Batman Keeps Watch from a Ledge

About this drawing

Batman and the gargoyle are a classic Gotham City pairing. From high above the streets, the Dark Knight keeps silent watch, waiting for the right moment to swoop in.

Gotham is modeled on big American cities, especially New York, but with a darker twist. Its old skyscrapers are packed with towers, arches and stone carvings, a style borrowed from the great Gothic cathedrals of Europe. That look gives Batman's stories their moody, mysterious feel.

Real gargoyles have a practical job. They are stone water spouts that carry rainwater off the roof and throw it clear of the walls, so the building lasts longer. The word comes from an old French word for throat, because the water gurgles through them. Many are carved as animals or monsters.

For Batman, a gargoyle makes a perfect hiding spot. His dark outline blends right in, so nobody on the street notices him. When trouble starts, he leaps off and glides down on his cape to surprise the bad guys. Next time you walk past an old church or a grand building, look up: you might spot a gargoyle keeping watch, just like Batman does.

• batman
• gotham
• gargoyles
• dc comics