DC Animated Universe
Register
Advertisement
Gotham City (BTAS)

Gotham City during Bruce Wayne's heyday.

"Did you hear a scream?"
"Hey, it's Gotham City. That's practically our theme song.
"
Terry McGinnis and Dana Tan[1]

Gotham City was the home of Batman, the world's greatest detective, and many of his allies and foes.

History[]

Gotham City from TBNA Cold Comfort

The modern Gotham City in Cold Comfort

Gotham was founded in 1697[2] on the estuary of the Gotham River.[3] Over the years, it grew in size, and its own University was founded in 1898.[4] Because of its industrial and commercial growth, it had become a home to Wayne Enterprises. Despite flourishing prosperity in the dark but calm city, Gotham was preyed on by various problems such as organized crime, unscrupulous businesses, and corrupt officials. Now a city of 10 million inhabitants,[5][6] much of its crime was fought by the ever vigilant Police Department, aided by the vigilante Batman and his associates.

Gotham City in the future[]

Future Gotham

The future Gotham skyline.

In the 2040s, Gotham was very much changed. But while much had changed, many things remained the same, including crime, poverty, broken families, and corruption. Street gangs like the Jokerz and the T's prowled the streets, while the mayor was an individual of questionable ethics.[7] Over time, even the noble and grand Wayne Enterprises soon quietly fell and became monopolized by the Powers Technology company, whose successor engaged in corrupt practices and even in illegal arms research and production.

Locations[]

Districts[]

  • Bayside District: An area of mostly warehouses.[8]
  • Cork District: Formerly the site of a bottling plant, later urban renewal.[9]
  • Cranston Estates: A suburb in the mountains north of Gotham.[10]
  • Downtown Financial District[11]
  • Gotham Acres: Redevelopment and cheap housing.[12]
  • Gotham Estates: A suburb of Gotham City.[13]
  • Gotham Island[14]
  • Gotham Midtown[14]
  • Gotham Palisades: An area of casino's and entertainment.[15]
  • Lower East Side: A run-down neighborhood with petty crime and prostitution.[16]
  • Market Lane District[11]
  • Mid River Island: An island in the Gotham River, home to a nuclear power plant.[17]
  • Paradise Meadows: Formerly a newly developed area, it was condemned after a toxic spill.[18]
  • Park Row[19]
  • Riverfront District[20]
  • Somerset District: A largely desolate area, home of Arkham Asylum.[21]
  • Southside Piers[22]

Future Gotham[]

  • Montrose District: An industrial part of New Gotham, home of Gotham Genetics.[23]
  • Old Town District: The collective name for those buildings that survived deep into the twenty-first century.[24]

Prisons[]

People[]

Local superheroes[]

Politicians[]

Newspapers[]

Background[]

Gotham versus New York City[]

GothamNY

Gotham at the location of New York, as shown on the map in "Avatar".

Throughout much of the Batman mythos, Gotham has been assumed to be based on New York City, and in early comics, Batman's adventures actually took place in New York. It wasn't until approximately two years after Batman's comics debut that the name Gotham was used. Since the naming of Gotham City, DC has published comics taking place in New York City. In order to keep the two cities separate, in DC comics current continuity, Gotham is in New Jersey, north of Atlantic City, or sometimes shown on the shore of Delaware Bay south of Millville, NJ.

In the DCAU, however, Gotham City and New York City originally seemed to be one and the same. Barbara Gordon, Dean Arbagast[31] and Yanni Stavros[32] have addresses listed as "Gotham City, NY", the former two complete with Manhattan area code and zip code. The suburb Gotham Estates is placed in New York State,[13] and a Statue of Liberty-like figure (known as the Statue of Freedom[33]) has been shown in Gotham twice.[34][35] A map showed Gotham to be on exactly the same location as New York.[36]

However, later episodes obscure the matter. Gotham is once placed in the fictitious Gotham State.[37] New York does exist; it was first mentioned on a clock in "Prophecy of Doom", but not shown until the DCAU finale "Destroyer".

