In this feature I spotlight changes made to comic book characters that are based on outside media. I'm sure you can think of other examples, so feel free to e-mail me at bcronin@comicbookresources.com if you want to suggest some other examples for future installments.

Today, based on a suggestion by Dave H., we look at how DC actually had a storyline to explain how Gotham City's skyline in the comics matched the skyline in the Tim Burton Batman films.

Gotham City really didn't have a skyline when Bob Kane came up with it in Detective Comics #27, at least in part because he was drawing as little as he could in the background of panels...



But really, throughout the first fifty years or so of Batman's existence, Gotham City really didn't have a consistent skyline. Sure, there would be some consistency during specific runs, but then a new writer/artist team would come aboard and they'd have a new Gotham City district here or there.

Mostly, it was just a generic city...



Even up through the early 1990s, the city was generic in Batman comics, like this bit from Batman #465...





However, the Gotham City in the Tim Burton-directed Batman films was a distinct looking city...





The city was designed by Anton Furst, who won the Academy Award for his production design on 1989's Batman...







Stunning work.

So how did DC work his designs into their comics? Couldn't they just start drawing Gotham City like Furst's designs? Nope, they decided to make a story about it! Read on to see how they did it...

In a three-part storyline in 1991 between Batman #474 (by Alan Grant, Norm Breyfogle and Steve Mitchell), Legends of the Dark Knight #27 (by Denny O'Neil, Chris Sprouse and Bruce Patterson) and Detective Comics #641 (by Grant, Jim Aparo and Mike DeCarlo) called "The Destroyer," some dude is demolishing buildings in Gotham City...



Batman can't figure out why but then he notices something about each demolition, it uncovered an OLDER building!







In the second part, we learn that Gotham City was originally designed by a specific architect...



And after Batman stops the bomber, it's not before the bomber has completely transformed Gotham's skyline...



Cool stuff.

The covers all featured actual Furst designs in the background...







Tragically, Furst died by suicide the following year.

The Furst-inspired skyline has obviously not stayed consistent, but modern Batman books DO use a stylized skyline now, from Andy Kubert during Grant Morrion's run (from Batman #655)...







to Greg Capullo during his run with Scott Snyder (from Batman #1)...



Thanks again to Dave for the suggestion! If YOU have a suggestion for a future Follow Your Path installment, drop me a line at bcronin@comicbookresources.com