Which city was Gotham based on in your opinion?

Xper 6

Which city was Gotham based on in your opinion?

Which city was Gotham based on in your opinion?

NYC 🗽

Which city was Gotham based on in your opinion?

Chicago 🍕

Other

Select age and gender to cast your vote:

GirlGuy

0

18

AI Bot Choice

Superb Opinion

MCheetah | 256 opinions shared on Other topic.
Yoda

1 mo

The official word of God I heard is that Gotham is "New York at night" and Metropolis is "New York during the day," which is why you almost never see Gotham in the daytime.

However, regardless of that, I always thought of it to be more like Chicago. Maybe a little Detroit thrown in there too, considering the crime rate.

FUN FACT: Gotham City is located in southwestern New Jersey. And Metropolis is located in northeastern Delaware. Philadelphia is the closest real world city to them, and it's where Billy Batson/Shazam lives. One of the only things the Snyder movies got right is that Gotham and Metropolis are pretty close to each other, only separated by the Chesapeake Bay.

0|1

0|0
Is this still revelant?
- Marco10
  
  1 mo
  Interesting facts, thanks for sharing.

Most Helpful Guy

SirRexington | 3.5K opinions shared on Other topic.
Master

1 mo

Gotham is based on Chicago. Not an opinion.

Batman artist Neal Adams sees Gotham as based on Chicago (nicknamed 'New Gotham'). This is partly because Chicago has Back Alleys, Both all Downtown and its neighborhoods. Back Alleys are virtually non-existent in Manhattan , and Batman fights in Alleys... all the time. So if the artist draws it with similarities to Chicago then I would maybe class this as been the main city basis.

Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-jersey/1806239-debate-over-location-gotham-city-over-2.html

0|1

0|0
Is this still revelant?
- Marco10
  
  1 mo
  That’s a very interesting argument. Brooklyn has alleys though, so does Queens. I see what you’re saying though. I always associated Gotham with Chicago too. Thanks for sharing.

What Girls & Guys Said

016

BCRanger10 | 3.7K opinions shared on Other topic.
Master

1 mo

When Batman first hit the scene, it was based in New York. "Gotham" was the name of a jeweler, so if anything, it would be New York.

Though, given that Chicago and Gotham are practically identical in layout and corruption, as depicted in the Dark Knight Trilogy, there's also a good argument for Chicago.

0|1

0|0
Liam_Hayden
Guru

1 mo

New York City.

https://untappedcities.com/2020/01/31/why-is-new-york-city-called-gotham-a-nickname-with-a-millennium-of-history/

0|1

0|0
msc545 | 704 opinions shared on Other topic.
Yoda

1 mo

I'm fairly certain that it was New York City but I'm not sure. I've asked a few people entertainment industry and none of them are able to give me a clear definitive answer. I guess we will all have to just keep wondering.

0|1

0|0
- Marco10
  
  1 mo
  I don’t think there’s a clear definitive answer honestly. It’s all open to interpretation and analogies, and I think ultimately it’s a fusion between different cities and different themes. Having lived in both though, I’d have to stay the Chicago theme is pretty dominant.
rocksongwriter | 893 opinions shared on Other topic.
Guru

1 mo

I voted NYC since "Gotham" was kind of slang for "New York City" long before Batman was around.

0|1

0|0
- Marco10
  
  1 mo
  Gotham was slang for Goat Town (NY 120 something years ago). Hmmm interesting! I lived in NY for a few years and I never knew that, thanks for the info.
BCA6010 | 301 opinions shared on Other topic.
Guru

1 mo

It's actually based on Newark, New Jersey, both geographically and in terms of its dystopian crime problem.

Metropolis is the DCU's equivalent to New York.

0|1

0|1
- Marco10
  
  1 mo
  Interesting but wouldn’t you say there’s a huge difference between Newark’s skyline and Gotham’s?
- BCA6010
  
  1 mo
  If you're talking strictly skyline, then Gotham is a pretty thorough mix of NYC, Chicago, Newark, and maybe a few others like Philly (Beacon City is the DCU equivalent to Philly). Most buildings were designed more or less from scratch but in the same spirit of art-deco architecture and some other trends of the time. I actually have to semi-retcon my original statement- the location of Gotham City is definitely the state of New Jersey (but implies to be south rather than north), but its proximity and foil-like relationship to Metropolis is directly inspired by Newark/New York. The island location is taken from NYC as well, but they also gave this trait to Metropolis. The elevated train system is taken from Chicago, and the crime families/rampancy is taken from 1950s-early 1980s mafia activity in those cities as well as Atlantic City.
- Marco10
  
  1 mo
  The way you dissect this is impeccable my friend. I appreciate your detailed answer. Fictional cities and building their history, architecture, and nuances has always fascinated me and Gotham is one great example.
- Show All Show Less
- BCA6010
  
  1 mo
  Thanks! And yeah Gotham is by far my favorite fictional city in any superhero universe. It seems like DC put much more effort into it too.
QuietRunner | 809 opinions shared on Other topic.
Guru

1 mo

NYC.

