A new Batman release has provided an explanation for why Gotham is overrun by so manyDC Universevillains, and I have to admit it makes a lot of sense. The second season ofBatman Unburied- Spotify’s excellent DC audio drama - entitledFallen City, is structured around theorigin of Havey Dent’s Two-Face, and sees a cabal of iconic Batman villains making their way into the spotlight. Details of this shady group of terrifying foes provide an excellent justification for the crime-ridden nature of the city.
Batman has been seen in all kinds of different media, from comic books to films to novels to some of the bestBatman animated series. The character has also been featured in radio dramas over the years, with another recent entry beingBatman: The Audio Adventures, an HBO Max project from 2021. However,Batman Unburiedhas become something special in its latest season, creating an exciting DC world with fearsome villains that I believe feels true to the classic age of the Batman comics.
DC’s Newest Batman Story Underlines Why Gotham Was Always Doomed To Have Many Supervillains
A Familiar Shady Organization Is Behind Much Of Gotham’s Crime
Similar to the stories being told about thewar for Gotham inThe Batmanuniverse,Batman Unburiedcements a version of the city that is under the influence of twisted elites with The Court of Owls.InFallen City,it becomes clear that this group of Gotham’s socialites are behind much of the crime and order in the city, and have been for quite some time. By doing this, the series seems to me to confirm that Gotham’s law and structure are essentially subject to the whims of an independent and nefarious group.
Because of this cabal, Gotham inevitably would exist outside of the normal laws of the United States. I’d argue that, following this,the city operates autonomously, with the desires and whims of the group that make up this court being the most powerful in the city.Every institution in Gotham is in their pocket, which means that crime is allowed to run as rampantly as the court wishes. By subverting the very paradigms of justice in Gotham, The Court of Owls leaves Gotham doomed to be run over by villains.
Batman Unburied: Fallen City’s Two-Face Origin Story Shows Exactly Why The Court Of Owls Are Such A Problem For Gotham
The Terrifying Cabal Quashes Harvey Dent’s Acts Of Resistance
The power of a group like The Court of Owls feels almost insurmountable, even to characters like Batman. As Bruce and Harvey work to bring The Brave and Bold project to fruition, renovating Gotham’s orphanage,aspects of that, including its access to a Lazarus Pit, seem to be at odds with the Court.Because of this, the group goes after Harvey, and destroys him and his work. Harvey’s ability to do good in the city is severely restricted, and he is essentially destroyed for even trying.
Introducing such powerful forces to the city greatly restricts the autonomy that any individual has, and makes humanitarian work that much more difficult. Of course, Batman comes up against this group, and must work to fight them, but even he is restricted by the powerful work of their Talons.I believe this Court is such a problem for Gotham because it removes the independent action and autonomy of regular people who believe in their city.With such resources behind it, the Court is simply too powerful to resist.
The Court Of Owls' Effect On Gotham Changes An Age-Old Batman Argument
Batman Is A Symptom Of Gotham’s Crime, Not The Cause
It has often been argued that the existence of Batman is what inspires so many in the city to become villains, however, the presence of The Court of Owls is counter to this. Instead, I’d argue thatdue the existence of this group, and the prevalent corruption in the city, Batman is genuinely the hero that Gotham needs, and is no part of the fault.If anything, Batman himself is a response to the existence of The Court of Owls, showing how important individual resistance can be in the face of such structured, hierarchical violence and destruction.
With rumors ofThe Court of Owls inThe Batman Part II, it is worth wondering if this same theme will continue to be examined in the Matt Reeves films. That Gotham, like inFallen City, is possessed by powerful hands, which I believe makes for especially topical stories.With such superstructures of power, it is necessary to understand and examine the importance of resistance.Fortunately, the existence of Batman is in itself an act of retaliation, allowing stories likeFallen Cityto shine.
10 Batman: The Animated Series Villains, Ranked By Threat Level
Batman: The Animated Series is full of noteworthy supervillains, but they don’t all pose an equal threat to The Dark Knight in terms of danger.
Batman Unburied: Fallen Citywas an excellent follow-up to the first season of the audio drama, and I hope that more seasons will follow.Podcasts are an excellent medium within which to explore unique Batman stories, contributing to the excellent and expansive lore of the hero.The presence of The Court of Owls raises a number of interesting questions about the hero and his world, too, that makeBatman Unburied: Fallen Citysuch a satisfying and engaging listen throughout the entire season.
