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Gotham Nights #1
Batman: Gotham Nights #1
The People of Gotham City... and Batman.
When Batman pursues a criminal into the Robinson Central railway terminal, six assorted people whose lives rarely intersect with his are present in the crowds. A doughnut seller, an elderly couple, two business people and a former convict all carry on their days barely affected by this, as other events are far more important to them. Joel Mayfield learns that he has a terminal illness, Jennifer Lee meets a charming stranger, and Dionisio Viella decides to return to a life of crime.
When Batman pursues a criminal into the Robinson Central railway terminal, six assorted people whose lives rarely intersect with his are present in the crowds. A doughnut seller, an elderly couple, two business people and a former convict all carry on their days barely affected by this, as other events are far more important to them. Joel Mayfield learns that he has a terminal illness, Jennifer Lee meets a charming stranger, and Dionisio Viella decides to return to a life of crime.
22 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
64 people want to read
About the author
John Ostrander
2,082 books172 followersJohn Ostrander is an American writer of comic books. He is best known for his work on Suicide Squad, Grimjack and Star Wars: Legacy, series he helped create.
Originally an actor in a Chicago theatre company, Ostrander moved into writing comics in 1983. His first published works were stories about the character "Sargon, Mistress of War", who appeared the First Comics series Warp!, based on a series of plays by that same Chicago theatre company. He is co-creator of the character Grimjack with Timothy Truman, who originally appeared in a back up story in the First Comics title, Starslayer, before going on to appear in his own book, again published by First Comics in the mid 1980s. First Comics ceased publication in 1991, by which time Ostrander was already doing work for other comics companies (his first scripts for DC Comics were published in 1986).
Prior to his career in comic books, Ostrander studied theology with the intent of becoming a Catholic priest, but now describes himself as an agnostic. His in-depth explorations of morality were later used in his work writing The Spectre, a DC Comics series about the manifestation of the wrath of God. His focus on the character's human aspect, a dead police detective from the 1930s named Jim Corrigan, and his exploration of moral and theological themes brought new life to a character often thought of as impossible to write. He has also worked on Firestorm, Justice League, Martian Manhunter, Manhunter, Suicide Squad, and Wasteland for DC.
Originally an actor in a Chicago theatre company, Ostrander moved into writing comics in 1983. His first published works were stories about the character "Sargon, Mistress of War", who appeared the First Comics series Warp!, based on a series of plays by that same Chicago theatre company. He is co-creator of the character Grimjack with Timothy Truman, who originally appeared in a back up story in the First Comics title, Starslayer, before going on to appear in his own book, again published by First Comics in the mid 1980s. First Comics ceased publication in 1991, by which time Ostrander was already doing work for other comics companies (his first scripts for DC Comics were published in 1986).
Prior to his career in comic books, Ostrander studied theology with the intent of becoming a Catholic priest, but now describes himself as an agnostic. His in-depth explorations of morality were later used in his work writing The Spectre, a DC Comics series about the manifestation of the wrath of God. His focus on the character's human aspect, a dead police detective from the 1930s named Jim Corrigan, and his exploration of moral and theological themes brought new life to a character often thought of as impossible to write. He has also worked on Firestorm, Justice League, Martian Manhunter, Manhunter, Suicide Squad, and Wasteland for DC.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 21, 2025
**This review is for the entire 4 part series**
An ensemble cast of Gothamites navigate personal tribulations while a nefarious plot builds in the background, culminating in a dangerous event where their lives intersect and the caped crusader comes to the rescue.
What Gotham Central *later* did for the police procedural, Gotham Nights attempted to do for the situational drama; molding the tropes of an established genre around the presence of Batman and examining the consequences. While this title is only a single story that didn't have the opportunity to mine its format like Central did, this is still a damn good four issues. It approaches Gotham from the ground level where the ongoings of vigilantes seem distant, until they're not, and spends the majority of its narrative focus on interpersonal drama. The art is also exceedingly fun with Mitchell's exaggerated architecture and tounge-in-cheek dream sequences lending the story a lot of personality that wonderfully accents Ostrander's humorous yet tense writing.
An ensemble cast of Gothamites navigate personal tribulations while a nefarious plot builds in the background, culminating in a dangerous event where their lives intersect and the caped crusader comes to the rescue.
What Gotham Central *later* did for the police procedural, Gotham Nights attempted to do for the situational drama; molding the tropes of an established genre around the presence of Batman and examining the consequences. While this title is only a single story that didn't have the opportunity to mine its format like Central did, this is still a damn good four issues. It approaches Gotham from the ground level where the ongoings of vigilantes seem distant, until they're not, and spends the majority of its narrative focus on interpersonal drama. The art is also exceedingly fun with Mitchell's exaggerated architecture and tounge-in-cheek dream sequences lending the story a lot of personality that wonderfully accents Ostrander's humorous yet tense writing.
March 7, 2021
Nice little mini-series that gives us a glimpse into the lives of a handful of people who live in Gotham city and how their lives are affected by Batman.
Nice, quieter bits of human drama that intersect by the fourth issue.
Nice, quieter bits of human drama that intersect by the fourth issue.
May 11, 2020
Part of a 4 part series focused on people living in Gotham more than the batman himself.. makes for a change. Interesting arc.
June 15, 2022
Buen comienzo, me gusto mucho como esta narrado desde la perspectiva de los habitantes comunes y corrientes de la ciudad Gótica.
April 19, 2023
A lot of potential here, I enjoyed it.
January 7, 2025
read #1-4
January 26, 2026
Interesting storyline, easy to follow!
Historical side plot as well?
Not sure the connection yet
Veryyyy Batfam! Tim Drake robin <3 babs, red hood mention, and nightwing at the end! Possible beef?
Historical side plot as well?
Not sure the connection yet
Veryyyy Batfam! Tim Drake robin <3 babs, red hood mention, and nightwing at the end! Possible beef?
March 2, 2013
i have always been a fan of ostrander ~ he comes up with interesting ways of approaching familiar characters, often by observing them through the eyes of others. in this case it's a cast of sorta everyday gothamites who are living alongside the dark knight myth. while i don't think this entirely came together (and featured a few characters i didn't especially like or want to spend time with), it was an entertaining read. a little off the beaten path, but we all need that now and then.
February 3, 2015
a good batman story though the stories of different people in gotham..no detective stuff just a good story...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews