- "The city is underwater. The National Guard is coming. Martial law is in effect... but the criminal element never sleeps. Looting and lawlessness will be rampant in the parts of the city no one can get to. I can already see things will get worse before they get better. And some will seize the chance to grab everything they can."
- ―Batman[src]
The Flooding of Gotham City was a massive flood orchestrated by the Riddler. The flood was created in an attempt to destroy Gotham City and kill the newly elected mayor Bella Reál.
History[]
Prelude[]
Before his incarceration in Arkham State Hospital, the Riddler made a final plan with his followers to destroy Gotham City by assassinating the newly elected mayor Bella Reál, believing that corruption will never change for the better. Explosives were set at seven different points of Gotham's seawall to flood the city, with the intention of killing the mayor in the ensuing chaos.
The Flooding[]
By the time Batman learned of the plot, it was already in motion. As the streets of Gotham City were engulfed in a torrent of water, citizens like Selina Kyle fled to higher ground at Gotham Square Garden, where Batman confronted and defeated the Riddler's followers in their attempt to kill Bella Reál.
Aftermath[]
- "We will rebuild. But not just our city. We must rebuild people's faith in our institutions, in our elected officials, in each other. Together, we will learn to believe in Gotham again."
- ―Bella Reál[src]
As a result of the disaster, Gotham was left in ruins, leading to the implementation of martial law in the city and the activation of the National Guard to assist in recovery efforts. Gotham Square Garden was used as a temporary evacuation center, with helicopters arriving at the complex to airlift injured Gothamites. Wealthier suburban neighborhoods such as Bristol Township and Gotham Heights were unaffected, while low-income neighborhoods such as Crown Point were affected the most, still without water and electricity a week later. Penguin, preparing to step up in the Mafia, watched the scene from Iceberg Lounge.
During the flood, Victor Aguilar, a teenager from Crown Point, lost his parents and sister during the flood, prompting him to eventually become Penguin's protege, who was seeking to rise to power as the new kingpin of Gotham. Rioting and looting were also rampant due to lawlessness and several incidents of gang warfare were reported, particularly between the Maroni Crime Family and the Falcone Crime Family.
Trivia[]
- The flooding of Gotham by the Riddler's plan heavily draws inspiration from the New 52 arc, "Dark City." It was written by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo and was part of the Batman: Zero Year storyline.
- It should also be seen as an analogue to the Biblical Flood (of “Genesis”, chapters 6–9), with Riddler being the “metaphorical god” engineering the destruction of a society he perceives as hopelessly corrupt.