hero of that era.
  • The Statue of Justice — Also known as "Lady Gotham," this is a monument situated off shore of the city and modeled loosely on the Statue of Liberty in New York. It varies in that the figure has a blindfold over her eyes, and a sword and scales in her outstretched hands.
  • Slaughter Swamp — Just outside Gotham, this swamp 'birthed' Solomon Grundy, a frequent villain to Alan Scott.
  • Tobacconists Club - The Tobacconists Club was an exclusive Gentlemen's club located in Gotham City. City councilman Rupert Thorne often used the club to conduct underworld activities.
  • Tricorner — An island at the southwest corner of Gotham City. It is home to the Tricorner Yards.
  • Toxic Acres — An abandoned neighborhood of newly built houses, unsuitable for habitation due to its proximity to a toxic waste dump. To prevent illness, those entering or staying in the area need to use gas masks or take antivenin. At one-time Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn used the area as a hideout.
  • Wayne Manor — Also referred to as "Wayne Mansion" or "Stately Wayne Manor," this is the mansion estate of Bruce Wayne, and the location of the Batcave.
  • Wayne Tower — This is the headquarters of Wayne Enterprises, located at the corner of Finger and Broome Streets. Named for comic creators Bill Finger and John Broome.

[edit] Homages to important Batman creators

  • Aparo Expressway — Named for artist Jim Aparo.
  • Aparo Park — Also named for artist Jim Aparo.
  • Archie Goodwin International Airport — Named for writer and editor Archie Goodwin.
  • Barr Town — Named for writer Mike W. Barr.
  • Cape Carmine — Named for artist Carmine Infantino.
  • Davis Avenue — Named for artist Alan Davis.
  • Dixon Dock — Named for writer Chuck Dixon.
  • Finger River — Named for Batman co-creator Bill Finger.
  • Finger Memorial Park — Also named for Batman co-creator Bill Finger.
  • Grant Park — Named for writer Alan Grant.
  • Kane County Morgue — Named for Batman's creator Bob Kane.
  • Miller Harbor — Named for writer and artist Frank Miller.
  • Novick Tunnel — Named for artist Irv Novick.
  • Robbinsville — Named for artist Frank Robbins.
  • Robinson Park — Named for artist Jerry Robinson.
  • Robinson Plaza — Also named for artist Jerry Robinson.
  • Robinson Square — Also named for artist Jerry Robinson.
  • R.H. Kane Building — Named for Batman co-creator Bob Kane.
  • Robert Kane Memorial Bridge — Also named for Batman co-creator Bob Kane.
  • Sprang Bridge — Named for artist Dick Sprang.
  • Sprang River — Also named for artist Dick Sprang.
  • Sprang Juvenile Detention Hall-Also named for artist Dick Sprang and where the young Catwoman was held.
  • The Westward Bridge — Named for actors Adam West and Burt Ward.

[edit] Landmarks in other media

  • The Statue of Justice — The statue varies from the comics in that she is shown holding a shield and a torch.
  • Stonegate Prison — The city's main prison as opposed to "Blackgate" in the comics.
  • 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.
  • Axis Chemicals — The factory where Jack Napier fell into a vat of chemicals and became the Joker. The name differs from Ace Chemical Processing Inc. in the comics.
  • Flugelheim museum - The location of first battle of Batman and the Joker
  • Nolan Films
  • Gotham Docks — This is the site of the final arrest of Carmine Falcone.
  • Narrows Island — An island situated between Midtown Gotham and Downtown Gotham, also nicknamed simply "the Narrows." The Narrows is nothing more than a sort of "skid row" in Gotham, populated by crumbling buildings and rife with criminal activity. It is dangerous and dilapidated, and, to quote Detective Flass, "cops don't go into the Narrows except in force." The Narrows is also the location of Arkham Asylum, which is on the island's Northeast corner. There doesn't seem to be a monorail station in the Narrows, but the establishing shot indicates that monorail tracks run straight through the island. The Narrows is also the site of the League of Shadows' initial release of the Fear Toxin.
  • Wayne Station - A monorail station attached to Wayne Tower. The Gotham Light Rail system was contracted and built by Thomas Wayne, Bruce's father, while he was still alive. The monorail project was headed by both Thomas Wayne and his good friend Lucious Fox as an attempt to "give something back" to Gotham. After Thomas Wayne and his wife were murdered by Joe Chill, the Gotham Light Rail system and Wayne Station fell into disuse and decay; a few parts of the monorail system are still active out of "respect" for Thomas Wayne.

