Gotham Underground

Infobox comic book title
title =


imagesize =
caption =
schedule = Monthly
limited = y
Superhero = y
publisher = DC Comics
date = December 2007 - August 2008
issues = 9
main_char_team = Batman
Penguin
Riddler
Tobias Whale
Intergang
writers = Frank Tieri
artists =
pencillers = Jim Califiore
inkers = Jack Purcell
letterers = Steve Wands
colorists = Brian Reber
editors = Mike Marts
Jeanine Schaefer
creative_team_month =
creative_team_year =
creators =
TPB = Gotham Underground
ISBN = 1401219284
cat = DC Comics
sortkey = PAGENAME

"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 late 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 will be out in 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. [Gotham Underground #1]

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, 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 Zsasz. Meanwhile, the Riddler investigates Penguin's "underground railroad." [Gotham Underground #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. [Gotham Underground #3]

Bruce Wayne as Matches Malone escapes from the Penitentiary's infirmary and runs into Great White Shark while Scarecrow takes revenge on those that have wronged him. Tobias Whale sends a message to Gotham City Police telling them not to interfere. [Gotham Underground #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. [Gotham Underground #5]

Bruce/Matches learns how Great White Shark got from Arkham Asylum to Blackgate Penitentiary. Tobias Whale and Penguin are assembling an army. Spoiler is seemingly working with the Penguin to take care of Johnny Stitches of Intergang. As Bruce/Matches escapes Blackgate Penitentiary, Nightwing as "Freddie Dinardo" has a run-in with Vigilante. [Gotham Underground #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 and Intergang. Batman arrives just in time to save Nightwing from Vigilante. [Gotham Underground #7]

As Batman continues his fight with Vigilante, Johnny Stitches sends him Riddler's glasses and Mr. Jessup's cut-up body. 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. [Gotham Underground #8]

When Penguin and Riddler are talking in the Iceberg Lounge, members of Intergang attacks. 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 Penquin 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 to. [Gotham Underground #9]

Cast of Characters

* Batman
* Nightwing
* Robin
* Oracle
* Batgirl
* Spoiler
* Alfred Pennyworth
* James Gordon
* Huntress
* Question II
* Wildcat IV
* Penguin
* Riddler
* The Suicide Squad

Villains

* The 100
* Firefly
* The Galantes
* Great White Shark
* Hugo Strange
* Intergang
** Johnny Stitches
* Joker
* Killer Moth
* Lock-Up
* Mad Hatter
* Man-Bat
* Mr. Jessup
* The Odessas
* Scarecrow
* Tobias Whale
* Two-Face
* Ventriloquist II
* Zsasz

Collected editions

The serie has been collected into a trade paperback:

*"Gotham Underground" (224 pages, Titan Books, January 2009, ISBN 1845769651, DC Comics, November 2008, ISBN 1401219284)

Notes

References

*gcdb series|id=27005|title="Gotham Underground"
*comicbookdb|type=title|id=15771|title="Gotham Underground"

External links

* [http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=130556 Delving Into The Gotham Underground With Frank Tieri] , Newsarama, September 24, 2007
* [http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=146604 Frank Tieri - Gotham Underground...Deep in The Thick of It] , Newsarama, February 13, 2008
* [http://uk.comics.ign.com/objects/142/14211979.html Gotham Underground] , IGN
* [http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/119375660320867.htm Review of "Gotham Underground" #1] , [http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/120603573746910.htm 6] , [http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/120880326080236.htm 7] and [http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/121123918041722.htm 8] , Comics Bulletin