Gotham Underground

    (DC, 2007–2008)
™ and © 2007 DC Comics, Inc.

In Gotham Underground #1, Batman goes undercover as Matches Malone, a guise he first assumed in Batman #242 (Jun 72) in a story revolving around Ra’s al Ghul. This time, Matches works for The Penguin in order to uncover information regarding an underground railroad for criminals. The Suicide Squad has been kidnapping super-villains of late, so Captain Boomerang, Bronze Tiger, and company are involved, as well. Yes, this is a Countdown tie-in, but it reads pretty well on its own.

The most striking thing about the issue is the art of J. Calafiore, who keeps things interesting with a variety of well-placed panel sizes and layouts. The talking-head scenes are as lively as the action sequences, and the characters, especially Deadshot, Bane, Riddler, and Penguin, look fantastic. Batman never appears in costume (despite the cover implying otherwise), but this is one case where it doesn matter, thanks in part to solid performances by Robin and Nightwing.

Black Lightning fans take note: Black Lightning,villain Tobias Whale makes a disgusting (yet amusing) two-page appearance.

— Brett Weiss
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  • 1
    Dec 2007
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore
    1st Appearance of Tobias Whale
    1 copy for $1.00
  • 1/NS
    Newsstand Edition with cover by Jim Calafiore
    Dec 2007
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore
    1st Appearance of Tobias Whale
    No copies available
  • 2
    Jan 2008
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore
    1 copy for $2.98
  • 2/NS
    Newsstand Edition with cover by Jim Calafiore
    Jan 2008
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore
    No copies available
  • 3
    Feb 2008
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore
    1 copy for $3.98
  • 3/NS
    Newsstand Edition with cover by Jim Calafiore
    Feb 2008
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore
    No copies available
  • 4
    Mar 2008
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore
    1 copy for $4.00
  • 4/NS
    Newsstand Edition with cover by Jim Calafiore
    Mar 2008
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore
    No copies available
  • 5
    Apr 2008
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore
    1 copy for $5.00
  • 5/NS
    Newsstand Edition with cover by Jim Calafiore
    Apr 2008
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore
    No copies available
  • 6
    Catwoman and Mad Hatter pictured on cover but do not appear in the story
    May 2008
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore
    1 copy for $2.98
  • 6/NS
    Newsstand Edition with cover by Jim Calafiore
    May 2008
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore
    No copies available
  • 7
    Jun 2008
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore
    3 copies from $2.50
  • 7/NS
    Newsstand Edition with cover by Jim Calafiore
    Jun 2008
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore
    No copies available
  • 8
    Jul 2008
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore
    2 copies from $2.98
  • 8/NS
    Newsstand Edition with cover by Jim Calafiore
    Jul 2008
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore
    No copies available
  • 9
    Aug 2008
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore
    3 copies from $2.98
  • 9/NS
    Newsstand Edition with cover by Jim Calafiore
    Aug 2008
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore
    No copies available
  • Bk 1
    Cover: $19.99
    W: Frank Tieri  ·  A: Jim Calafiore, Jack Purcell
    Collects Gotham Underground #1-9
    No copies available