#gotham city stories

[wormnamedwax]

Batman: Arkham Knight, Gotham City Stories - Contingency

“Slade pushed the hunting knife along the whetstone, the smooth scrape of steel underscoring the live combat feed… He ran his thumb along the blade. Still dull… Slade tested the blade. It was sharp enough now.”

he really spent all that time sharpening that damn blade just NOT TO USE IT

[wordofthewolf]

An Exhaustive Summary of the Batman: Arkham Games Pt. 15

Seasons of Infamy DLC The first part of the DLC is more Most Wanted missions. Wonderland (Mad Hatter) Dealing with Mad Hatter was a little bit tricky in Arkham Origins and Arkham City so it comes as a surprise when Batman is informed that the police have already apprehended Jervis Tetch aka The Mad Hatter. In fact, he has turned himself in. Batman goes to see Hatter in interrogation. Hatter…

[thevoidstaredback]

Adventures In Gotham

Enough Caffeine to Kill an Elephant Side Story

The first time Danny had ever been to Gotham, he swore it would be his last. He was twenty-two at the time.

In an effort to relax after finals had ended, he, Tucker, Sam, Val, Wes, and Dani had been playing a round of Truth or Dare after finishing a few movies. Sam had dared Danny to wander around Gotham without attracting attention to himself. The catch was that he wasn't allowed to use his powers except to fly there and back. His time limit was Sunday night.

They'd all been planning to stay the night at Sam's anyway, so no one would even notice he was gone. Though, the dare had seemed easy at the time, Danny should've realized his luck was not that good.

Regardless, he flew to the outskirts of Gotham City, dropped his transformation, and entered.

The first thing he noticed was that there was some kind of bubble around Gotham preventing the Shades and overall feel of death from leaving. It was overwhelming at first, but he got used to it pretty quickly. The next thing he noticed was that he had walked into somebody's haunt.

Shit.

He made himself presentable and spoke to the night, "I apologise for trespassing," His voice echoed through the open area as though he was shouting in an empty room. Ghost Speak tended to do that. "I mean no hostile intentions. I simply wish to play a game with your protectors." With any luck, whoever this was would be playful or friendly, at the very least. He didn't hold his breath, though.

A lie. He was holding his breath, but that's only because he was nervous!

The night air stilled as though considering his words. Then, a breeze from behind pushed him further into the city. Flapping wings of bats and owls seemed to hide the whispers of "You may come in." and "Be careful." and "You will lose." and "Good luck.".

A vote of confidence from the City Spirit. "Thank you." He was going to be as quick as he could, but he couldn't draw attention to himself. Easier said than done. Batman seemed to know whenever anyone ever stepped foot into his city, especially if they've never been there before. So, he had to play hide and seek with Batman and Robin.

Again, easier said than done.

Danny knows very little about about Gotham and her heroes and villains. What he does know is that Robin is fairly knew to the scene, but also very serious in what he does. He's still a child, though, and he likes to play around a bit. Batman, on the other hand, has already become something of a cryptid, despite only showing himself a year or so ago. Either way, the two balance each other nicely and work well as a team.

Batman and Robin obviously know the entire city inside out, so Danny has to somehow keep an eye on where they are at all times while not drawing attention to himself. Which would be easy, except for the fact that Danny can only sense where non-living beings are. Batman and Robin are very much alive. He's pretty sure. Unless either of them have a shit ton of Shades attached to them, which is unlikely but not impossible, then he'll have to rely on finding them first and keeping them within his sight as he tours around their city.

Why the hell did he agree to this? He so deserves a reward if he succeeds.

'When', not 'if'. 'If' is pessimistic and implies that Batman might just drop him off a building and watch him fall. 'When' at least lets him continue with the illusion that he may get out of this no deader than when he arrived in Gotham.

All he had to do was basically tour the city, then he'll be done. It went well for the first hour, but then he spotted the shadows moving around him. It wouldn't normally be a problem, but one of those shadows was made out of bright colours. Seeing as his Ghost Sense didn't go off, Danny figured the he'd just run straight into Batman and Robin.

Shit. Fuck. Okay, play it cool, Danny.

He ran. He ran as fast as he could without using his powers. When he was sure he'd lost the two vigilanties, he allowed himself to stop in an alley somewhere in the Narrows. (The map he looked at was coming in very handy all of a sudden)

"Could be worse," he said to himself, backing into a corner.

The sound of shattering glass and the scurrying of mice and rats gave the impression of laughter and taunting. Which, rude, but fair.

"Your Knights, my lady," he spoke into the darkness, "are terrifying."

"Who you talking to?"

