Batman: Gates of Gotham [Paperback]

Scott Snyder (Author), Kyle Higgins (Author), Trevor Mccarthy (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: February 7, 2012 | Series: Batman

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

At the turn of the century, three prominent families shaped the construction of modern-day Gotham City. Now, a madman with three-hundred pounds of explosives and a century-old grudge is threatening to bring it all crashing down. Beginning with the simultaneous destruction of some of Gotham's oldest bridges, the mysterious villain is targeting the holdings and legacies of Gotham's most notable families--including the Waynes. 

To uncover the truth behind the villainous Architect and his link to the city's violent past, Batman unites with Robin, Red Robin and Batman Inc.'s Hong Kong operative the Black Bat. But can they stop their new foe's plans before it's too late? The future of Gotham started with an explosion, and it could end the very same way...

The critically acclaimed scribe of Batman Scott Snyder teams with hot young writer Kyle Higgins (Nightwing) and Ryan Parrot for a mystery that stretches back to the earliest days of Gotham, with art by the all-star team of Trevor McCarthy, Dustin Nguyen, Graham Nolan and Derec Donovan.  

Editorial Reviews

Review

The dual narratives that Snyder and Higgins weave together mesh so fluidly that Gates of Gotham becomes one hell of an informative page-turner. — IGN

“This is a great tale that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat wondering what is in store for them at the turn of the next page…I would recommend all fans of the Dark Knight and his many friends to check this five issue mini-series out. It definitely has everything you could want in a true Batman tale.”-- YAHOO! Associated Content

“Gates of Gotham” is a must read!"--CBR
 
"With GATES OF GOTHAM, Snyder delivers the same top notch mystery and mayhem he has so masterfully delivered in DETECTIVE, by focusing on a mystery and blood feuds as old as Gotham itself...Another phenomenal work from a talent that is on the same stratospheric rise to greatness as the likes of Geoff Johns a few years ago."--Ain’t It Cool News
 

About the Author

Scott Snyder is one of comics' best young writers. His current works include BATMAN, AMERICAN VAMPIRE and SWAMP THING. He has also been published in Zoetrope, Tin House, One-Story, Epoch, Small Spiral Notebook, and other journals, and has a short story collection, Voodoo Heart, which was published by Dial Press. He teaches at Columbia University and Sarah Lawrence University and lives in New York with his wife, Jeanie, and his son, Jack Presley.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics; First Edition edition (February 7, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401233414
• ISBN-13: 978-1401233419
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 0.4 x 9.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,871 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome and inventive February 17, 2012

By N. Durham HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The mini-series Gates of Gotham offers an intriguing origin tale/history lesson of the roots of Gotham City, as current Gotham Batman Dick Grayson is about to learn first hand. When the bridges in Gotham explode and a new villain emerges, we are taken on a twisting ride courtesy of ultra-beloved Batman and Detective Comics scribe Scott Snyder and co-writer Kyle Higgins. While the villain we're introduced to here isn't all that interesting, it's the story that packs a surprising punch, and the artwork of Trevor McCarthy makes the proceedings all the more enjoyable. Higgins and McCarthy also provide a back-up story starring Niterunner, the Batman of Paris, which is fairly interesting as well. All in all, Gates of Gotham is a more than fine Batman story that deserves your time and attention.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Burning bridges to the past February 18, 2012

By Noel TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

Someone in Gotham is blowing up the bridges of the city and enacting some strange vengeance against the descendants of the families who built Gotham - the Elliotts, the Kanes, the Cobblepots, and the Waynes. But who, and why?

The adventure collects the three Robins - Dick Grayson as Batman, Tim Drake as Red Robin, and Damian Wayne as Robin - along with the Cassandra Cain, the Batgirl currently stationed by Bruce Wayne in Hong Kong, to stop this terrorist before more of Gotham's historic buildings are destroyed.

The story jumps from the 19th century when Gotham was being built to the present day to explain the actions and it was great to see a young Gotham and see how the city came into its gothic look. The new villain in this book, "the Architect", has a steampunk look, something a lot of comics are doing these days, and looks very cool. I'm enjoying these stories of the young heroes of Gotham more and more and think that Bruce Wayne can safely retire with these guys taking care of things. That said, the book shows the difference between Wayne's Batman and Grayson's in the lack of knowledge Grayson currently has about the city he's supposed to be protecting. Its touches like that that makes for a more engrossing read.

Also included is a story about the Night Runner of Paris and how he comes across Bruce Wayne/Batman and is recruited into Batman Inc., to become the Batman of Paris. The story contained political elements that I thought DC could've avoided as they showed a contemporary France with its racial and cultural issues in full view, but they included it and I thought that was a very ballsy move. The Batman of Paris is very cool too and Batman Inc is shaping up to be a tremendous concept.

One side-note though - the book lists Scott Snyder and Kyle Higgins under "story" and Higgins under "dialogue" so I don't know whether Higgins wrote the script and Snyder wrote the outline with Higgins but it seems like an odd distinction. Anyway, Snyder is quickly becoming one of the best Batman writers working today and for anyone who hasn't read "The Black Mirror" I highly recommend it.

"The Gates of Gotham" is a fine Batman story with plenty of action and mystery, as well as continuing to build the new Batman world strongly, subtly and in new inventive ways.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Way more addictive than I expected! September 22, 2012

By ~K.I.S.S.W.A.G~

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am just getting into Batman, for comics for that matter, and while I have a subscription for comics, I'm not sure if I would call myself a collector. I mention this because other reviews have mentioned other Batman titles that I am not familiar with so that perspective escapes me. However, for those of you who are seasoned with The Batman's written history and not just what the movies convey about Bruce Wayne and his alter ego(and for those of us who are not in tune with him beyond Christian Bale and his predecessors), Scott Snyder is providing such an explosion of smiles to my face! YouTube introduced me to DC's New 52 & Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo. With so many titles existing on Batman, it is very overwhelming to say the least when determining what to enjoy, especially based on what one can afford that doesn't make you regret buying. There are no comic book shops close to my home, and again, I consider myself a novice to comics, but part of my history is that of a freelance illustrator, primarily portrait work, nothing like the art of most comics. Surprisingly, I find this medium that my hands can no longer perform, gives me a mental stimulation and an outlet that doesn't make me question, "What if....." due to my disability. That is refreshing, because it has taken me nearly seven years to find this. All of that is to say, whatever Scott Snyder is writing, pick it up, especially the new Batman. The Gates of Gotham was exceptional, with artwork that I felt fit perfectly with so much history being revealed. Obviously the writing was on point, and provides some insight to how Snyder writes Batman now. I highly recommend BGoG, and I believe you'll enjoy it, as well.