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Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Gotham (哥谭) |
| Type | City |
| Population | Approximately 30 million before the major disasters 37 47 |
| Location | Bordered by the Gotham River to the west, the sea and Gotham Port to the south, and forest to the north 20 |
| Other Names | White Dream City during Bai Lang’s rule; later renamed Gotham City 84 157 |
| Affiliation | Returned to American governance after the White Dream City period 157 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 1 1 |
Geography and Districts
- East Gotham — Contains Park Street, also called Crime Alley, an underdeveloped area marked by poverty and crime 18.
- New City — Borders Crime Alley and has an unusually low crime rate when Bai Lang visits 20.
- Gotham Forest — Lies to the north of the city 20.
- Wayne Tower — A prominent high-rise overlooking Gotham; the Court of Owls maintains a secret base inside it 2 122.
- Gotham City Hall — Stands above a labyrinth used by the Court of Owls 122 128.
Society and Power
- Economic hardship: More than 7,000 residents lost their jobs in one year; unemployment and other pressures drove thousands to join gangs for survival 47.
- Organized crime: Gotham had more than 500 gangs of various sizes before Batman appeared. The Night Raven gang’s base resembled a refugee camp more than a conventional criminal headquarters 37 38.
- Uneven aid: Wayne Enterprises funded assistance for vulnerable residents, but funds intended for one child-welfare project were embezzled by Scarecrow 47.
- Court of Owls: Members of Gotham’s elite controlled the city from behind the scenes for centuries, using Talon assassins against opponents 121 130.
History
Bai Lang first works in Gotham as a police officer, then becomes a detective assigned to Park Street. His appearances as a violent impostor Batman draw attention from the city’s gangs, police and Bruce Wayne 1 9 18. After investigating the circumstances that push poorer residents into crime, he establishes White Dream to provide aid and pursue broader change 47 59 60.
Gotham is later struck by an earthquake, disease and a nuclear explosion. The blast is contained to City Hall and nearby districts rather than spreading across the entire city 68 76 79. Amid the devastation, Bai Lang establishes a new order called White Dream City, with representatives overseeing security, infrastructure and food 80 84. He eventually hands the city back to America, which restores the name Gotham City; White Dream Company remains there 157 162.
Alternate-Universe Gotham
In another universe, Jean-Paul rules Gotham for thirty years while Bruce Wayne is held prisoner. Bruce eventually defeats him and reclaims the city as the more brutal “Broken Bat” 188 191 192. Following an invasion by Apokolips, survivors from across Earth gather in this Gotham, making it a center for rebuilding 207 210.