Classic Gotham City Architecture.

[perletwo.insanejournal.com]

Over on noscans, in a thread about comic book architecture, there was a little talk about the Batman Black & White story about the guy who wanted to do a coffee table book on the Kooky Funky Anthropomorphized Object Buildings of Gotham, and a request to repost. So I give you 2 1/2 pages of an 8 page story, "Urban Renewal," by Will Pfeifer and Brent Anderson.

The story opens with a flashback to 50s Batman & Robin fighting hoods atop the Global Insurance building...a building our writer friend notes sadly is now condemned.


Yeah, you ain't kiddin', dude.



He arrives too late to photograph the cash register building; finds it torn down to make room for "a cool black office tower. 'Bout time, too. Who needs a giant cash register in Gotham City?"

Heartbroken, he goes home thinking of giving up on the book, only to find:



The last page is Bruce in the Batcave reading through the book proposal (and sample chapter, I'd guess), reminiscing and tut-tutting over the poor cash register. He tells Alfred "I think I'll take the old car out tonight." Sweet stuff.

Comments

[domino_blue.insanejournal.com]

Am I the only one who would visit Gotham just to see some of the Buildings that looked like that if it were real?

[seriousfic.insanejournal.com]

That's how they get you. Next thing you know, your parents are dead, you're dressed up in black tights, and your arch-enemy is someone who dresses like a giant caterpillar.

[domino_blue.insanejournal.com]

it's fine as long as I don't go to the Opera or Latest Zorro movie.

[seriousfic.insanejournal.com]

I'm sure that's what Dick Grayson thought. Then, BAM, parents are acrobats, AND DEAD.

[domino_blue.insanejournal.com]

Okay as long as I don't go those places, have Commissioner Gordon for a father, and stay away from the chemical plants I should be fine.

[xammax.insanejournal.com]

Building set on fire and then your stuck as the annoying teleport girl. Trust go to Gotham and someone you love will die.

[domino_blue.insanejournal.com]

Okay as long as I don't go near a burning building, go steal tires off the bat mobile, head down crime alley and go near the water I should be fine.

[xammax.insanejournal.com]

All that promises is you won't fight crime afterward. Least those way you may live, now your random victim #4 to go knows who. Seriously Gotham is worse then Marvel New York.

[domino_blue.insanejournal.com]

Okay I wear a Kelver vest, wear a helmet everywhere and bring a gas mask with, that way I should be fine. Going to Gotham is like preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse.

[sherkahn.insanejournal.com]

And avoid any chemical plants. They do horrors on the skin.

[domino_blue.insanejournal.com]

Already said that but thanks for the thought.

[perletwo.insanejournal.com]

Oh, and on a related note, if you feel the need to go to a psychiatrist, check the credentials very carefully. And ask them about their hobbies.

[domino_blue.insanejournal.com]

Okay So with all of this I now have a ten percent survival rate what would bring that up?

Oh never work for the Joker, explore dark caves, walk into mystical puddles of mud, avoid visiting in the summer I should be fine.

[thandrak.insanejournal.com]

Never enter a bank or jeweler.

[cmdr_zoom.insanejournal.com]

Oh, and if your name is alliterative, a pun, a palindrome or something like that? You're almost certain to suffer an Origin or other hideous fate.

[seriousfic.insanejournal.com]

Don't forget to check the peephole before you answer the door. And don't grow up in a Mafia family. And don't let your parents travel to Haiti. And if you don't know who your biological mother is, just let it go.

[domino_blue.insanejournal.com]

That and as long as I don't go to the bank and stay away from the smiling fish, check for earth quakes and avoid getting trained by assassins I should be fine.

[perletwo.insanejournal.com]

You'll also want to not marry Commissioner Gordon, no matter how cute he is. :D

[bariman1987.insanejournal.com]

Seriously, Jim Gordon is a total DILF in canon. Even Dinah wanted a piece of him.

[aaron_bourque.insanejournal.com]

GOTHAM TOURISM BOARD SAYS: That happens much less often since Batman's come to town. Our parks are even worth visiting in daytime! And some of them at night!

Please spend your tourist dollars here instead of Atlantic City. Our casinos are clean!