On a side note, the monorail tracks run directly over the water and power utilities in Gotham, according to Fox.

  • Other Areas - A map commissioned by Christopher Nolan for the film series and based upon the "No Man's Land" map also listed a few districts in or near Gotham including Sheal, West Harlow, Pettsburg, Granton, Farrow, Jerrold, Gainsly, Reatton, Hayesville, Stevensburgh, and South Hinkley. Jerrold is among the first to be incorporated into the comics themselves by writer Grant Morrison.

[edit] Batman (TV series)

[edit] Gotham City tourist info[23]
  • Stately Wayne Manor
  • Gotham Amusement Pier
  • Wayne Memorial Clock Tower
  • Amerigold Columbus Bridge
  • Madame Soleil's Wax Museum
  • Gotham City Museum
  • Gotham City Central Park
  • Washington Centre
  • Parkhurst Galleries
  • Tyler Stadium
  • Gotham City Speedway
  • Gotham City Coliseum
  • White's Pond
  • Gotham Arts Centre
  • Spring Street Aquarium
  • Wayne Animal Sanctuary
  • Gotham City Museum of Antiquities
  • Gotham City Bridge
  • West River
  • Coley Square
  • Gotham City Library
  • Gotham City University
  • Chimes Square
  • Gotham City Square Gardens
  • Spayed Stadium
  • Gotham Town Hall
  • The Follies
  • Gotham City Museum
  • Bernie Park's Artistic Procurers
  • Gotham City Art Center
  • S.S. Gotham Queen
  • Gotham City Harbour
  • Gotham Park Racetrack
  • Gotham City Soccer Stadium
  • Pelican Cove
  • Bessarovian Embassy
  • Gotham City Museum of Natural History
  • Gotham Point
  • Phony Island
  • Phony Island Lighthouse
  • Gotham City Zoo
  • Ambergreas Bay
  • Gotham City Opera House
  • Gotham City World's Fair
  • Peale Art Gallery
  • Coolidge Square Station
  • Gotham Square
  • Gotham City Museum of Modern Art
  • Gotham City Opera Company
  • Queen of Freedom Monument

[edit] Other locations
  • Gotham Convention Hall
  • Gotham City Art Museum
  • Gotham City Exhibit Hall
  • Abandoned Navy Recreation Center
  • Jefferson Square Park
  • Murray Park
  • Gotham Ball Park
  • Gotham Park Lake

