Batman: Streets of Gotham
Encyclopedia
Batman: Streets of Gotham is an American comic book
ongoing series
written by Paul Dini
, with art by Dustin Nguyen
. The series stars Dick Grayson
as the new Batman
and ties into Grant Morrison
's overarching "Batman: Reborn" story and the new Gotham City Sirens
monthly. The series ran for 21 issues, from 2009 to 2011.
Streets of Gotham features Batman as the main character, but from a "street level" with other characters providing the main narrative. When asked about the style of Streets of Gotham, Batman group editor Mike Marts explained, "...these are Batman stories told through the point of view of other characters in Gotham City. So it could be Commissioner Gordon telling the story, it could be a villain, or it could be a supporting character telling the story."
The series also includes a Manhunter
co-feature written by Marc Andreyko
and illustrated by Georges Jeanty. The co-feature was replaced by another co-feature that spins-off of the end of the Manhunter one starring Two-Face
. The same occurs with the Two-Face one ending and starting the Ragman co-feature.
The series has been cancelled after 21 issues.
and Robin
, the series follows a number of characters from the DC Universe
, including Firefly, Hush
, and Black Mask
. The first arc follows Hush as he attempts to steal Bruce Wayne's identity; while Firefly, Black Mask, and others wreak havoc in the city. The writer, Dini, notes, "I’ve always liked that interpretation of Batman – you see him from the crooks’ point of view, or you see him from an innocent person’s point of view. So with this, it was 'Let’s leave the Batcave
behind, let’s leave the alter ego behind, let’s just do Batman and the effect he has on people.'"
Chris Yost fills in for Paul Dini in a two-part story arc called "Leviathan" in which Huntress
teams up with Man Bat to stop a ravaged priest who believes God is telling him to kill the two. The story drives away from the plot involving Victor Zsasz that Paul Dini was working on.
featuring the Manhunter
. The story follows her arrival in Gotham as District Attorney. Writer Andreyko notes, "I think it’s the smartest way to get new characters out there in people’s minds, because with the economy being as horrible as it is, and with retailers having their choice of 300 Avengers
books or 1500 Batman books or 1700 X-Men
books, putting these backups in books that compliment each other, allows people to check these things out."
as the new district attorney of Gotham City. She becomes obsessed with taking down the murderer of the previous attorney, Jane Doe. Manhunter captures Doe who frames Two-Face as being her leader. Manhunter then captures Two-Face.
Meanwhile, Firefly begins to burn citizens of Gotham one he had burned the Black Mask's chip out of his head. Thomas Elliot, Hush
, uses this to his advantage and escapes Wayne Manor. He then attempts to kill the Black Mask but is stopped by Victor Zsasz and taken in by the police. Hush then gets Jane Doe and Two-Face released from prison under the guise of Bruce Wayne.
As a reward for his loyalty, Victor Zsasz is given a briefcase of money by the Black Mask to torture people. Zsasz then starts kidnapping children and making them kill each other in an arena to raise money to get more kids to kill each other. Dick Grayson
becomes Batman and gets information on Zsasz out of the Broker. Batman then apprehends Harley Quinn and tells her to get out of town and live a new life. On the other side of town, a girl named Katie is being sold until she is saved by a massive giant named Abuse.
Black Mask then has a man go invisible and produce terror throughout town. Man-Bat senses him with sonar and can see him, though nobody else can. Huntress pursues Man-Bat and the man is knocked out by a priest upon the arrival of Batman.
Batman and Robin then further investigate the Zsasz murders by interrogating former-villains such as Humpty Dumpty. They are once again interrupted when Commissioner Gordon calls on Batman for investigation of rash murders.
Colin Wilkes, a boy tortured by the Scarecrow using Bane's toxin, and Damian Wayne meet and are kidnapped by Zsasz' men. Colin uses Bane's toxin and transforms into Abuse and they fight Victor Zsasz who then falls into a pit upon Robin's self-defense.
