The Dawn of DC line is full of events to the point that one is spinning off the other. Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War is indeed taking place right after the Nightmares of Knight Terrors: Batman.
In Gotham City, a concerted effort has reduced violent crime, but at what cost? Villains disperse as their lives under the new rule start to fall apart. One name comes to Batman’s mind as he recovers from his epic struggle through the Multiverse and the horrors of Knight Terrors. Catwoman is the driving force behind this new, safer Gotham.
The Bat-Family will be torn apart when a feud that has been festering for well over a year finally breaks out on the streets!
Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War is a crossover event that takes place in Batman and Catwoman, as well as in special one-shots and a miniseries. Mostly written by Chip Zdarsky and Tini Howard, with art by Jorge Jimenez, Mike Hawthorne, Nico Leon, and Adriano Di Benedetto, the story is sold as an all-out war between the Bat and the Cat.
What to read before Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War?
A new era for Batman has recently started with writer Chip Zdarsky putting Batman through the ringers with the resurgence of The Dark Knight’s alternate personality, the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh. To know more about what has happened to the Caped Crusader before this event started, go check out:
- Batman Volume 1: Failsafe
Collects Batman #125-130 - Batman Vol. 2: The Bat-Man of Gotham
Collects Batman #131-136
Likewise, writer Tini Howard took over Catwoman with issue #39, and to reconnect with Selina before this event, check out the recent issues:
- Catwoman Volume 3: Duchess of Gotham
Collects Catwoman #51-56
While all the members of the Bat-family is present in this event, the recent whereabouts of Jason Todd are the only ones who could need a few explications. Our Red Hood is busy hunting down the Joker when this event starts in :
- The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing Vol. 1
Collects The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #1-6 - The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing Vol. 2
Collects The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #7-12. Issue #12 is set after Gotham War!
Finally, as said above, Gotham War takes place a few weeks after another event, Knight Terrors!
Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War Reading Order: Collected Editions
The whole event will be collected in one book. The hardcover edition is announced for June.
- Batman / Catwoman: The Gotham War
Collects Batman (2016) #137-138, Catwoman (2018) #57-58, Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War: Battle Lines #1, Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War: Scorched Earth #1, And Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War: Red Hood #1-2.
Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War Checklist: Issue by Issue
- Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Battle Lines #1
- Batman #137
- Catwoman #57
- Batman #138
- Catwoman #58
Red Hood tie-ins! Gotham War is a straightforward event, except for the two Red Hood tie-ins. The first part is set between Batman #137 and Catwoman #57 while the second part continues the story and then reconnects with the events of the following issues. For fluidity, we choose to put them together but you can’t read the first before. To avoid any kind of spoilers, the second part should be read after Catwoman #58.
- Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Red Hood #1 (of 2)
- Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Red Hood #2 (of 2)
- Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Scorched Earth #1
After Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War
The Gotham War event has been rough for Jason Todd. So first, go check out The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #12 to read the conclusion of his story.
As for the Bat and The Cat, a new arc starts for both of them. Chip Zdarsky’s run on Batman continues with issue #139 in which Batman is facing the Joker once more. On Selina Kyle, Tini Howard is still the main writer. Following the recent events, Kyle has left Gotham behind to start a new mission in Catwoman #59.
