Originally published in single magazine form in Detective Comics and Batman.

Why would the JOKER, PENGUIN, CATWOMAN, MAD-HATTER, amd JOHNNY WITTS team up to save the life of their arch-foe Batman? The starling reason for their becoming "Batman's Gangland Guardians" is revealed in the May issue of the COWLED CRUSADERS mag, No. 201.

THE RISE OF GOTHAM Part of the most critically acclaimed, best-selling, all-new line of volume one graphic novels, DC Universe Rebirth! He is Gotham City’s hero, its Dark Knight, its greatest protector. He is Batman. And he is not alone. There are two new heroes in town-a pair of masked metahumans with the powers of Superman and a devotion to preserving all that is good about this twisted city. Calling themselves Gotham and Gotham Girl, they’ve saved Batman’s life, fought by his side and learned from his example. But what happens if Gotham’s new guardians go bad? What if they blame the Dark Knight for the darkness that threatens to drown their city? When sinister forces are unleashed that can warp the minds of men and make heroes into monsters, the time will come for Batman and his allies to decide once and for all: Is Gotham a force for good…or an engine of evil? From the blockbuster DC Universe Rebirth event comes BATMAN VOL. 1: I AM GOTHAM-the beginning of an all-new saga in the life of the Dark Knight from superstars Tom King (GRAYSON) and David Finch (WONDER WOMAN), featuring an all-star cast of creators such as Scott Snyder (BATMAN: THE COURT OF OWLS), Ivan Reis (JUSTICE LEAGUE) and Mikel Janín (JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK)! This great starting-point graphic novel collects BATMAN: REBIRTH #1 and BATMAN #1-6.

The story of how Batman's career started, told in graphic novel form.

The Joker returns to haunt the Caped Crusaders, this time with a new member added to his gang: Gaggy, who makes The Joker laugh, which then inspires the Clown Prince of Crime with new crime ideas.

The first comic dedicated exclusively to The Dark Knight! This 1940 issue pitted the Dynamic Duo against classic menaces including Professor Hugo Strange. Plus, the first appearances of The Joker and Catwoman (referred to as "the Cat")! Also includes a 2-page retelling of Batman's origin.

Unaware of being watched, Batman pursues villains including Killer Croc and Poison Ivy, and discovers that Poison Ivy's latest plan will require that he ally himself with Catwoman in order to defeat his old friend Superman.