Blüdhaven
Blüdhaven is a city that features in DC Comics.
Contents |
History
Origin
Blüdhaven was a former whaling town, which was officially incorporated as a 'Commonwealth' in 1912. The town has been depicted as having a generally poor socioeconomic populace, owing in part to failed efforts to transform itself into a manufacturing and shipping center. The stories often state that culturally and financially, Gotham City has always overshadowed Blüdhaven, and that the city has a worse crime rate than Gotham. Not unlike Gotham, organized crime syndicates always dominated Blüdhaven, which were, until its final years, protected by endemic police corruption. However, unlike Gotham City, Bludhaven's crime is known from coming from the corrupt rich downwards rather from the gangs upwards in Gotham.
Nightwing goes to Blüdhaven in pursuit of the supervillain-turned-crime-boss Blockbuster. Blockbuster proceeds to take over organized crime in the city. Soon Nightwing sets up shop in Blüdhaven, becoming its protector. Writers quickly introduced corrupt police officers, such as Detective Soames and Chief Redhorn. In his civilian identity of Dick Grayson, Nightwing joined the force himself and fought the corruption from within. After numerous plots in which the villains lead back directly, or indirectly, to Blockbuster, who was never completely defeated in any of these stories, writers built a more complex arc to bring resolution to the arc. Under the writing of Devin Grayson (noted for her work on Batman series Batman: Gotham Knights) Nightwing allowed the amoral vigilante Tarantula to shoot and kill Blockbuster, although the reader sees that he could have stopped her. Suffering a crisis of conscience and wracked with guilt, Nightwing left Blüdhaven, apparently for good. Writers soon relocated two other Batman related heroes, Robin and Batgirl, to Blüdhaven, to act as its resident heroes.
In Infinite Crisis #4, the Secret Society of Super Villains drops Chemo, a gigantic, semi-intelligent pile of chemicals, on the city, causing a devastating explosion and toxic chemical fallout. The city is destroyed. Nightwing, Batgirl and Robin survive, since all were out of the city at the time of the attack, but the fates of other Blüdhaven-based heroes such as Tarantula are unknown. In Adventures of Superman #648, official sources set the resulting death toll from Chemo's assault on Blüdhaven at 100,068. Superman and other superheroes such as the Teen Titans enter Blüdhaven to save people from the chemical fallout at the same time that Chemo tries to re-integrate. Superman fights the monster, surmising correctly that Chemo would regenerate more quickly if he were in battle. As Chemo regenerates, he draws the toxins out of the city, removing harmful fall-out and chemical waste. At the culmination of his battle with the regenerating Chemo, Superman hurls the giant into outer space.
Following the Chemo disaster, the President declares a state of emergency and erects a wall around the city, as it is a threat to public health. Since Chemo was only chemically toxic, the nuclear fallout present in the city is a mystery. A new government-sanctioned super team codenamed "Freedom's Ring" (an apparent spin-off of the Force of July) takes charge of Blüdhaven, and orders the Teen Titans and all other metahumans to leave the city. One year later, "The Wall" has become a permanent structure, and displaced citizens compare the immediate area to the Gaza Strip. Many live in refugee camps that have sprung up around the wall while the superhero Monolith helps to keep the peace.
Within the city, the supervillain Father Time commands American forces, ordering his men to shoot and kill any heroes (referred to as insurgents) who enter the city. His forces also erect internment camps in which experiments are conducted upon American citizens. Also active in the city are the Atomic Knights, who run an 'underground railroad' in an attempt to smuggle citizens out of the city. The Society dispatch the Nuclear Legion (Geiger, Professor Radium, Reactron, Mister Nitro, Neutron) to discover the nature of the radioactive leak inside the city, but in a conflict with Freedom's Ring and the Atomic Knights, one member of the Legion is killed. The Society sends the Nuclear Family to assist, and they locate the leak, but engage the Atomic Knights under the city in a struggle that merges into a larger battle between the Titans and SHADE agents.
Increasingly concerned by the developments, Robin leads the Titans back into the city. The Black Baron, once a drug lord who was mutated by the blast, now styles himself as the leader and ruler of the inner part of the city. In a fight with the Titans, Monolith and Firebrand, the Baron is punched into the next state by Monolith. SHADE agents engage the Titans and Lady Liberty is killed by Ravager, who then defeats the SHADE officers sent to retrieve the Titans. The Green Lantern Hal Jordan arrives to square off against Major Force, and Major Victory tells Force to stand down. Force refuses and beats Victory to death using Victory's own arm, after which Force's subordinates and some of the SHADE agents refuse to stand by him. Monolith is shattered in the fight and Firebrand escapes, following a voice that urges him to come to the Mississippi River.
The Atomic Knights place Captain Atom in a containment suit designed to limit his radiation output, similar to the armor worn by Monarch. Atom kills Major Force by draining all of the radioactive energy out of him and delivers a warning, telling anyone who wants to live to evacuate the city. After the evacuation, Captain Atom unleashes a nuclear explosion, destroying what is left of Blüdhaven and leaving a radioactive crater in its place. Meanwhile, the Atomic Knights retreat to an underground bunker known as Command-D. Later Brother Eye, in pursuit of Karate Kid, Una and his creator, the scientist Buddy Blank, claims Blüdhaven for himself, activating a new OMAC Army.
