Gotham Underground

Gotham Underground is a nine-issue limited series from DC Comics, written by Frank Tieri, with art by Jim Califiore.

The series looked at the repercussions of Countdown to Final Crisis and focuses on the Batman Family banding together to prevent a gang war to find out who will occupy the territory that belonged to the recently deceased Black Mask.

Publication history

The series ran from December 2007 to August 2008.

Some of the issues tie in with Salvation Run.

A trade paperback was released on November 19, 2008.

Plot

A group of people hidden in the shadows targets Man-Bat with their hi-tech gadgetry and take him captive. Talking amongst themselves, they discuss what their next target will be. At Gotham City's Police headquarters, Commissioner Gordon lights the Bat-Signal, but only Robin answers the call. Gordon tells him about the recent upsurge in gang-related violence. Dozens of would-be crime lords are trying to fill the vacancy created by the death of Black Mask. Meanwhile, Batman infiltrates the Iceberg Lounge in the guise of henchman Matches Malone. He wants to keep an eye on the Penguin's recent activities. He knows that the Penguin is projecting the image of a legitimate businessman, but he suspects that Penguin may also be the ringleader behind an "underground railroad" for supervillains. As the Penguin conducts his affairs, Two-Face enters the club and wants in on his underground railroad project. Penguin tells him to meet him later after hours. Elsewhere, Nightwing and Alfred Pennyworth investigate another nightclub where wagers are placed on hero/villain battle outcomes. Nightwing raids the gambling den and takes down all of the goons. He is surprised however by the hi-tech weaponry that these low level thugs now have access to. At Giovanni's Ristorante, the leaders of two of Gotham's more powerful criminal gangs, the Galantes and the Odessas, meet to discuss territory. Their meeting is interrupted by Tobias Whale who announces his intention of taking control of Gotham's underworld. Later, the Penguin holds a meeting with several of Gotham's most notorious villains including Hugo Strange, Two-Face, Scarecrow and Mad Hatter. Matches Malone spies on the meeting from behind a darkened alcove. Suddenly, the Suicide Squad bursts into the room and attacks the assemblage of villains. Bane knocks Matches Malone out with a single punch.^[1]

It is revealed that Penguin is involved with the Suicide Squad, and that he set up the other villains to gain the favor of the Squad. Scarecrow, who has recently reconsidered his decision to abandon his fear toxins, gasses Bronze Tiger and escapes to warn Ventriloquist II. However, when the Ventriloquist and her gang accuse Scarecrow of being Suicide Squad's snitch and then lead an assault on the Iceberg Lounge, Scarecrow leads them into a trap by Tobias Whale. Whale then betrays him, leaving him beaten and tied-up, though alive (but barely), as a sign to all "masks" that they are not welcome in Whale's new vision of Gotham. Batman as Matches Malone is in Blackgate Penitentiary and ends up being targeted by Victor Zsasz. Meanwhile, the Riddler investigates Penguin's "underground railroad."^[2]

Matches Malone ends up in a fight with Zsasz while Penguin tries to negotiate with Tobias Whale. Robin and Oracle try to figure out what is going on in the criminal underground when they are suddenly attacked by Spoiler.^[3]

Batman as Matches Malone escapes from the Penitentiary's infirmary and runs into Great White Shark while Scarecrow (still injured) takes revenge on those that have wronged him. Tobias Whale sends a message to Gotham City Police telling them not to interfere.^[4]

It is discovered that Johnny Denetto is the one who drove Tobias Whale out of Metropolis and into Gotham City. Bruce/Matches then finds out who is orchestrating his death.^[5]

Bruce/Matches learns how Great White Shark got from Arkham Asylum to Blackgate Penitentiary. Tobias Whale and Penguin are both assembling armies. Spoiler is seemingly working with the Penguin to take care of Johnny "Stitches" Denetto of Intergang. Penguin and Spoiler have assembled gangs like the Bat Killers, the Dead End Boys, the Femme Fatales, the Five Points Gang, the L.O.D., and the New Rogues. As Bruce/Matches escapes Blackgate Penitentiary, Nightwing as "Freddie Dinardo" has a run-in with Vigilante.^[6]

Penguin and Tobias Whale are currently fighting each other as Robin, Huntress, Batgirl, and Wildcat IV get involved. Even though Penguin gets the upper hand, Tobias Whale reluctantly calls a truce with him in order to stop Johnny "Stitches" Denetto and Intergang. Batman arrives just in time to save Nightwing from Vigilante.^[7]