Jenna Duffy, the Carpenter, is hired by the Broker to fix the Monarch Theater for the villain, the Director. An elderly gangster named Judson Pierce is released from Blackgate Prison and has a history with Dr. Death, and the Elliot and Wayne family.
Hush is kidnapped by Pierce and turns the tables on his kidnappers, becoming their leader and recruiting Dr. Death
. Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham City and finds the city changed, he battles a villain named the Bedbug and retreats.
Hush then betrays Dr. Death, whose chems go off on Judson Pierce. Hush is then captured by Jane Doe, who thinks he is Bruce Wayne, she rips off his skin and poses as Bruce Wayne until the real Bruce arrives and apprehends them both.
The series ends with Judson Pierce being sent to Blackgate Prison again, his skin all dead but the chems having had given him phenomenal strength. Hush and Jane Doe are sent to Arkham Asylum where Hush goes insane and murders his interrogator, with Arkham being known as the House of Hush.
described the series as similar in tone to Ed Brubaker
's Criminal
, and that the focus on a more human angle makes "heroes seem larger than life, and is awe-inspiring."
Comic Book Resources
noted with issue #3 that, "At this point, I think it's safe to say that Batman: Streets of Gotham isn't going to be that different of an approach to a Bat-title than any of the others."
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
ongoing series
Ongoing series
The term "ongoing series" is used in contrast to limited series , a one shot , a graphic novel, or a trade paperback...
written by Paul Dini
Paul Dini
Paul Dini is an American writer and producer who works in the television and comic book industries. He is best known as a producer and writer for several Warner Bros./DC Comics animated series, including Star Wars: Ewoks, Tiny Toon Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated...
, with art by Dustin Nguyen
Dustin Nguyen (artist)
Dustin Nguyen is a comic book artist who has worked for DC Comics and WildStorm since 2000.Outside of comics, Dustin is also known as a conceptual artist for toys, games, and animation.-Career:...
. The series stars Dick Grayson
Dick Grayson
Dick Grayson is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and illustrator Jerry Robinson, he first appeared in Detective Comics #38 in April 1940....
as the new Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
and ties into Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
's overarching "Batman: Reborn" story and the new Gotham City Sirens
Gotham City Sirens
Gotham City Sirens is an American comic book ongoing series written by Paul Dini, with art by Guillem March, and published by DC Comics. The series features some of the most popular female characters that inhabit Gotham City, including Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn...
monthly. The series ran for 21 issues, from 2009 to 2011.
Streets of Gotham features Batman as the main character, but from a "street level" with other characters providing the main narrative. When asked about the style of Streets of Gotham, Batman group editor Mike Marts explained, "...these are Batman stories told through the point of view of other characters in Gotham City. So it could be Commissioner Gordon telling the story, it could be a villain, or it could be a supporting character telling the story."
The series also includes a Manhunter
Manhunter (Kate Spencer)
Manhunter is a fictional character, a superheroine in publications from DC Comics. Kate Spencer is the eighth DC Comics character depicted using the name Manhunter, and the first female to do so. The character first appears in Manhunter Manhunter is a fictional character, a superheroine in...
co-feature written by Marc Andreyko
Marc Andreyko
Marc Andreyko is a comic book and screenplay writer, known for writing the 2000s ongoing series Manhunter for DC Comics...
and illustrated by Georges Jeanty. The co-feature was replaced by another co-feature that spins-off of the end of the Manhunter one starring Two-Face
Two-Face
Two-Face is a fictional comic book supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. and is an enemy of Batman. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #66 , and was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger....
. The same occurs with the Two-Face one ending and starting the Ragman co-feature.
The series has been cancelled after 21 issues.
Main feature
In addition to BatmanBatman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
and Robin
Robin (comics)
Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...
, the series follows a number of characters from the DC Universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
, including Firefly, Hush
Hush (comics)
Hush is a fictional comic book supervillain appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually as an enemy of Batman. Created by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Jim Lee, the character first appeared in Batman #609 , as part of the 12-issue storyline, Batman: Hush...
