Gotham Underground 2 *SPOILERS*

[Choppa]

The issue starts with a history of Gotham detailing how Gotham was born in the streets with criminals and corrupt politicians and cops, and how everything ran smoothly until the "masks" showed up. It then jumps ahead to the present where we see the Whale proposing that the mobsters get together to fight off the masks and they agree.

Over in blackgate, Matches notices that none of the other super criminals arrested with him in the last issue are there. He also thinks that something is going on in the infirmary so he's going to check it out later. Riddler asks Penguin some questions about what he was saying to Two-Face and he tells Riddler to be careful of asking too many questions. As Riddler leaves he thinks he recognizes one of the thugs walking in, Freddie Dinardo, AKA, Nightwing in disguise.

Outside Robin is watching this through the window and remarks that Orcacle, Huntress, and Question (with guns ablaze) are taking care of Gotham while Batman and Nightwing are under cover. He also mentions that Whale was formerly set up in Metropolis and probably came to Gotham because he was chased out. He swings away and thinks someone is watching him. And there is, it's someone in a spoiler outfit.

Then we see Scarface recruiting some other supervillians including Lockdown and Firefly to take out Whale. Then Scarecrow walks in and Lockdown remarks that he heard he was dead and Scarecrow says he heard wrong because Penguin is a rat.

It ends showing a prison guard giving money to another guard in exchange for letting a criminal out to kill Matches Malone. The criminal? Mr. Zsaz.

[The Xenos]

What the hell? Question / Renne fighting alone side Huntress with guns? Someone looking a crapload like Spoiler watching over Robin? Batman locked up as Matches? Dick taking on a Maches like personality?

Anyone find that really... odd? It's interesting, but they seemd to just beeze by these big issues.

[Paul Dee]

I didn't like the idea of the 'masks' pre-dating Batman though; I prefer the idea that he starts and the villains follow suit going as over-the-top as he does.

[Choppa]

What the hell? Question / Renne fighting alone side Huntress with guns? Someone looking a crapload like Spoiler watching over Robin? Batman locked up as Matches? Dick taking on a Maches like personality?

Anyone find that really... odd? It's interesting, but they seemd to just beeze by these big issues.

Yeah that's a good point. It jumps around a lot from one thing to another without really much development for each subplot.

I didn't like the idea of the 'masks' pre-dating Batman though; I prefer the idea that he starts and the villains follow suit going as over-the-top as he does.

I agree. I like the Long Halloween/Batman Begins idea where he starts out fighting the mob and then the masks show up as retaliation.

[foxley]

I didn't like the idea of the 'masks' pre-dating Batman though; I prefer the idea that he starts and the villains follow suit going as over-the-top as he does.

The golden age Green Lantern was based in Gotham City and that places his rogues gallery (Icicle, Gambler, Harlequin, Solomon Grundy, et al) in Gotham City.

And the Reaper operated in Gotham City between the retirement of the JSA and the coming of Batman.

[PunisherFan]

i like how tiere dumps all over continuity. How is firefly alive in there.... and no Batman??? c'mon

[The Xenos]

To be fair, there's no Batman because he's undercover in jail as Matches. I dug that.

[Sizzle]

They explain how Bats "let" Bane get the drop on him. If the writer would of read KnightFall, he would of known that Bane would of been able to tell Matches is Bruce by his body language.

[skylight]

Hey i don't know if this the appropriate thread to ask this, but what's the premise of the whole Gotham Underground series? Is it worth picking up? I'm quite new to the DC titles. Thanks.

[carabas]

what's the premise of the whole Gotham Underground series?'Assorted Gotham-based characters all together in a book, written by someone who's probably never even heard of most of the characters. Buy it, it's a countdown tie-in'.

One of the most missable books DC is putting out right now, and that's saying something.

[Choppa]

Here's the descript from DC-

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 said, it's been pretty slow so far. A lot of stuff has happened but nothings been fleshed out. And there are some weird continuity problems. As to how it ties into Countdown I have no idea. I'm really only interested because when you put the covers together it forms one big picture and if you look closely you can see Bat-Mite and Azrael.

[Captain Jim]

Personally, I'm enjoying it so far.

[Paul Dee]

Personally, I'm enjoying it so far.

Same here. I was a bit worried because I can't be bothered with Salvation Run and even though I imagine you only need to know the general idea of that story to relate it to Gotham Underground I worry I'll miss something crucial. The same goes for Salvation Run and Countdown to/ Final Crisis actually

[agentofthebat]

i have been loving it!

[OverMaster]

i like how tiere dumps all over continuity. How is firefly alive in there.... and no Batman??? c'mon

Isn't this Firefly a new guy in the costume?

[PunisherFan]

Isn't this Firefly a new guy in the costume?

I don't know, I would assume so but its never been explained

[Mojorisin]

I love seeing The Riddler on the "right" side of the law. They've done a few stories with him as a detective, but I really hope he plays a big role in this story.

I also enjoyed Robin's banter about how relaxing it is when Bruce isn't calling the shots.

It's quite slow, but I'm sure it will pick up. There's plenty of subplots and story-strands that surely will be used in the coming issues.