Blüdhaven has been the geographic focus of all issues of Final Crisis published to date. In issue #1, it is seen on T.V. as televangelist Godfrey Goode speaks about the inability of the government to do anything for the city. In issue #2, Dan Turpin, acting on a tip from the Mad Hatter, travels by bus to the city, where he sees the Atomic Knights, and is later led to the Command-D Bunker, which is revealed to be a new version of the Evil Factory, which Darkseid's minions are using as a base of operations on Earth.
Early in the series, the troubles of Blüdhaven are used as part of the new identities several of Darkseid's people have laid down. Its troubles are still the focus of TV broadcasts. Battles continue to be fought in its remnants, before and after the time compression in issue three. The area is cleared of Darkseid's influence by the end of the series.
During the events of Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #3, the immediate region around the Command-D Bunker is depicted as so toxic as to require Batman and Robin - at that point Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne - to wear hazmat suits to investigate the possibility of Darkseid's exiling of Bruce Wayne into ancient history.
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Long ago, before the establishment of the United States, the land that became Blüdhaven was part of New Netherland. (Nightwing v4 #109) In the 1600s, Jacob di Witt came to the Colonies from the Netherlands where he came to serve as a judge in the New World. Thus, he became the First Judge of Bludhaven and good dispenser of justice. This was until one day one figure that came to his court was an aristocrat. Despite their power and influence, di Witt refused to back down but they came to take their revenge by throwing the judge into the sea. However, he came to survive and claimed the power of the sea had embraced and transformed him. (Nightwing v4 #39)
Meanwhile, in that time, a monstrous kraken lurked in the surrounding waters of the island where over time ships came to be lost and trade halted. This effectively trapped the people living there on it where they became isolated and afraid to leave the island. This was until one day a man named Hendrik Blüd went out to sea to confront the monster and slew it. Thus, the island became a haven where Hendrik became a hero to the people. His protection was continued by him and his descendants with a secret society forming around him as a result with people leaving their valuables to be guarded by them. (Nightwing v4 #109) Thus, the location was originally known as Blüd's Haven where over time it became the basis for an eventual city. (Nightwing v4 #107)
Decades later, Jacob di Witt emerged from the sea only to find the land had changed with the British having replaced the Dutch and naming the site New Essex. Seeing corruption rampant, he returned to the sea and years later emerged back on land to once again find things had changed as German immigrants helped establish the whaling industry. They came to call the settlement Blutige Haven for all the whale blood on the harbor. (Nightwing v4 #39)
It was said that Bludhaven had been the site of an attack wherein the semi-sentient toxic mass known as Chemo was dropped on the city, resulting in widespread destruction and the deaths of millions of civilians. In the chaos that followed, Darkseid used the city as a base of operations, working to his nefarious ends from within the Command D bunker. (City Boy v1 #4) Eventually, however, he was defeated and the city was reclaimed. In time, the city was restored to much of its previous state, though the area immediately surrounding Command D remained filled with wreckage. The Bunker itself eventually fell into the hands of the D.E.O. (Infinite Frontier v1 #3)
Gothamites who were down on their luck would often move to Blüdhaven to begin a new life, without having to worry about Batman. These included the Run-Offs, a support group consisting of former villains.
Nightwing moved to Blüdhaven after New Earth Superman revealed that his universe's Dick Grayson had operated in the city. However, Blüdhaven's citizens did not like the idea of having their own costumed vigilante.
Nightwing would meet the Run-Offs and teamed up with them to save the city from Raptor. Later, the Judge would arrive in Blüdhaven and begin targeting the elite for their role in the city's corruption.
The Wyrm, a manifestation of the Dark Web, targeted Blüdhaven. After taking over the city using holographic technology, Nightwing and Batgirl teamed up to take it down.
Following the death of Alfred Pennyworth, Dick Grayson inherited billions of dollars. He used these funds to help Blüdhaven's homeless youth.