Danny did not jump. He didn't! Liar.

The kid, about twelve years old, was in bright green, red, and yellow. His hair windswept and he didn't seem even the slightest bit out of breath, let alone tired. Shouldn't he be in bed? Did he have a bedtime? He should have a bedtime, in Danny's expert opinion.

"Did you know that humans are endurance hunters?" Robin had been smiling since he dropped down in front of Danny. And if that wasn't a scary ass line to hear from a twelve year old up way past his bedtime-

No, he's not intimidated. "It's, um, a good thing I'm not completely human then, huh?" Stupid, stupid, stupid! Shut up, Danny! Stop talking! Right now!

This made Robin frown and the shadows started to move again, Batman taking his place just behind the boy. "What do you mean?"

Damn, he's scary! Danny's a sucker for a deep voice with a growl, damn.

"I, um," Intelligent response, Danny. King of the Realm Between Realms of Infinity. Keeper of Balance, Timeless Protector of the Dead and Living, and he can't even form a proper sentence.

Batman and Robin's stares were uncomfortably similar, even as Robin tilted his head ever so slightly to the right.

For all his wisdom, Danny couldn't see how he could manage to get out of this without using his powers. So, "Gottagobye!" he let intangibility and invisibility wash over him and he slipped through the wall behind him. From there, he let the rings of light cover him and he flew away.

He'll take the L. That was scary as hell!

The night wind brushed against him, the sound of breaking bones and cackling telling him to come by to play again some time. Had Gotham's City Spirit lead her Knight and his child to Danny? Probably. She seemed like the type. At least she seems to like him? Silver linings.

"I'm never going there again," he muttered halfway to Illinois.

Storyboard

Tag List:

@zaiothe4th @someonebored0100 @wolfeyedwitch @angelheartgamer @nymanders @princessbelix @luminanightfall @kgne-k @bianca-hooks123 @reigning-catsanddogs @sassywombatranchhorse @dontfightmecauseillcry @soul-lime @anarinette @serasvictoria02 @the-chaos-goblin-child @confusedshades @caicie @fantasticstoryteller @randomshtickidk @itsberrydreemurstuff @blueliac @i-love-mangoes @nymanders @highimpactemotions @anarinette @sleepingdead96 @orbr @tkiesai @atomicsheepscientist @8000fangirl @shower-phantom-ideas @blep-23

[lushloooser]

it’s 2:41 in the morning, you’re working the register of a Gotham City bodega when you see these three mentally disturbed lesbians patiently waiting in line, WYD?

Commission of my depictions of the Sirens by @frijolbean!!! their art is so rad and they are so rad, and I’m not gonna be normal about this for like at least a month 🫨😵‍💫😭💝🤪🤪🤪

you can read about them here:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32299885

[bet-on-me-13]

Ghost Cores are Dionesium

So! I while ago, I saw a Post about Danny and the Court of Owls, and one suggestion in the comments basically said, "What if Dionesium, the stuff they use to bring back the dead, is just Ghost Cores?"

And that got me thinking. Lazarus Pits are just Dionesium Infused Water, so how would they be created if Dionesium is a Ghosts Core? Well they way I see it, Lazarus Pits can only be formed in 2 Ways.

The first way is for a large number of Ghosts to be Ended at the same time, with their shattered Cores piling up and dissolving into Water.

The other way, if for an Ancient to Die. The Ancients are practically God's, and as such their Cores are immense in Power. When an Ancient dies, and their Core is left to dissolve in the Human Realm, it forms a Lazarus Pit in the exact same way it would take hundreds of normal Cores to do so.

Where am I going with this?

Well, isn't there a Giant Lazarus Pit under Gotham? The Batcave even has one, doesn't it?

The reason Gotham is so cursed isn't because Lady Gotham likes to collect Curses, or because her Ectoplasm is corrupted, it's because she isn't there to stop them anymore.

Lady Gotham is Dead.

Her Core sank deep into the Earth, forming a Lazarus Pit under the entire City, but thankfully far away from her People. She died, and only the fact that she is a Conceptual spirit saved a piece of her Consciousness. She represents a City, she can only fully be killed if the entire City is leveled. That doesn't mean she is still alive however, just that the barest sliver of her mind is hanging on by a Thread.

This is how Gotham possessed Batman that one time, it was her base instincts saving one of her precious children.

If you want her to be a little more cognizant, maybe she is just severely Injured? Her Core is cracked to the edge of shattering and she desperately needs help.

She she calls out to whoever could save her, and a certain Ghost Boy hears her cry for help?