, and Black Mask
Black Mask (comics)
Black Mask is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. An enemy of Batman, he first appeared in Batman #386 . Black Mask was created by Doug Moench and Tom Mandrake.-Dark beginning:...
. The first arc follows Hush as he attempts to steal Bruce Wayne's identity; while Firefly, Black Mask, and others wreak havoc in the city. The writer, Dini, notes, "I’ve always liked that interpretation of Batman – you see him from the crooks’ point of view, or you see him from an innocent person’s point of view. So with this, it was 'Let’s leave the Batcave
Batcave
The Batcave is the secret headquarters of fictional DC Comics superhero Batman, the alternate identity of playboy Bruce Wayne, consisting of a series of subterranean caves beneath his residence, Wayne Manor.-Publication history:...
behind, let’s leave the alter ego behind, let’s just do Batman and the effect he has on people.'"
Chris Yost fills in for Paul Dini in a two-part story arc called "Leviathan" in which Huntress
Huntress (comics)
The Huntress is a name used by several characters in DC Comics.The Golden Age Huntress is a supervillainess, while the Bronze Age and Modern Age Huntresses are superheroines....
teams up with Man Bat to stop a ravaged priest who believes God is telling him to kill the two. The story drives away from the plot involving Victor Zsasz that Paul Dini was working on.
"Manhunter" back strip
The series also contains a nine-page strip written by Marc AndreykoMarc Andreyko
Marc Andreyko is a comic book and screenplay writer, known for writing the 2000s ongoing series Manhunter for DC Comics...
featuring the Manhunter
Manhunter (Kate Spencer)
Manhunter is a fictional character, a superheroine in publications from DC Comics. Kate Spencer is the eighth DC Comics character depicted using the name Manhunter, and the first female to do so. The character first appears in Manhunter Manhunter is a fictional character, a superheroine in...
. The story follows her arrival in Gotham as District Attorney. Writer Andreyko notes, "I think it’s the smartest way to get new characters out there in people’s minds, because with the economy being as horrible as it is, and with retailers having their choice of 300 Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
books or 1500 Batman books or 1700 X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
books, putting these backups in books that compliment each other, allows people to check these things out."
Batman
The story begins with the appointment of ManhunterManhunter (Kate Spencer)
Manhunter is a fictional character, a superheroine in publications from DC Comics. Kate Spencer is the eighth DC Comics character depicted using the name Manhunter, and the first female to do so. The character first appears in Manhunter Manhunter is a fictional character, a superheroine in...
as the new district attorney of Gotham City. She becomes obsessed with taking down the murderer of the previous attorney, Jane Doe. Manhunter captures Doe who frames Two-Face as being her leader. Manhunter then captures Two-Face.
Meanwhile, Firefly begins to burn citizens of Gotham one he had burned the Black Mask's chip out of his head. Thomas Elliot, Hush
Hush (comics)
Hush is a fictional comic book supervillain appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually as an enemy of Batman. Created by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Jim Lee, the character first appeared in Batman #609 , as part of the 12-issue storyline, Batman: Hush...
, uses this to his advantage and escapes Wayne Manor. He then attempts to kill the Black Mask but is stopped by Victor Zsasz and taken in by the police. Hush then gets Jane Doe and Two-Face released from prison under the guise of Bruce Wayne.
As a reward for his loyalty, Victor Zsasz is given a briefcase of money by the Black Mask to torture people. Zsasz then starts kidnapping children and making them kill each other in an arena to raise money to get more kids to kill each other. Dick Grayson
Dick Grayson
Dick Grayson is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and illustrator Jerry Robinson, he first appeared in Detective Comics #38 in April 1940....
becomes Batman and gets information on Zsasz out of the Broker. Batman then apprehends Harley Quinn and tells her to get out of town and live a new life. On the other side of town, a girl named Katie is being sold until she is saved by a massive giant named Abuse.
Black Mask then has a man go invisible and produce terror throughout town. Man-Bat senses him with sonar and can see him, though nobody else can. Huntress pursues Man-Bat and the man is knocked out by a priest upon the arrival of Batman.