Sightings[]

Batman: The Animated Series

Feature films

Superman: The Animated Series

The New Batman Adventures

Feature film

Batman Beyond

Feature film

The Zeta Project

Static Shock

Gotham Girls

Justice League

Justice League Unlimited

References[]

  1. Berkowitz, Stan (writer) & Riba, Dan (director) (November 4, 2000). "Speak No Evil". Batman Beyond. Season 3. Episode 6 (airdate). Episode 45 (production). Kids WB!.
  2. Bader, Hilary J. (writer) & Riba, Dan (director) (October 12, 1997). "Cold Comfort". The New Batman Adventures. Episode 3 (airdate). Episode 3 (production). Season 1. Kids WB!.
  3. Ellis, Warren (writer) & Riba, Dan (director) (December 11, 2004). "Dark Heart". Justice League Unlimited. Season 1. Episode 10 (airdate). Episode 10 (production). Cartoon Network.
  4. O'Neil, Dennis (writer) & Altieri, Kevin (director) (May 3, 1993). "The Demon's Quest, Part I". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 1. Episode 57 (airdate). Episode 60 (production). FOX Kids.
  5. Derek, Sean Catherine, Bright, Laren (story) & Dennis, Jules, Mueller, Richard (teleplay) & Altieri, Kevin (director) (September 5, 1992). "The Cat and the Claw, Part I". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 1. Episode 1 (airdate). Episode 15 (production). FOX Kids.
  6. Dini, Paul (writer) & Altieri, Kevin (director) (May 23, 1994). "Harlequinade". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 2. Episode 10 (airdate). Episode 72 (production). FOX Kids.
  7. Berkowitz, Stan (writer) & Geda, Curt (director) (January 8, 2000). "Babel". Batman Beyond. Season 2. Episode 12 (airdate). Episode 25 (production). Kids WB!.
  8. Berkowitz, Stan (writer) & Chele, Vic Dal (director) (January 17, 2004). "Future Shock". Static Shock. Season 4. Episode 1 (airdate). Episode 40 (production). Kids WB!.
  9. Uncredited writer & Uncredited director (July 30, 2002). "Gotham in Pink". Gotham Girls. Season 3. Episode 23 (airdate). Episode 23 (production). WB Network.
  10. Burnett, Alan (story) & Perry, Steve (teleplay) & Riba, Dan (director) (October 9, 1994). "Time Out of Joint". The Adventures of Batman & Robin. Season 3. Episode 5 (airdate). Episode 73 (production). FOX Kids.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Burnett, Alan, Dini, Paul, Rogel, Randy (story) & Rogel, Randy (teleplay) & Riba, Dan (director) (September 24, 1994). "Riddler's Reform". The Adventures of Batman & Robin. Season 3. Episode 3 (airdate). Episode 79 (production). FOX Kids.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Pedersen, Ted, Hayes, Steve (writers) & Paur, Frank (director) (September 16, 1992). "Be A Clown". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 1. Episode 11 (airdate). Episode 9 (production). FOX Kids.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Dini, Paul (writer) & Kirkland, Boyd (director) (September 11, 1992). "Joker's Favor". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 1. Episode 7 (airdate). Episode 22 (production). FOX Kids.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Wolfman, Marv, Reaves, Michael (story) & Wolfman, Marv (teleplay) & Sebast, Dick (director) (September 8, 1992). "Feat of Clay, Part I". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 1. Episode 4 (airdate). Episode 20 (production). FOX Kids.
  15. Dini, Paul (writer) & Kirkland, Boyd (director) & November 19, 1992). "Joker's Wild". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 1. Episode 42 (airdate). Episode 41 (production). FOX Kids.
  16. Idem, "Robin's Reckoning"
  17. Gerber, Steve (writer) & Lukic, Butch (director) (July 11, 1998). "Love is a Croc". The New Batman Adventures. Episode 13 (airdate). Episode 9 (production). Season 1. Kids WB!.
  18. Dini, Paul (writer) & Kirkland, Boyd (director) (January 18, 1993). "Harley and Ivy". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 1. Episode 47 (airdate). Episode 56 (production). FOX Kids.