[edit] Gotham City yellow pages[24]
  • Gotham City Police Headquarters
  • Gotham City Jail
  • Woodrow Roosevelt High
  • Maison de Magda
  • Gotham City Millionaires Club
  • Morganbilt Library
  • Gotham City Library
  • Winnie Coto Country Club
  • Gotham City Central Station
  • Wayne Steamship Company
  • Gotham State Penitentiary
  • Glob's Drugstore
  • Gotham State Building
  • Harry Hammert's
  • Dunbar's Drive-in
  • City Hall
  • Screaming Chicken Roadside Teepee
  • J. Pauline Spaghetti Island
  • J. Pauline Spaghetti Hotel
  • Morpheus Mattresses
  • Bernie's Chicken Farm
  • Paul's Poultry Palace
  • Old MacDonald's Chicken Farm
  • Frosty Freezies Factory
  • V Magnum Diamonds
  • KGC Radio
  • Laughing Leo's Used Cars
  • Adobe Hacienda Motel & Eats
  • Gotham City Stockyards
  • Mount Ararat Hospital
  • Rosetta Stone Company
  • Russell Arms Apartments
  • The Gotham Arms
  • Knab Aircraft
  • Harry's Hair Lair
  • Manufacturing Jewellry & Designers
  • The Platter-Porium
  • Gotham City Reservoir
  • KGC-TV
  • Duncan Dance Studios
  • Mr. Oceanbring's Salon for Men
  • Bon Bon's Box Boutique
  • Gotham City Atomic Energy Laboratory
  • Gotham Towers West
  • Old Lake Street Reservoir
  • Gotham City Film Decency League
  • The Hexagon
  • Jolly Jim's Scrap Metal
  • Federal Sub-Treasury Building
  • Aaron Burr High School
  • Gedallian Embassy
  • Gotham Plaza Hotel
  • Gotham City Dairymen's League
  • Gotham City Herald
  • Sons of Balboa
  • Gotham City Bank
  • Gotham City Science Institute
  • Gotham City Baker's Guild
  • The Eyrie
  • Gotham City National Bank
  • Happy Acres
  • Gotham City Times
  • Feline Fur Salon
  • Forever Jewel Company
  • Gotham City Chimes Building
  • French Freddy's Fencing Academy
  • Sherlock Holmes Real Estate Development
  • Pink Chips Stamp Factory
  • The Camelia Room
  • American Bank
  • Beneficial Bank
  • Commercial Bank
  • Diversified Bank
  • Empire Bank
  • Federal State Bank
  • Gotham General Bank & Trust
  • Black Widow Lingerie
  • Black Widow Weeds Removal Service
  • Black Widow Blacktop Company
  • Black, Widow, & Black - Attorneys
  • Heritage First National Bank and Trust
  • Burma Import Company
  • Gotham Towers
  • Franchin's Fancy Fur Salon
  • Keyborne Bookstore
  • Keynote Music Shop
  • Sacred Precints of the Ultra-Conservative Gotham City Key Club
  • Keystone Building
  • The Locker Room
  • Oasis Hotel
  • Gotham City Art News
  • The Grotto Arms
  • Wayne Foundation Building
  • Glu Gluten's Glue Factory
  • Andrew's Hockey Puck Factory
  • Gotham City Radium Centre
  • Hang 5
  • le Maison du Chat
  • Fashionation Magazine
  • Lo Hung Company
  • Cane's Candy Company
  • Gotham Astoria
  • State Employment Office
  • United States Mint, Gotham City Branch
  • Gotham General Hospital
  • Gotham City Apartments
  • Gotham Water Works
  • Gotham City British Consul Center
  • Peter's Guns & Ammo
  • Green Grocer's
  • Spiffany's Jewelry Store
  • Gotham City Alchemical Bank & Trust Company
  • What A Way To Go-Go
  • Old Turtle Mill
  • House of Ali Baba
  • Pelican Arms
  • Gotham City Ice Skating Rink
  • Gotham City Eagles
  • Gotham City Diamond Exchange
  • Trieste Jewellers
  • Gotham City Hotel
  • Gotham City Hospital
  • Last Longer Warehouse
  • Gotham City Shipbuilding Company
  • Royal Mushroom Club
  • Gotham City Water & Power Plant

[edit] Other locations
  • Gotham City Radio
  • Gotham Sporting Goods Shop
  • Northrup Book Shop
  • Official Bank Note Printing Company
  • Ladd Armored Car Company
  • Kats, Katz, Katz and Company, Fine Refiners
  • Gotham City State Bank
  • Mother Gotham's Bakery
  • Gotham Lumber Yard
  • The Chessman Building
  • Smith, Smith and Schmidt Stockbrokers
  • Bijou Theatre
  • Trojan Horse Trucking Company
  • Gotham City Institute of Technology
  • Gotham City Stock Exchange
  • Gotham City Security Trust
  • Gotham Treasury
  • Gotham City Airport
  • Stay-Dry Umbrellas
  • Gotham City Fire Department
  • Basin Street Hotel
  • Gotham Square Park
  • Gotham City State Building
  • Gotham Hampshire Hotel
  • GTZR Radio
  • Gotham West Hotel

[edit] Gotham sports

  • Basketball: The Gotham Gators are the city's professional basketball team (as seen on The Batman). In the 52 (comic book) website, Gotham's basketball team is known as the Guardsmen (article Bring on the Thunder!). There is also a women's team known as the Gotham Valkyries (The Daily Planet Guide to Gotham City) or in other publications the Gotham Amazons.

[edit] Arkham Asylum

Arkham Asylum is the primary but involuntary residence of many of Batman's foes. Dennis O'Neil named Arkham Asylum as an homage to the works of H. P. Lovecraft. For years, artists have rendered it predominantly as an old and sometimes crumbling structure, but at times some artists have depicted it as a more modern facility (notably, the storyline The Last Arkham involved Jeremiah Arkham tearing down the old asylum and replacing it with a modern structure more akin to a supermax prison). Its exterior and interior appearances often change to match the moods and needs of the creative team. In some stories, the rooms have the stereotypical white padded walls of a mental hospital, in others the brick or stone cells of an old-fashioned asylum, and in still others the glass and steel private rooms of a modern hospital. The suggestion often made is that its history in the city reaches back to the early part of the 20th century, and that 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 many writers have placed a seeming revolving door on it, whereby Batman's villains either escape or are freed very shortly after being admitted, allowing writers to use them without complications. Characters often comment on this situation, either comically or seriously remarking on the need for better security and care at Arkham.

