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A group of people hidden in the shadows targets the Man-Bat with their hi-tech gadgetry and take him captive. Talking amongst themselves, they discuss their next target. At Gotham City police headquarters, Commissioner Gordon lights the Bat-Signal, but only [

Batman: Gotham Underground is a 2009 storyline written by Frank Tieri. It deals with the ramifications of the government's actions in "Salvation Run," specifically the large power vacuum left in Gotham City's criminal scene. The main players are The Penguin, Tobias Whale, and Johnny Stitches.

Synopsis

A group of people hidden in the shadows targets the Man-Bat with their hi-tech gadgetry and take him captive. Talking amongst themselves, they discuss their next target. At Gotham City 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 Cobblepot may also be the ringleader behind a super-villain underground railroad. 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 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, the Scarecrow and the 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.

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 The Ventriloquist. 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 set 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.

Issues

Notes

The covers, when put together as noted below, create one composite image (as seen at the top right of this page).

3 4 5
2 1 6
9 8 7

Recommended Reading

Links and References


Batman Blind Justice TP
Batman Family Storyline
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This event or storyline is specifically related to Batman, or to members of the Batman Family. This template will automatically categorize articles that include it into the Batman Storylines category.

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