Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham is a comic miniseries created by Mike Mignola, Richard Pace, Troy Nixey and Dennis Janke. Set in the 1920s, the series follows Batman and his allies as they fight a supernatural force threatening Gotham City. The series is heavily inspired by the works of H. P. Lovecraft, with its premise and title derived from The Lurker at the Threshold and The Doom That Came to Sarnath.
Synopsis[]
In Antarctica, the crew of The Argo, led by Bruce Wayne, investigate the fate of an expedition led by Prof. Oswald Cobblepot. They soon discover most the members have been killed, with Wayne separated after seeing a now deranged Cobblepot. Finding another survivor named August Grendon, Wayne discovers him trying to thaw out a creature entombed in the ice. After subduing Grendon and a number of animals infected by the creature, Bruce has the remains destroyed and orders the expedition to leave. They then set sail for Gotham, not knowing they are bringing back a dark influence.
Upon returning to Gotham, Bruce returns to Wayne Manor, where he discovers the body of Kirk Langstrom. He also encounters Jason Blood, who warns him of an upcoming crisis and that he must die to "become himself". Leaving his crew in the care of Oliver Queen, Bruce dons a makeshift bat-themed costume and begins investigating Langstrom. He soon discovers that he was involved with a researcher named Crosby Manfurd about a book titled the Testament of al Ghul. As he investigates Manfurd, they are attacked a woman named Talia and her servants, who kill both the professor and Blood as he interveines. Bruce is then captured by during a skirmish with a reptilian man, with Talia sensing something inside him.
The following morning, The Argo is discovered frozen, and crew members Jason Todd and Dick Grayson are killed by Grendon and the reptilian man. Whilst captive, Bruce learns that Talia is the daughter of Ra's al Ghul, an ancient sorcerer who serves Iog-Sotha. Through ancient arts learned from an ancient society, the family had discovered immortality and survived centuries. Through the Testement of al Ghul and a captured Etrigan, Talia resurrects her father. Whilst Bruce escapes them, Ra's summons a plague of reptiles to attack Gotham. He then kills Grendon to retrieve a seed from a plant-like servant, who infects Mayor Harvey Dent to create a portal to the dimension of Iog-Sotha.
Whilst Bruce is away, Tim Drake, the sole survivor of The Argo's crew, discovers Queen prepared in templar attire. The socialite reveals that he is preparing for a battle with Iog-Sotha, believing it can atone for his father's sins. As he shows Tim arrowheads retrieved from the body of Saint Sebastian, they are attacked by the plant-creature who murders Queen. As she prepares to kill Tim, Bruce arrives and burns the creature. It is revealed that Bruce is the man chosen to face Iog-Sotha and is now in a state of transformation. Meanwhile, Harvey, now in the later stages of transformation, is captured by Talia.
Whilst mourning the dead Argo crew, Bruce is approached by Chief James Gordon and his daughter Barbara, who asks for his audience. With the latter being able to communicate with the dead, she summons the spirit of Prof. Manfurd to speak with him. Manfurd reveals that he was one of Gotham's founders, alongside Langstrom's ancestor Bartley, and Bruce and Oliver's fathers. Over three-hundred years ago, they had made a deal with Ludwig Prinn, one of Ra's al Ghul's servants, to obtain power to build Gotham City and immortality. In reality, Prinn had used the Testament of al Ghul to prepare the land for the portal to Iog-Sotha's dimension. Eventually turning on him and beating him to apparent death, the founders had covered up the ground and built the city above it.
Meanwhile, Prinn survived and, through consuming substances found underground, become the reptile man encountered. Having suffered hallucinations from childhood, Bruce learns that he was chosen to fight Iog-Sotha by Bartley Langstrom, who committed suicide after shortly after the deal. His parents were murdered by Henry Queen, who'd been driven mad by dreams of the creature and had inspired Oliver to take the task himself. After Manfurd leaves, Bruce goes to the underground levels to confront Iog-Sotha and his minions.
After defeating Prinn, Bruce discovers Dent has been transformed into portal to Iog-Sotha's realm. Travelling inside, he confronts Ra's, using the arrows acquired by Queen to defeat his minions and destroy the Testament of al Ghul. As Iog-Sotha uses Ra's as a vessel, Bruce transforms into a bat-like creature, using his enhanced abilities to kill the necromancer whilst Talia is dragged into an endless abyss. With Etrigan released, Bruce flees the realm as the demon imprisons Iog-Sotha, promising a dying Harvey to protect Gotham. The city itself is caught in explosions caused by the deities' battle.
Six months later, Bruce now lives reclusively to hide his true form from the public. Using with help from Tim and Alfred, he establishes the the Wayne Foundation to rebuild the city in Harvey's memory. Despite his fate, Bruce promises to help the city should he ever be needed...
Appearances[]
Individuals[]
- Batman/Bruce Wayne
- Dick Grayson
- Jason Todd
- Tim Drake
- Police Chief James Gordon
- The Oracle/Barbara Gordon
- Ra's al Ghul
- Talia
- Iog-Sotha
- Ludwig Prinn
- August Grendon
- Daitya
- Yib-Nogeroth
- Poison Ivy
- Harvey Dent
- Oliver Queen
- Etrigan
- Oswald Cobblepot
- Kirk Langstrom
- Thomas Wayne
- Martha Wayne
- Henry Queen
- Crossby Manfurd
- Herbert West
- Bartly Langstrom
Organizations[]
- League of Assassins
- Reptile-Men
- Werewolf Guards
Locations[]
- Gotham City
- Wayne Manor
- Uptown
- Oliver Queen's apartment
- Harvey Dent's residence
- Gotham Cathedral
- Old Gotham Courthouse
- Downtown
- Kirk Langstrom's apartment
- Gotham University
- Gotham Sewers
- Ra's al Ghul's lair
- Gotham Cemetery
- Antarctica
- Reptile-Men's Sepulcher
- Iog-Sotha's realm
Objects[]
- Batsuit
- Utility Belt
- Pistol
- The Scope
- Gas Capsule
- Portable Phone
- Utility Belt
- Arrows of St. Sebastian
- Harvey Dent's Coin
- The Testament of Ghul
Vehicles[]
- The Argo
Creatures[]
- Bats
- Penguins
In Other Media[]
- The Doom That Came to Gotham was adapted into an animated film released on March 28, 2023.