[edit] In other media

[edit] 1960s

The 1960s live-action Batman television series never specified Gotham's location. One episode refers to Gotham Rock, implying a location analogous to Boston.[25] The related theatrical movie, showed Batman to be flying over suburban Los Angeles, the Hollywood Hills, palm trees, a harbor, a beach and a view of the Los Angeles City Hall. No attempt was made to cover the fact that the movie was filmed in Los Angeles.

Although the setting for the series was Gotham City (as with virtually all Batman serials), several New York City locations are noted throughout the series. Among them are the New York Public Library Central Research Building on West 42nd Street, Central Park, and Foley Square in Lower Manhattan. Portions of the 1966 film also were shot on location in NYC.

[edit] 1989 movie

Gotham City's skyline, as it appears in the 1989 Batman movie.

In the opening lines of the Sam Hamm screenplay to the 1989 film version[26], Gotham is described as Hell erupted through the pavement and built a city (similar to a Pandæmonium, or the capital of Hell, from the terms of John Milton). The logic in screenplay is when elevators were utilized for taller structures, the buildings over a few stories were built around the existing structures of Gotham Town. These skyscapers cast a shadow over the city coupled with the smoke from Gotham's industry kept the city in perpetual dusk.

A map of Gotham City used in the film Batman (1989) was actually an inverted map of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In the same movie, a map of the Axis Chemical plant was actually a map of the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.

Anton Furst did the production design for the first Batman film directed by Tim Burton[27][28]. Anton Furst's set designs for the Batman movie were an attempt to imagine what might have happened to New York City had there been no planning commission and had it been run by pure extortion and crime. Hence, there were no height restrictions, the skyscrapers were cantilevered toward the street rather than away, there were lots of bridges over the streets. In return, the city appeared to be extremely dark and claustrophobic. Burton even stated himself that his take on Gotham was "As if Hell came sprouting out of the concrete and kept right on growing."

The individual buildings in Furst's version of Gotham were based on a whole host of influences. The cathedral was based on Antoni Gaudí's Sagrada Família, the Flugelheim Museum exterior was based on the work of Shin Takamatsu, and some of the other influences were Otto Wagner, Norman Foster, and Albert Speer.[29] In essence, Furst deliberately mixed clashing architectural styles to make Gotham City the ugliest and bleakest metropolis imaginable.

For Wayne Manor, Knebworth House, a Gothic Tudor mansion 28 miles north of London was used for the exterior. The interior however, is Hatfield House, Hertfordshire.

The flag of Gotham City closely resembles the state flag of Indiana. It can be seen briefly in Harvey Dent's office.

[edit] Batman Returns

Gotham during Christmas, as seen in Batman Returns.

For Tim Burton's second Batman film, Batman Returns[30][31] (1992), Bo Welch took over the production design[32] duties from Anton Furst. Welch for the most part, based his designs on Furst's concepts.[33] Whereas Anton Furst's designs showed a considerable amount of sinister visual grandeur, Bo Welch's designs had a more whimsical approach.[34][35][36] Welch blended "Fascist architecture with World's Fair architecture" for Gotham City.[37] Russian architecture and German Expressionism were also studied.

At least 50% of the Warner Brothers lot was taken up with Gotham City sets. The massive Gotham City sets were all constructed to be mobile, and were often shifted between days of filming. Michelle Pfeiffer (Catwoman) routinely got lost on her way to filming each day.[citation needed]

[edit] Schumacher film series

When Joel Schumacher[38] took over directing the Batman films from Tim Burton, Barbara Ling handled the production design for both of Schumacher's films (1995's Batman Forever[39][40][41] and 1997's Batman & Robin[42][43][44]). Ling's vision of Gotham City was a luminous and marvelously outlandish evocation of Modern expressionism[45] and Constructivism.[46] Its futuristic-like concepts (to a certain extent, akin to the 1982 film Blade Runner[47]) appeared to be sort of a cross between Manhattan and the "Neo-Tokyo" of Akira. Ling admitted her influences for the Gotham City design came from "neon-ridden Tokyo and the Machine Age. Gotham is like a World's Fair on ecstasy."[48]

Batman Forever was going to be shot in Cincinnati, using the old subway tunnel. The exterior of the Gotham City Hippodrome (the arena where the "Flying Graysons" performed their trapeze act) is based on the exterior of Union Terminal, a famous 1930s Art Deco train station in Cincinnati.[49]

Exterior scenes of Wayne Manor for Batman Forever were filmed at the Webb Institute of Naval Architecture in Long Island, New York. The production team had to change the school's "W" on the entrance gate because it had an anchor behind it.