  19. Conway, Gerry (writer) & Kirkland, Boyd (director) & September 17, 1992). "Appointment in Crime Alley". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 1. Episode 12 (airdate). Episode 26 (production). FOX Kids.
  20. Swenson, Carl (writer) & Altieri, Kevin (director) (September 22, 1992). "The Last Laugh". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 1. Episode 15 (airdate). Episode 4 (production). FOX Kids.
  21. Dini, Paul, Timm, Bruce W. (story) & Dini, Paul (teleplay) & Riba, Dan (director) (May 16, 1994). "Trial". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 2. Episode 9 (airdate). Episode 68 (production). FOX Kids.
  22. Uncredited writer & Uncredited director (October 22, 2002). "No, I'm Batgirl!". Gotham Girls. Season 3. Episode 29 (airdate). Episode 29 (production). WB Network.
  23. Bader, Hilary J. (writer) & Lukic, Butch (director) (September 30, 2000). "Inqueling". Batman Beyond. Season 3. Episode 3 (airdate). Episode 46 (production). Kids WB!.
  24. Fogel, Rich (story) & Bader, Hilary J. (telepay) & Lukic, Butch (director) (January 22, 2000). "Eyewitness". Batman Beyond. Season 2. Episode 14 (airdate). Episode 27 (production). Kids WB!.
  25. Uncredited writer & Uncredited director (September 24, 2002). "Jailhouse Wreck". Gotham Girls. Season 3. Episode 27 (airdate). Episode 27 (production). WB Network.
  26. Reaves, Michael (story) & Reaves, Michael, Stephens, Brynne (teleplay) & Kirkland, Boyd (director) & May 3, 1994). "Sideshow". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 2. Episode 7 (airdate). Episode 66 (production). FOX Kids.
  27. Dini, Paul, Reaves, Michael (story) & Ruegger, Tom (teleplay) & Kirkland, Boyd (director) (September 14, 1992). "Pretty Poison". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 1. Episode 9 (airdate). Episode 5 (production). FOX Kids.
  28. Fogel, Rich, Burnett, Alan (writers) & Geda, Curt (director) (October 31, 1998). "Judgment Day". The New Batman Adventures. Episode 9 (airdate). Episode 24 (production). Season 2. Kids WB!.
  29. Fogel, Rich (writer) & Lukic, Butch (director) (February 21, 1999). "Heroes". Batman Beyond. Season 1. Episode 6 (airdate). Episode 8 (production). Kids WB!.
  30. Melniker, B., Uslan, M. (Producers), & Radomski, E., Timm, B. W. (Directors). (1993). Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. United States: Warner Bros.
  31. Kirkland, B., Rogel, R. (Producers), & Kirkland, B. (Director). (1998). Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero. United States: Warner Bros. Animation.
  32. Reeves-Stevens, Judith, Reeves-Stevens, Garfield (writers) & Riba, Dan (director) (May 24, 1993). "Fire From Olympus". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 1. Episode 60 (airdate). Episode 63 (production). FOX Kids.
  33. "Warner Brothers Batman Animated TV Series, Episode :'Off Balance' (Day 1)" by Brad Rader for Rader of the Lost Art (December 16, 2016)
  34. Stephens, Brynne (writer) & Paur, Frank (director) (September 14, 1993). "Shadow of the Bat, Part II". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 2. Episode 2 (airdate). Episode 58 (production). FOX Kids.
  35. Wein, Len (writer) & Altieri, Kevin (director) (November 23, 1992). "Off Balance". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 1. Episode 44 (airdate). Episode 50 (production). FOX Kids.
  36. Reaves, Michael (writer) & Altieri, Kevin (director) (May 9, 1994). "Avatar". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 2. Episode 8 (airdate). Episode 69 (production). FOX Kids.
  37. Bright, Laren, Perry, Steve (story) & Rogel, Randy (teleplay) & Altieri, Kevin (director) (January 24, 1993). "The Mechanic". Batman: The Animated Series. Season 1. Episode 48 (airdate). Episode 55 (production). FOX Kids.

External links[]

Advertisement