As Batman continues his fight with Vigilante, Johnny "Stitches" Denetto sends Penguin a package containing Mr. Jessup's cut-up body and glasses. When Penguin has a talk with Johnny, he mentions that Tobias Whale isn't on "Penguin's side" anymore. Johnny also mentions that he has threatened the families of those fighting on Penguin's side and tells Penguin that he is giving him a day to get out of town.^[8]

When Penguin and Riddler are talking in the Iceberg Lounge, members of Intergang attack. Things weren't looking good for the Penguin until Batman arrives and comes to his rescue. However, Batman isn't here just to save his life. He lets Penguin know that he owns him now and that he will report everything to Batman concerning Intergang and what's going on in Gotham, to which Penguin was actually quite happy to agree.^[9]

Cast of Characters

• Batman
• Nightwing
• Robin
• Oracle
• Batgirl
• Spoiler
• Alfred Pennyworth
• Commissioner James Gordon
• Huntress
• Question
• Wildcat
• Penguin
• Riddler
• The Suicide Squad
• Batwoman

Villains

• The 100
• Amygdala
• Firefly
• The Galantes
• Gotham Organized Crime
  • All-Americans
  • Irish Wound Ravens
  • Italian East-Siders
  • Jewish Sons of David
  • Free Men Gang
• Great White Shark
• Hugo Strange
• Intergang
  • Johnny "Stitches" Denetto
• Joker
• Killer Moth
• Lock-Up
• Mad Hatter
• Man-Bat
• Mr. Jessup
• The Odessas
• Ra's al Ghul
• Scarecrow
• Tobias Whale
• Two-Face
• Ventriloquist
• Victor Zsasz

Penguin's Army

All members of Penguin's army were provided with weapons based on those of established villains. They formed small groups inspired by the affiliations of the originals. Their individual codenames were not revealed, although the New Rogues' were given shortly before their deaths in Final Crisis: Rogues' Revenge #2.

• The Bat Killers - A gang that was first seen in "Gotham Underground" #6. They are based on the Batman villains and have members that are based on Joker, Catman, Mr. Freeze, Mad Hatter, Clayface, and a female version of Bane.
  • Miss HGH -
• The Dead End Boys - A gang that was first seen in "Gotham Underground" #6. They are based on the Suicide Squad and are based on Chemo, Deadshot, Killer Frost, Jewelee, and Shrapnel.
• The Femme Fatales - A female gang that was first seen in "Gotham Underground #6. They are based on the female villains and have members that are based on Catwoman, Hyena, Magenta, Silver Swan, and a female version of Prankster.
• The Five Points Gang - A gang that was first seen in "Gotham Underground" #6. They are based on the Fearsome Five and resemble Doctor Light, Jinx, Mammoth, Neutron, and Psimon.
• The L.O.D. - A gang that was first seen in "Gotham Underground" #6. They are based on the Legion of Doom and have members that are based on Lex Luthor, Cheetah, Gorilla Grodd, Metallo, Sonar, and a male version of Giganta.
• The New Rogues - A gang that was first seen in "Gotham Underground #3." They are based on Flash's Rogues. They were later used by Libra to get the Rogues back when they withdraw from Libra's Secret Society of Super Villains.
  • Burn - Based on Heat Wave who uses one of Heat Wave's flame guns. This one was actually Nightwing's "Freddy Dinardo" alias in disguise. Another Burn appeared in "Gotham Underground" #6 and later joined the New Rogues in attacking the Rogues in "Final Crisis."
  • Chill - Based on Captain Cold who uses one of Captain Cold's freeze guns.
  • Mirror Man - Based on Mirror Master.
  • Mr. Magic - Based on Abra Kadabra who wields one of Abra Kadabra's wands.
  • Weather Witch - Based on Weather Wizard who wields one of Weather Wizard's weather-controlling wands.

Collected editions

The series has been collected into a trade paperback:

• Gotham Underground (224 pages, Titan Books, January 2009, ISBN 1-84576-965-1, DC Comics, November 2008, ISBN 1-4012-1928-4)

References

External links

• Delving Into The Gotham Underground With Frank Tieri, Newsarama, September 24, 2007
• Frank Tieri - Gotham Underground...Deep in The Thick of It, Newsarama, February 13, 2008
• Gotham Underground, IGN
• Review of Gotham Underground #1, 6, 7 and 8, Comics Bulletin
• 'Gotham Underground' at the Grand Comics Database
• 'Gotham Underground' at the Comic Book DB