The exterior set for Two-Face's hide out in Batman Forever was the same set used in the first disappearance of Max Shreck in Batman Returns.

The Arkham Asylum that was seen in Batman Forever was designed as a tall, spiraling castle-like structure, with narrow hallways lined with brightly-lit glass bricks.

During Mr. Freeze’s attempt to freeze Gotham in the film Batman & Robin[50] (1997), the targeting screen for his giant laser locates it somewhere on the New England shoreline, possibly as far north as Maine.

The soundtrack for Batman & Robin featured a song named after the city and sung by R. Kelly.

[edit] Nolan film series

Gotham City as shown in Batman Begins.

Director Christopher Nolan[51] worked with production designer Nathan Crowley to create the look of Gotham City. Nolan designed Gotham City to be a large, modern metropolitan area that would reflect the various periods of architecture that the city had gone through. Elements were drawn from Tokyo, Hong Kong, New York City, but mainly Chicago.

The location of Gotham is ambiguous, although it is a seaside port. Alfred comments that the caverns beneath Wayne Manor that are to be converted into the Batcave were once used by a Wayne ancestor to hide escaping slaves in the Underground Railroad. The automobile license plates shown throughout the film and in its sequel are reminiscent of Illinois' license plate design.

The Chicago Board of Trade Building represents Wayne Tower in Batman Begins.

In Batman Begins[52] the Chicago Board of Trade Building was the visual inspiration for the film's Wayne Tower design[15]. The art-deco building was represented as the hub of Gotham's water and elevated railway systems and also housed Gotham's opera house. 35 East Wacker was depicted as Gotham's main courthouse. Several other Chicago skyscrapers where shown such as the Sears Tower, Hyatt Center, Two Prudential Plaza, the Chicago Water Tower and the twin Marina City towers. The former Rothschild estate, Mentmore Towers in Buckinghamshire, was used to portray Wayne Manor's exterior and interior. The Narrows was based on the slummish nature of the now-demolished walled city of Kowloon in Hong Kong.[53] One notable change in this version of Arkham Asylum from the comics was the location. While the location has varied in the comics, it is generally located some distance outside of Gotham City, often in a rural or forested location. However, Batman Begins has it in the middle of Gotham City, located in the Narrows.

Wayne Tower is represented by the Richard J. Daley Center in The Dark Knight.

In The Dark Knight[54], the modern Richard J. Daley Center is suggested as the new headquarters for Wayne Enterprises. As Wayne Manor was being reconstructed in the events of the Dark Knight, a digitally enhanced Hotel 71 was used as Bruce Wayne's penthouse. 330 North Wabash was used as Gotham City Hall and housed Mayor Garcia's office. The then under construction Trump Tower was featured heavily later in the movie and was named the Prewitt Building. Other Chicago landmarks seen in The Dark Knight include Chicago Board of Trade Building, Sears Tower, Aon Center, Two Prudential Plaza, NBC Tower, the Marina City towers, Navy Pier, the Randolph Street Metra Station, and lower Wacker Drive. It is revealed that downtown Gotham, or much the city, is on an island, similar to New York City's Manhattan Island, suggested by the Gotham Island Ferry. However, while Gordon is discussing evacuation plans with the Mayor, land routes to the east are mentioned. The Narrows itself was left in chaos after the events of Batman Begins and is therefore not mentioned during The Dark Knight. In conversation with Harvey Dent, Bruce Wayne indicates that Wayne manor was located "inside" the Gotham City limits, in the Palisades, also the name for a region of Northern New Jersey across the Hudson River from New York City.

In terms of population, Lucius Fox says that the city houses "30 million people".

[edit] Batman: The Animated Series

In the episode "Joker's Favor", a driver's license lists a Gotham area resident's hometown as "Gotham Estates, NY". This implies that Gotham City borders or is within the state of New York, and has suburbs (such as Gotham Estates) within commuting distance. In another episode, when Bruce Wayne leaves for England, it shows Gotham City located on New York's Long Island, clearly in the same location as Queens.

