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Gotham

Gotham refers to a fictional city in the DC Comics universe, best known as the home of Batman. Depicted as a large, coastal metropolis in the northeastern United States, it is notable for a Gothic- and sometimes art-deco–influenced skyline, extensive urban crime, and a political and institutional landscape that frequently intersects with Batman’s vigilante activities. Gotham City is the setting for the lives of many characters from the Batman mythos, including the city’s police department (GCPD), Arkham Asylum, Wayne Enterprises, and Wayne Manor. The name Gotham has long been used as a nickname for New York City in popular culture, a usage that DC Comics adopted to establish a distinct fictional backdrop.

In-universe, Gotham’s exact location and political status vary by story, but it is commonly portrayed as a

Gotham has appeared across comics, animated series, live-action television, and feature films. Notable adaptations include the

major
Northeastern
city
in
a
tri-state
area
and
as
a
counterpart
to
Metropolis
in
crossover
narratives.
The
city’s
atmosphere
ranges
from
crime
noir
to
operatic
melodrama,
with
recurring
themes
of
corruption,
urban
renewal,
and
resilience.
2014–2019
Fox
television
series
Gotham,
which
centers
on
Detective
James
Gordon
and
the
early
years
of
Bruce
Wayne,
and
the
film
portrayals
in
the
Batman
live-action
canon
that
present
Gotham
as
Batman’s
home.
The
city
remains
a
central
element
of
Batman
lore,
emblematic
of
the
franchise’s
mood
and
mythos.