Summary
Gotham Cityis undoubtedly one of the most widely adapted fictional cities in modern literature. Never mind the variance of different versions that have appeared in the medium of comics alone, but in other media such as movies, TV shows, and games, it has been remade several times, though it is usually recognizable by a few universal artistic elements, no matter how much they are mixed around.
In much the same way that Metropolis is the perfect home for Superman, Gotham City is the perfect home for its principal heroThe Dark Knight himself. Here are some of the best depictions of Gotham City across different forms of media.
6Batman Beyond
Cyberpunk Neo-Noir
Batman Beyond’sNeo Gotham is defined by its futuristic take on the classic Gotham look fromBatman: The Animated Series. It almost looks likeBlade Runnerif it were set in the DC universe, with its gargantuan Asian-infused architecture. The series takes place 50 years afterThe Animated Series,with Bruce Wayne now unable to take up the mantle of Batman due to age.
This leads to a young Terry McGinnis taking on the role as he navigates this new, high-tech world filled with new foes and old wounds.
5Batman Begins
Claustrophobia and Rage
The most striking thing aboutChristopher Nolan’sinitial depiction of Gotham City is just how filthy it is. Compared to the later films inThe Dark Knighttrilogy, which were mostly filmed on location in cities like New York, Pittsburg, and Chicago,Batman Beginswas mostly shot on an elaborate sound stage meant to look like a real place.
The most visually unique aspect of this Gotham is undoubtedly the Narrows, a claustrophobic urban sprawl that shares more in common with the Walled City of Kowloon than any prior interpretation of the city. Bathed in furious reds and deep blacks much of the time,Batman Begins’version of Gotham City is one of the best to ever see the big screen.
4Batman: Arkham Knight
A Technical Culmination
Batman: Arkham Knightstill features one of the most impressive-looking open worlds eight years after its initial release. This Gotham is a neon-soaked gothic paradise that arguably borrows quite a bit from Joel Schummacher’s take on the city fromBatman Forever.The city is densely packed with stylized architecture that could only have been teased in the priorArkhamgames.
While the city itself is awesome, what really impresses is the fear gas cloud that engulfs the city, plunging into a psychotic hell of the Scarecrow’s making. The effect of the gas ripples like an ocean of torment, suffocating the city streets and leaving the rooftops of Gotham’s tallest buildings as the only possible refuge. Neither before nor since has Gotham lookedso beautifully apocalyptic.
3The Burtonverse
It’s Time To Get Nuts
Tim Burton’sBatmanfilm is the first on-screen depiction of Gotham City, and boy does it leave a lasting impression. The city was principally designed by Anton Furst, for which hewon an Academy Awardfor Best Art Direction in 1989.
Inspired by German expressionism and film noir, this version of Gotham City leaned heavily on dark and brooding architecture as an outward representation of the titular character. Furst’s version of Gotham was so influential that nearly every iteration of it since has borrowed from it in some way.
2Batman: The Animated Series
Depression Era Art Deco At Its Best
Coming off of the success of the Tim Burton films,Batman: The Animated Seriestook many of the same elements that Anton Furst used to create his version of Gotham City. What’s incredible about this animated Gotham is just how much it pops, despite literally being drawn on black paper. This gives the setting a dark and mature look, especially when it’s combined with the 1930s film noir aesthetic.
Some of the most recognizable Gotham City imagery comes fromBatman: The animated series; omnipresent GCPD blimps and shadowy sky scrappers that touch a blood-red sky, each serving to create a moody atmosphere that has continued to stick withBatmanfans for decades.
1The Batman
Grunge Is Back In Style
The Gotham that appears inMatt Reeves’The Batmanis very much an amalgamation of past iterations. LikeThe Animated SeriesandBatman (1989), the city utilizes gothic art deco architecture and mixes it with the filthy utilitarianism of theBatman Beginsversion.
However, the 2022 film takes advantage of the digital age in a way none of the other adaptations do by illuminating the city with large Times Square-like signs and neon lights. This Gotham, like Anton Furst’s, is as much a character as Batman is, a victim of horrid injustice and nearly boiling over with rage. It is a grungy neo-noir dystopia that is ripe for further exploration.