Another episode of The Animated Series however, implies that Gotham resides in a state of the same name; a prison workshop is shown stamping license plates that read "Gotham - The Dark Deco State" (as a reference to the artistic style of the series, this plate was intended as a gag). In addition, the episode "Harlequinade" states that Gotham City has a population of approximately 10 million people.

During the events of the direct-to-video film, Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, a computer screen displaying Barbara Gordon's personal information shows Gotham City, NY, but also displays her area code as being 212 - a common Manhattan area code. The series also has drawings which New Yorkers can easily recoginze as Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, the Statue of Liberty, and the Museum of Natural History. They refer to it as Gotham Square Garden but it is MSG. There is also a Statue Of Liberty, however, it has a shield and crown.

[edit] Batman Beyond

Batman Beyond envisions a Gotham City fifty years into the future. In it, a futuristic architecture which mixes Gothic and Asian influences, reminiscent of the film Akira, with elevated streets looping around buildings, has replaced the Gothic architecture based on early 20th century American city.

[edit] The Batman

Gotham City in The Batman shares many similarities to Gotham depicted in Batman Begins, resembling a darker in architecture. Elements of art deco, albeit toned down, are prevalent as well. The sky is almost always colored red or green when depicted at night. Landmarks in the series include Lady Gotham, with an outstretched arm holding a sword and the other holding a shield. Wayne Manor is positioned in Gotham City itself, and has a taller, less stately appearance, resembling New York's Waldorf Astoria hotel in parts.

[edit] Landmarks in other media

  • Batman: The Animated Series
  • The Statue of Justice — The statue varies from the comics in that she is shown holding a shield and a torch.
  • Stonegate Prison — The city's main prison as opposed to "Blackgate" in the comics.
  • Batman Beyond
  • 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.
  • Batman (1989 film)
  • Axis Chemicals — The factory where Jack Napier fell into a vat of chemicals and became the Joker. The name differs from Ace Chemical Processing Inc. in the comics.
  • Batman Begins
  • 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, as evidenced by the map commissioned by Christopher Nolan. The novelization, however, stated the Narrows had three bridges and a tunnel connecting it to Gotham proper. The tunnel (called the Battery Tunnel) appeared in Batman Begins (video game).
  • The Dark Knight
  • 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. Analogous to the New Jersey Palisades, located opposite New York. In the comics, and in particular, in the Gotham Map created for the No Man's Land story arc, this area is known as Bristol Hills.