[seriousfic.insanejournal.com]

Note: The Gotham Tourism Board makes no guarantee of your safety if Batman is dead, paralyzed, a caveman, or brooding.

[dreadedlurker.insanejournal.com]

Or Dick Grayson.

[xammax.insanejournal.com]

Thats right we know.

[runespoor7.insanejournal.com]

Or if you are a dark-haired, blue-eyed boy.

[seriousfic.insanejournal.com]

And if you're in the DCU, everyone's a dark-haired, blue-eyed boy.

[zordboy.insanejournal.com]

...with a great ass that looks fantastic in tights.

[xammax.insanejournal.com]

You know Selina got it right, he is a very sweet guy when no one on gods green earth is looking.

[perletwo.insanejournal.com]

Dratted logical posting limits - I'd'a loved to put up that last page. It is joy, and Bruce chillin' in the cave without his cowl on is adorkable.

[darklorelei.insanejournal.com]

Love it! Also, I would totally buy that book if I lived in the DCU. I mean, sure Opal's pretty, but it lacks cash registers!

[blake_reitz.insanejournal.com]

Hell, I'd buy that book right here in the real world, were it available.

[bariman1987.insanejournal.com]

I'd have it sitting on my coffee table next to my autographed copy of "Webs" by Peter Parker.

[kingrockwell]

And "Marvels" by Phil Sheldon!

[jedd_the_jedi.insanejournal.com]

The art is pretty good. That aside, where are the giant sculptures of naked men?! I demand giant sculptures of naked men!

Excuse me while I sort my sexual orientation out.

[zordboy.insanejournal.com]

And you've come *here* to do that? :)

[jedd_the_jedi.insanejournal.com]

Now that you mention it, that may not have been the wisest judgement on my part.

[lyraeinne.insanejournal.com]

I really love it when newer stories incorporate some of the crackier, silver age elements into modern continuity. And in this context it's so sad, particularly with the publishing houses so obviously representing a certain ideal when it comes to crafting modern stories.

There's a giant blender? Seriously? Someone tell me there's a story somewhere somehow involving the giant blender.

[bariman1987.insanejournal.com]

There's a giant blender? Seriously?

Probably a smoothie joint.

[qob.insanejournal.com]

What is it with abandoned amusement parks? *Those* I would tear down in a Gotham Minute.

[sistermagpie.insanejournal.com]

Awww! Of course Bruce has a love for kitchy things like the typewriter. It goes along with his secret love for dumb puns!

[sistermagpie.insanejournal.com]

Also, the idea that Bruce is not only being Batman and keeping up appearances as the head of Wayne Enterprises, but he apparently also keeps up with the slush pile at the small publishing companies Wayne Enterprises owns.

Nothing gets by Batman!!

[aaron_bourque.insanejournal.com]

Well of course. Never know when someone will try to sneak a murder confession into a piece of "fiction"! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_I_Did_It)

[dreadedlurker.insanejournal.com]

But why the evil laughter?

WHA HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Cash register buildings will never die!

[fungo_squiggly.insanejournal.com]

Because we are witnessing the birth of a kitschy new supervillain whose plans involve transmuting buildings into giant props.

In order to kill millions.

[brandiweed.livejournal.com (from insanejournal.com)]

I don't think it's supposed to be evil laughter, but stammering: "Wha? Huh?" The weird way his face is drawn doesn't help, though.

[jedd_the_jedi.insanejournal.com]

I get it! He's gonna sneeze! "wha...ha....hachooooooo!" Look at his expression!

[psychop_rex.insanejournal.com]

Personally, I like both types of architecture. I also love those old buildings with the giant typewriters and bongo drums and working Zippo lighters, but I have an equal appreciation for the Tim Burton-style Gotham that's full of gargoyles and looming skyscrapers and extraneous gothic architecture. My ideal Gotham would have both - as a crimefighter, you'd be able to swing from a jutting gargoyle atop a spiky office building with tinted glass in the windows, then let go of the rope and let the momentum carry you to a safe, bouncy landing on the rooftop display atop the Sleepwell Inflatable Mattress Factory.