[accidentallyadoptedbybatman]

Bruce Wayne, Batman, can't die for good (as in no more comics with him in, he offically canonically dies for good) simply because his haunting of the narrative would be too good

[slasher-fucker-and-sucker]

In Focus

Bruce Wayne’s annual gala was an event that drew Gotham’s elite from every corner of the city. Journalists and photographers buzzed around, eager to capture the essence of the night. Among them was you, a journalist with a knack for photography. You arrived early, your camera slung over your shoulder, and set to work, quietly focusing on capturing the perfect shots before the chaos of the evening began.

As you moved around the grand hall, adjusting your lens and snapping photos, you remained oblivious to the figure watching you from the shadows. Jason Todd, attending one of his adoptive father’s galas for the first time in years, found himself inexplicably drawn to your quiet dedication. While the rest of the press bustled noisily, you seemed almost serene, absorbed in your craft.

He approached you, curiosity piqued. “You’re here early,” he remarked, his voice a low rumble.

Startled, you looked up from your camera. “Oh, hi. Yeah, I like to get shots of the place before it fills up. Easier to capture the details.”

Jason nodded, a small smile playing at his lips. “I can see that. You’ve got a good eye.”

“Thanks,” you replied, trying to hide your surprise at the unexpected compliment. “Are you a guest here?”

He chuckled. “Something like that. Name’s Jason.”

You introduced yourself, feeling an odd sense of calm in his presence. “Nice to meet you, Jason. I’m a photographer and journalist. Mostly here to cover the event for the Gotham Gazette.”

He leaned against a nearby pillar, watching as you adjusted your camera settings. “Do you always get so absorbed in your work?”

You shrugged, focusing the lens. “I guess so. It’s easy to get lost in the moment, trying to capture the perfect shot.”

“I can respect that,” he said, his eyes lingering on you. “It’s rare to find someone who’s that passionate about what they do.”

His words struck a chord, and you glanced at him, curiosity evident in your eyes. “What about you? What are you passionate about?”

A shadow flickered across his face, but he quickly masked it with a grin. “Let’s just say I’m passionate about making sure people are safe.”

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his cryptic response. Before you could probe further, the first guests began to trickle in, signaling the start of the gala. You turned back to your camera, snapping photos of the arriving attendees.

Throughout the evening, you caught glimpses of Jason, always on the periphery, watching the crowd with a careful eye. There was something about him that piqued your interest, a mystery that you couldn’t quite unravel.

As the night wore on, you found yourself drawn back to him. During a lull in the festivities, you approached him, your camera dangling from your neck. “So, Mr. Mysterious, why do I get the feeling there’s more to you than meets the eye?”

He smirked, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Maybe because there is. But some things are better discovered slowly.”

You laughed softly. “I suppose I’ll have to keep an eye on you, then.”

“I’d like that,” he replied, his tone sincere. “Maybe we can figure each other out.”

As the gala continued, you felt a connection growing between you and Jason. Amidst the glamour and chaos of the night, you found a kindred spirit, someone who understood the passion that drove you. And as you captured the evening through your lens, you knew that this was just the beginning of something special.

[leveloneandup]

SENDING OFF THE GIRLIES!!! SHINE BRIGHT AND REMEMBER EVERYTHING I TAUGHT YOU 🌟

[batbabydamian]

Al Ghul enjoyer PKJ as writer and Rebirth Nightwing artist Javi Fernandez for the new Batman and Robin team…fascinating…

this new run is distinctly darker in tone just based on the summary alone, but i’m so curious how “a different way to help the world begins to present itself” could mean for Damian!!

[casscainmainly]

Small question, does it have to be Gotham for Cass? There's charas like Dick that can go establish their identity in a different city. Then there's Bruce, Steph, Jason and Duke who are so intrinsically tied to Gotham that this has to be the city for them. Where does Cass lie on this spectrum? Tq!

EXCELLENT question. I think Cass' situation is somewhat unique because of the way her character was handled post-Batgirl (2000).

In favour of Cass not staying in Gotham, she doesn't have the same emotional connection to Gotham as the four people you listed. She wasn't raised there, and in Batgirl (2000), she has next to no ties to Gotham civilians. In fact, it's when she moves to Bludhaven in Gabrych's run that she gains her first civilian friend and civilian love interest. The iconic volving panel is from Bludhaven, too. It's undeniable that the distance from Gotham, from Bruce (and arguably Babs), helps her grow:

Batgirl (2000) #71

It can't be overstated how important ownership is to Cass. To own something means, necessarily, that you not an object. You are a person who something belongs to, and who belongs to something. By calling Bludhaven the "first place that's ever been... mine," she's explicitly saying that Gotham was not hers. Bludhaven was the first place that made her feel fully human.