Metropolis seem more like Chicago as Clark Kent is in Kansas.

Central City could be St Louis or Kansas City

Coast City is Los Angels.

0|1

0|0
- Marco10
  
  1 mo
  I always thought that Coast City was LA 👍🏼
  
  Metropolis does look like Chicago.
  
  Gotham is where I’m lost, because I lived in both and I feel like it has NY elements and Chicago elements but the vibes are all Chicago in my opinion at least.
- QuietRunner
  
  1 mo
  Yes Gotham does mix several things. I was also confused sometimes with Metropolis and the Kansas references. Maybe Clark goes further east than I thought.
- Marco10
  
  1 mo
  That is confusing, you’re right.
Jakeofalltrades93 | 248 opinions shared on Other topic.
Xper 7

1 mo

I always thought it had more of a Chicago feel to it

0|1

0|0
- Marco10
  
  1 mo
  I lived in both and I feel that too!
Anonymous

1 mo

Chicago no question about it. I don't know why exactly but the feel fits.

0|1

0|0
- Marco10
  
  1 mo
  I could say the same. I feel like it fits the Chicago feels more, but I can’t explain why.
- Tea-Spaghetti
  
  1 mo
  Well the Dark Knight movie was shot in Chicago but the fictional city was not strictly based on it.
OddBeMe | 852 opinions shared on Other topic.
Guru

1 mo

The twin cities, ehh! Minnesota, home of Babe the Blue Ox.

0|1

0|0
bklynbadboy1 | 1.6K opinions shared on Other topic.
Guru

1 mo

Now you know Gotham City is New York that was the most popular city back then when those comics came out

0|1

0|0
- Marco10
  
  1 mo
  I agree but Chicago wasn’t that far behind either.
sadMeester | 84 opinions shared on Other topic.
Explorer

1 mo

Chicago in the bootleg days

0|1

0|0
- Marco10
  
  1 mo
  In the Capone era with Tommy guns and the constant sparring with the Irish north gangs. I could see that!
- sadMeester
  
  1 mo
  The Irish are British in gothom. That's penguin's gang.
  
  Joker thugs are the more disposable rat-tag freelance groups from outside the city who just hear they could make a quick buck.
  
  In many ways Capone is two-face
- Marco10
  
  1 mo
  I could totally see that! Scarface and Two Face. New York has more big shots though. I could see Rudy Giuliani as a character (politics aside) just his whole persona.
- Show All Show Less
- sadMeester
  
  1 mo
  Politics aside? Suuurre.
  Given when it was written, the Kennedys seem pretty likely to me.
  John included but his dad was 100% a villain. What's the name of the corrupt gotham mayor?
- Marco10
  
  1 mo
  Aubrey James. I wasn’t comparing Giuliani to him by the way. I was just saying he is a character. Same for Cuomo. I truly don’t care about their politics, just how they carry themselves.
zagor | 2.8K opinions shared on Other topic.
Master

1 mo

NYC, obviously. It has no midwestern vibe at all.

0|1

0|0
- Marco10
  
  1 mo
  How can you tell? Chicago has no Midwestern vibe either in my opinion, even though it’s in the Midwest.
Wise4myage | 577 opinions shared on Other topic.
Guru

1 mo

I always thought it was NYC.

0|1

0|0
Tea-Spaghetti
Explorer

1 mo

New jersey

0|1

0|0
- Marco10
  
  1 mo
  Interesting
Jmmmfi4 | 581 opinions shared on Other topic.
Guru

1 mo

Obviously a fictional city

0|0

0|0
- Marco10
  
  1 mo
  It is a fictional city but all fictional cities are inspired by real cities, at least to a certain extent.
ItsTheNephilim | 1.3K opinions shared on Other topic.
Master

1 mo

Looks NYC-ish to me.

0|1

0|0
- Marco10
  
  1 mo
  Could be NY!

Be the first girl to share an opinion
and earn 1 more Xper point!

Related myTakes

What I believe the kingdom of God is

Reality Check: Police Kill African Americans at a Disproportionately Low Rate

One mistake every Christian should be careful not to make

Confessions of a Ladies Man: How to influence a Woman/Man into being your exclusive partner

Home > Other > Which city was Gotham based on in your opinion?

Loading...