Batman and Robin then further investigate the Zsasz murders by interrogating former-villains such as Humpty Dumpty. They are once again interrupted when Commissioner Gordon calls on Batman for investigation of rash murders.
Colin Wilkes, a boy tortured by the Scarecrow using Bane's toxin, and Damian Wayne meet and are kidnapped by Zsasz' men. Colin uses Bane's toxin and transforms into Abuse and they fight Victor Zsasz who then falls into a pit upon Robin's self-defense.
Jenna Duffy, the Carpenter, is hired by the Broker to fix the Monarch Theater for the villain, the Director. An elderly gangster named Judson Pierce is released from Blackgate Prison and has a history with Dr. Death, and the Elliot and Wayne family.
Hush is kidnapped by Pierce and turns the tables on his kidnappers, becoming their leader and recruiting Dr. Death
Dr. Death
Dr. Death may refer to:People:*Aribert Heim, Austrian doctor and one of the world's most wanted Nazi war criminals*Josef Mengele, German doctor and also an infamous Nazi war criminal, also known as the "Angel of Death"...
. Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham City and finds the city changed, he battles a villain named the Bedbug and retreats.
Hush then betrays Dr. Death, whose chems go off on Judson Pierce. Hush is then captured by Jane Doe, who thinks he is Bruce Wayne, she rips off his skin and poses as Bruce Wayne until the real Bruce arrives and apprehends them both.
The series ends with Judson Pierce being sent to Blackgate Prison again, his skin all dead but the chems having had given him phenomenal strength. Hush and Jane Doe are sent to Arkham Asylum where Hush goes insane and murders his interrogator, with Arkham being known as the House of Hush.
Reception
IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
described the series as similar in tone to Ed Brubaker
Ed Brubaker
Ed Brubaker is an Eisner Award-winning comic book writer and cartoonist. Brubaker first early comics work was primarily in the crime fiction genre with works such as Lowlife, The Fall, Sandman Presents: Dead Boy Detectives and Scene of the Crime...
's Criminal
Criminal (comics)
In 2009 the first three trades were also repackaged in a 432 page "Deluxe Edition" hardcover . Included in this edition are a number of extras, including three of the original backpages "essays" with all 13 original accompanying pieces of art, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund short story No One Rides...
, and that the focus on a more human angle makes "heroes seem larger than life, and is awe-inspiring."
Comic Book Resources
Comic Book Resources
Comic Book Resources, also known as CBR is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book-related news and discussion.-History:Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1996 as a development of the Kingdom Come Message Board, a message forum that Weiland had created to discuss DC...
noted with issue #3 that, "At this point, I think it's safe to say that Batman: Streets of Gotham isn't going to be that different of an approach to a Bat-title than any of the others."
Fill-in writers
Chris Yost acted as the first fill-in writer for Dini on issues #5-6, giving the fans a two-part story entitled "Leviathan". IGN stated issue #5 as being "odd and frustrating" while praising Nguyen's work. Mike Benson's work was treated much the same.Collected editions
- Batman: Streets of Gotham, Vol. 1 – Hush Money (collects issues #1–4, plus Detective Comics #852, Batman #685), May 2010, ISBN 978-1401227210
- Batman: Streets of Gotham, Vol. 2 – Leviathan (collects issues #5–11), November 2010, ISBN 978-1401229054
- Batman: Streets of Gotham, Vol. 3 – The House of Hush (collects issues #12-14, 16-21), August 2011, ISBN 978-1401231293
- Manhunter: Face Off (collects "Manhunter" co-feature stories from issues #1–13), February 2011, ISBN 978-0857680082
External links
- Batman: Streets of Gotham at the Comics wiki
- First Look at Batman's Streets and Sirens at IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
(March 17, 2009) - Review: Batman: Streets of Gotham #1 at Comic Book ResourcesComic Book ResourcesComic Book Resources, also known as CBR is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book-related news and discussion.-History:Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1996 as a development of the Kingdom Come Message Board, a message forum that Weiland had created to discuss DC...