But there are caveats to this. Cass goes to Bludhaven in the wake of Stephanie's death, a Gothamite through and through. It's probable that Steph's death colours her view of Gotham here, and her willingness to embrace Bludhaven is in response to the pain that Gotham now brings her. (This is also after Babs calls Cass stupid). Feeling like Gotham doesn't belong to her might stem from these specific circumstances, and not be applicable in current canon.

Still, if the story had ended there, I'd say Cass doesn't need to stay in Gotham. Unfortunately, it doesn't.

Red Robin (2009) #17

After Bruce's death, Cass goes to Hong Kong. Well, 'goes' is putting it nicely. She was written off to make Steph Batgirl, which resulted in Cass a) not appearing in most comics, b) being stripped of the bat symbol, and c) being isolated from everyone she cares about, besides Tim. It's a horrific and undeserved fate, reversing everything Cass' story once stood for (narrative agency; becoming a hero; finding a family).

Though Cass regains the symbol and becomes the Bat of Hong Kong, she is no longer part of the narrative; her distance from Gotham became a representation of her distance from narrative importance. That's the real danger of Cass leaving Gotham - unlike Dick, who is a big enough character to be guaranteed solos in Blud, Cass leaving Gotham will forever hold the threat of erasure.

I'm discussing this in a meta-textual sense, but textually Cass knows the danger too.

Gates of Gotham #5

Here, Cass rebuffs Dick's assertion that Gotham will never keep either of them because they don't belong. She says, "It's about how you choose to see the world. Everything else is just an excuse." She's repudiating multiple things: editorial's decision to boot her from Gotham; Bruce's decision to take Batgirl away; even, somewhat, Dick's ascension to the Bat mantle when she wasn't given a chance.

This is ultimately why, though Cass could work elsewhere, I think she should work in Gotham. It's the place she ran to after David Cain, the place she chose to stay in, and the place that gave her Batgirl. Most importantly, it's the place that rejected her. It's not about Gotham itself - It's about how she was ejected from it, and how she fought her way back, over and over again. Cass staying in Gotham ensures history doesn't repeat itself. It rewards Cass fans who survived OYL, Batman Inc, and New 52 with the light at the end of the tunnel.

This is just my opinion! I do love her stint in Bludhaven, so I understand other people preferring her elsewhere. Just for me, she may not belong to Gotham in the way Bruce, Steph, Duke, Jay, or Babs does, but she deserves to be there.

[wormnamedwax]

Batman: Arkham Knight, Gotham City Stories - The Fall

“The Sanitarium had been derelict for years. A burnt-out patch of dead earth on top, a forgotten warren of cells below. Good, Jason thought, he’s already in the dirt.”

THATS NOT FUNNY AGHHHH. YOU CANT JUST SAY THAT…

[l-just-want-to-see]

United States Junior Gymnastic Team of ‘88-‘89

Catherine Todd née Johnson & Mary Grayson née Lloyd: I hope we meet again (I’m letting you go)

@kindlespark / The Book Thief, Markus Zusak / ? / dc comics / Diary, Chuck Palahniuk / Infinite Jest, David Foster Wallace / Always Gold, Radical Face / Us Against You, Fredrik Backman / @inanotherunivrse / I Wanted to Leave, SYML / ? / ? / Psychogeography, Chelsea Dingman / @leonardospoetry + me / On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, Ocean Vuong / Past Lives (2023) / A Letter to Love, Caitlyn Siehl / @archivegeo / In a Dream You Saw a Way to Survive, Clementine von Radics / Always Gold, Radical Face / Dorothea, Taylor Swift / Stand by Me (1986) / dc comics + On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, Ocean Vuong / Life After Death, Laura Gilpin / Lost Without You, Freya Ridings

[vertigoartgore]

The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told Vol.1 TPB cover by cover artist Walt Simonson (1988).

[coolunspokenforname]

I love magical Jason Todd. I love Gotham being personified. I think that, if Jason were to see Gotham's personification, she'd look like Catherine Todd. The Catherine Todd he knew when he was very young, before the sickness and addiction. I see a personified Gotham as a motherly figure, and for Jason she'd take the form of the mother he knew, the one who loved him, who didn't sell him out.

[shyjusticewarrior]

The parallelism of Park Row becoming Crime Alley and Jason going from Robin to Red Hood.

[t4tails]

...wait does jervis tetch forcefem someone in the arkham games? guessing this means he tries turning someone into alice right?

he literally says this to batman himself lmao