Gotham Underground--a Countdown Tie-in

[Captain Jim]

From the October solicitations (as previewed in Newsarama):

GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #1
WRITTEN by Frank Tieri
Art and cover by J. Calafiore
This 8-part epic explores the underbelly of the DC Universe and ties in to COUNTDOWN! Frank Tieri and COUNTDOWN’s
J. Calafiore team up to deliver an action-packed tale that features Batman, Robin, Nightwing, Batwoman and just about every other Gotham guest-star imaginable. As more and more evildoers seemingly disappear into thin air, Gotham City finds itself in the midst of a villainous vacuum. Who will rise to commandeer the remainder of Gotham’s rogues? As several factions scramble to stake their claim, Batman and friends strategize a counter-attack!
On sale October 24 • 1 of 8 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Oct07/GTHU_Cv1_solicit.jpg

Looks interesting. But is that a new costume, or is it just the way the light's hitting it?

[Paul Dee]

This looks interesting enough. Another one to add to the "Is Batman's continuity too full?" list though. I should be up to speed on Countdown by then so shall be able to enjoy the various tie-in issues which is good news for me.

[DonC]

Countdown is gettting way to big. It seems like DC is overcompensating for the lack of tie-ins with 52 by throwing a ton of pointless tie-ins with Countdown. This is what, number four? Five? And that's not even counting the cross-over issues like Teen Titans and Justice League of America recently had.

[Murrocko]

Well Nightwing's in it, I'll give it the two-three issue treatment and see how I like it.

[Kara Zor El]

I don't think it's a new costume. Just light tricks.

[Nate Palm]

J. Calafiore team up to deliver an action-packed tale that features Batman, Robin, Nightwing, Batwoman and just about every other Gotham guest-star imaginable.

Maybe some word on Batgirl maybe. I can only hope.

[Joe Acro]

Scarface is back? Why?

[lukababic]

Well, to me it sounds like a Countdown, just within Batman universe, So there'll be no: Jimmy Olsen, Shazam, Karate Kid, Red Arrow but: Batgirl, Nightwing, Robin, Azrael etc. As the man said "every Gotham guest-star imaginable".

Looks like to me that they're making Countdown-like thing within a Countdown, and they'll probably make a tie in to this series as well, maybe a few crossover here and there.

But can anyone tell me what is the purpose, what does this story arc / series / whatever-it-is has that Detective Comics, Batman, Batman&Superman, Batman Confidential don't have? More Batman i suppose :)

[Paul Dee]

Scarface is back? Why?


Scarface has been in a couple of recent issues of Detective Comics since Wesker was killed off in the OYL story. There's a new ventriloquist too although currently not much is known about her.

[Joe Acro]

Scarface has been in a couple of recent issues of Detective Comics since Wesker was killed off in the OYL story. There's a new ventriloquist too although currently not much is known about her.
I guess as long as they gave him a new Ventriloquist instead of resurrecting the old one, all's well.

[Rattlehead]

I guess as long as they gave him a new Ventriloquist instead of resurrecting the old one, all's well.

It's a blonde female, who seems to be in a relationship with Scarface. I found it suitably creepy. They appeared in TEC #831.

[Captain Jim]

Personally, I'd rather have Whesker back, but that's just me.

[OverMaster]

It might be interesting if not for the writer. Nothing personal, but Frank Tieri has never delivered for me.

[The Cool Thatguy]

Frank Tieri is the writer? Pass. His noir stuff is like King filtered through the sensibilities of a morning cartoon show.

[OverMaster]

Personally, I'd rather have Whesker back, but that's just me.

So would I, but the character really doesn't lend himself to a convincing resurrection. The only real 'credible' resurrection plot device in the Batman books, the Lazarus Pits, are too far from the reach of pretty much the only DCU living person who would really want Wesker back (Rhino).

[Captain Jim]

So would I, but the character really doesn't lend himself to a convincing resurrection.

Agreed. I just wish he was never killed off in the first place.

[Paul Dee]

So would I, but the character really doesn't lend himself to a convincing resurrection. The only real 'credible' resurrection plot device in the Batman books, the Lazarus Pits, are too far from the reach of pretty much the only DCU living person who would really want Wesker back (Rhino).

The silly thing was that they brought Wesker back from the dead, presumably as a result of Infinite Crisis, only to kill him straight away in the One Year Later story.

[Brack360]

The silly thing was that they brought Wesker back from the dead, presumably as a result of Infinite Crisis, only to kill him straight away in the One Year Later story.

When did he previously die? I was reading the Batman books at that time and don’t recall him dying. He was alive shortly before OYL in War Games.

[The Xenos]

Countdown is gettting way to big. It seems like DC is overcompensating for the lack of tie-ins with 52 by throwing a ton of pointless tie-ins with Countdown. This is what, number four? Five? And that's not even counting the cross-over issues like Teen Titans and Justice League of America recently had.

I gotta agree. I'm now sick of the word 'Countdown'. I think this drives me toward buying less books. Personally, I think this tie in crap and flooding the market with books might work for DC now, but overall it cuts down the audience instead of expanding it.

[The Xenos]

It's a blonde female, who seems to be in a relationship with Scarface. I found it suitably creepy. They appeared in TEC #831.

Personally, I'd rather have Whesker back, but that's just me.

And I'd rather have Vic Sage back as The Question. Yet at the same time I'm enjoying both new characters with old names. Oh and add to that Blue Beetle and Atom.

[Captain Jim]

Xenos, I agree with you on all three counts there. None of the new characters have the same appeal to me as the old.

[OverMaster]

Xenos, I agree with you on all three counts there. None of the new characters have the same appeal to me as the old.

Yeah, all of them could have worked better with the same basic personalities, but with new, different superheroic/villainous identities.

[z0mbie_aut0pil0t]

This story looks pretty interesting.