[edit] Smallville

In the TV series Smallville, Gotham is mentioned by Linda Lake in the episode "Hydro", who jokes she can see Gotham from her view. It is also mentioned in "Reunion", where one of Oliver Queen's friends mentions having to get back to Gotham. However, it could mean that they are referring to New York.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Burrows, Edwin G. and Mike Wallace. Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898. (Oxford University Press, 1999), 417.
  2. ^ Steranko, Jim (1970). The Steranko History of Comics. Reading, Pa.: Supergraphics. pp. 44. ISBN 0-517-50188-0. 
  3. ^ The Complete Jack Kirby 1940-41 (published by Pure Imagination)
  4. ^ O'Neil, Dennis. Afterword. Batman: Knightfall, A Novel. New York: Bantam Books, 1994. 344.
  5. ^ Grant, Alan (w), Breyfogle, Norm (p,i). "The Destroyer Part One: A Tale of Two Cities" 'Batman' (474) (February 1992), DC Comics
  6. ^ Grant, Alan (w), Sprouse, ChrisAnton Furst (p), Patterson, Bruce (i). "The Destroyer Part Two: Solomon" 'Legends of the Dark Knight' (27) (February 1992), DC Comics
  7. ^ Grant, Alan (w), Aparo, Jim (p), DeCarlo, Mike (i). "The Destroyer Part Three" 'Detective Comics' (641) (February 1992), DC Comics
  8. ^ a b Battle For the Cowl #1
  9. ^ Batman: Face the Face
  10. ^ Batman: The Long Halloween
  11. ^ Batman: Dark Victory
  12. ^ a b Gotham Underground #1
  13. ^ Detective Comics #844
  14. ^ a b Gotham Underground #9
  15. ^ a b c d e f Rousseau, Caryn (2008-07-21). "Dark Knight's kind of town: Gotham City gets windy". Associated Press (Salon.com). http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/entertainment/2008/07/21/D922CNGG0_monday_movie_buzz_chicago_as_gotham_/index.html. Retrieved on 2008-07-31. 
  16. ^ MacDonald, Heidi; Peter Sanderson (2006-01-30). "New York Is Comics Country". Publishers Weekly (Reed Elsevier). http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6302532.html. Retrieved on 2008-07-31. 
  17. ^ ON LANGUAGE; Jersey's Vanishing 'New', William Safire, The New York Times, July 30, 1995
  18. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0372784/trivia
  19. ^ Bryant, Kiel (May 1, 2008). "It's All Part of the Plan, I". Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kielbryant/2456037973/. 
  20. ^ Gotham City Rail
  21. ^ Detective Comics #784-786
  22. ^ Detective Comics #488-490, 492, 494, 495, 504, 507. http://darkmark6.tripod.com/batfamily.html
  23. ^ Gotham City Tourist Info
  24. ^ Gotham City Yellow Pages
  25. ^ A Tourist's Guide to Gotham City
  26. ^ Film locations for Batman
  27. ^ Gotham City (Burton films) - Batman Wiki
  28. ^ Equally important to the success of the film is Burton's dark and surreal visual style. He creates a Gotham City that is scary, cartoonish and imposing all at the same time.
  29. ^ Comic Book Resources Forums - View Single Post - Gotham City Architecture Influences
  30. ^ Film locations for Batman Returns
  31. ^ Batman Returns - Gotham City
  32. ^ SETS APPEAL: DESIGNING 'BATMAN RETURNS'
  33. ^ Lensed seemingly entirely indoors or on covered sets, pic is a magnificently atmospheric elaboration on German expressionism. Its look has been freshly imagined by production designer Bo Welch, based on the Oscar-winning concepts of the late Anton Furst in the first installment. Welch's Gotham City looms ominously over all individuals, and every set--from Penguin's aquarium-like lair and Shreck's lavish offices to Bruce Wayne's vaguely "Citizen Kane"-like mansion and simple back alleys--is brilliantly executed to maximum evocative effect.
  34. ^ And the sinister visual grandeur of the late Anton Furst has given way to the more whimsical approach
  35. ^ The sets by Bo Welch are amazing, a Teutonic, "Metropolis"-like Gotham -- perfect to house the larger than life characters.
  36. ^ The three-way story, involving Keaton's Batman, DeVito's Penguin and Pfeiffer's Catwoman, takes place in a wonderland of moody sets by Bo Welch.
  37. ^ Judy Sloane (August 1995). "Bo Welch Interview", Film Review, pp. 66. Retrieved on 2008-08-14.
  38. ^ Gotham City (Schumacher films) - Batman Wiki
  39. ^ Film locations for Batman Forever
  40. ^ Batman Forever - Gotham
  41. ^ In collaboration with production designer Barbara Ling and her crew, Schumacher has kept the series' dark and monumental look (the legacy of Frank Miller's brilliant graphic novel "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns") and, as advertised, lightened the project's overall tone.
  42. ^ Film locations for Batman & Robin
  43. ^ Batman & Robin - Gotham City
  44. ^ Barbara Ling's no-holds-barred production design makes Gotham look more surreal than ever.
  45. ^ ``Batman & Robin's look is luminous and marvelously outlandish throughout. Barbara Ling's production design is outstanding, a stunning evocation of modern Expressionism.
  46. ^ Batman & Robin DVD extras
  47. ^ Departing from former "Batman" director Tim Burton's gothic approach to New York, Schumacher and production designer Barbara Ling compulsively layer the background with a futuristic city design that seems to aim for "Blade Runner" by way of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles".
  48. ^ Barbara Ling, Bigger, Bolder, Brighter: The Production Design of Batman & Robin, 2005, Warner Home Video
  49. ^ Batman Forever (1995) - Trivia
  50. ^ Gotham City's Gothic architecture and counterculture population has been taken to new - and silly - extremes, to the point where it's literally embarrassing to watch.
  51. ^ Gotham City (Nolan Films) - Batman Wiki
  52. ^ Film locations for Batman Begins
  53. ^ Otto, Jeff (2006-06-05). "Interview: Christopher Nolan". IGN. http://movies.ign.com/articles/622/622719p1.html. Retrieved on 2006-11-06. 
  54. ^ Film locations for The Dark Knight

[edit] Sources

[edit] External links

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