Overview
It was an island that originally served as a whaling town long before the city itself was built. (Nightwing v4 #99)
The name of the city came from the pirate who helped founded it where it was originally called Blud's Haven. (Nightwing v4 #107) German immigrants helped grow the whaling industry to the point the site became known as Blutige Haven for all the whale blood on the harbor. (Nightwing v4 #39)
Locations in the city included:
- Tail's End : (Nightwing v4 #30)
- Meadowdale Mall : (Nightwing v4 #30)
- Ports Park : a Brazilian neighbourhood. (Nightwing v4 #30)
- Boardwalk : (Nightwing v4 #30)
- Justice Tree : a large tree which was over 700 years old that was an historic landmark as it was the site of the first colonial court presided over by Jacob de Witt. (Nightwing v4 #35)
- St. Jude's Monastery : (Nightwing v4 #35)
- Tiki District : (Nightwing v4 #36)
- Sunken City of Blüdhaven : back in the day, soldiers returning from the conflict needed a place to stay with contractors being hired to build houses for them. However, they cut corners and built houses on Bludhaven's harbor on eroding ground. One day, the houses fell into the sea as a result with the contractors never being taken to court. (Nightwing v4 #39)
Per its whaling tradition, a fountain was made that had a statue showing a man fighting a kraken with this being made back at a time when the city believed they could take on monsters and win. (Nightwing v4 #79)
Organizations that operated within the city included:
- Blüdhaven Police Department :
- Run-Offs :
- Blüdhaven Brawlers :
- Blüdhaven Bloodhounds :
- Crew of the Crossed Keys : the Crew of the Crossed Keys were a secret nautical society that was founded originally by pirates. (Nightwing v4 #107) They were said to be older than the city itself. (Nightwing v4 #99) It was said that the Hold did not let go and one had to pay what they were owed. Thus, any wrongdoing made to them had to be righted per their way. (Nightwing v4 #107) Their leader was always referred to as Captain Blüd and upon returning to their secret port city where it was expected that one was to bow to them. (Nightwing v4 #108) The symbol of the society was a pair of keys crossed over with one another that had a skeleton on the base. (Nightwing v4 #106) They also operated the Hold which itself was referred to as a bank that one could not rob and only allowed access to the owners of the various safes inside of it. (Nightwing v4 #99) Upon joining, one was expected to take the oath of the Crossed Keys and became the bearer of many secrets some of which could bring down empires. (Nightwing v4 #109)
- Clean Cut Crew :
- Flybois :
- Blockbuster Gang :
- League of Limousine Assassins : (Nightwing v4 #35)
There was a local legend in Bludhaven about a figure known as the Sea Butcher. He allegedly lived at the bottom of the harbor and caused bloody mayhem on land where he left trailing saltwater footprints. In time, he became a story that terrorised children's dreams for over a hundred years. (Nightwing v4 #39)
Inhabitants
- Hendrik Blüd : (Nightwing v4 #109)
- Judge : Jacob di Witt was the First Judge of Bludhaven until he was murdered by an aristocrat by being drowned in the sea. However, he claimed that something in the sea transformed him into an immortal where he could see corruption in the hearts of man. In time, he became mad after seeing such corruption that he became known as the Sea Butcher in local legend. Using his powers, he would corrupt the minds of others and have them fall into greed as they fulfilled his plans. (Nightwing v4 #36)
- Dick Grayson :
- Roland Desmond :
- Monolith :
- Nite-Wing :
- Cheyenne Freemont :
- Catalina Flores :
- Jonathan Law :
- Firebrand :
- Defacer :
- Arsenal :
- Elise Svoboda :
- Alphonse Sapienza :
- Colleen Edwards :
- Malcolm Hutch :
- Zak Edwards :
- King Sturgeon :
- Lucy Weatherton : Formerly, she used to operate as a vigilante in the city for years under the name of Baby Ruthless. (Nightwing v4 #36)
- Ruben Blüd : an elderly male who was a descendant of the Blüds and operated as Captain Blüd for the Crew of the Crossed Keys in the modern age with people knowing him as the Quartermaster. He was the father of Ruben Blüd and the adoptive father of Beatrice Bennett. (Nightwing v4 #109)
- Beatrice Bennett :
- Melinda Grayson-Lin :
- Heartless :
- Dirk Blüd :
- Mama Bear :
- Don Dalla :
- Dr. Proboscis :
- Boss Bludgeon :
- Olivia Pearce :
Notes
- Blüdhaven was created by Chuck Dixon and Scott McDaniel where it made its first appearance in Nightwing v2 #1 (October, 1996).
Alternate Versions
In other media
Television
- In Birds of Prey, Blüdhaven was mentioned in the setting of the live-action television series in the episode "Prey for the Hunter".
- In Justice League Unlimited, Blüdhaven appeared in the setting of the animated television series set in the DC Animated Universe in the episode "Grudge Match". It served as the backdrop for a meta-human fighting match organized by Roulette in which female Leaguers under mind control included Fire, Wonder Woman and Black Canary fight it out. A signboard at the city's entrance says "Welcome to Blüdhaven". In the same scene, the silhouette of Nightwing appeared in a cameo.
- In Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Blüdhaven appeared in the setting of the animated television series in the episode "The Color of Revenge!". An older adult Robin was with Batman against Crazy Quilt, who blamed Robin for his blindness. Aquaman later drove near the city while on vacation during "Aquaman's Outrageous Adventure!" In "Menace of the Madniks!", Booster Gold mentioned that he and Ted Kord had been captured by villains during a past adventure in Blüdhaven.
- In The Flash, Bludhaven was mentioned in the 2014 live-action television series where it was first mentioned in the episode "Attack on Gorilla City". Julian Albert told Captain Singh that he and Barrey Allen were going to a conference in Bludhaven in order to hide a mission to Earth-2 to save Harrison Wells from Grodd.
Films
Video games
Appearances
- Nightwing v2: (1996)
- Nightwing v4:
External Links
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