by Ryan Rigley

"This great city... It will endure. Gotham will survive."

This quote, from Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises," is definitely right about one thing: Gotham will endure. Despite the countless amounts of destruction and mayhem that Gotham has seen throughout the years, its people have always manage to bounce right back into the swing of things the very next day. No matter how many people die or buildings explode, the people of Gotham always seem to press onwards.

Perhaps this is because they know that there's a Dark Knight watching their backs, protecting them from the chaotic evil so deeply rooted in their beloved city. But whatever the case may be, Gothamites have proved time and again that they're worth more than their city's seedy reputation allows. Which is why we've compiled a list of the five best stories detailing how awesome Gotham truly is. Check 'em out after the jump!

"Gotham Nights"

Starring six ordinary residents of Gotham City, this miniseries follows the lives of several people who have just seen Batman in action and the effect that it has on their daily decisions. Whether it's figuring out what to do about a terminal illness or choosing whether or not to pursue a life of crime, "Gotham Nights" is a great read for anyone who's interested in the human aspects of the superhero world. Kinda like an entire movie about John Blake!

"Legends of the Dark Knight: Gothic"

One of Grant Morrison's premier "Batman" works, "Gothic" sees Batman tracking down a seemingly immortal killer that goes by the name Mr. Whisper. After five of Gotham's biggest mob bosses are murdered, the city's criminals flock to Batman's side with the hopes that he'll help them before they're offed as well. It's nice to know that even mobsters will come to Batman if they have a problem that needs fixing.

"Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?"

This non-canon Neil Gaiman story shows us what happened at Batman's funeral after the events of "Batman: R.I.P." Setting aside their differences in order to pay their respects to the fallen Dark Knight, both Gotham's superheroes and supervillains attend the service and regale each other with their fondest memories of Batman. On any other occasion, putting The Joker and Commissioner Gordon in the same room together is just not a good idea.

"Legends of the Dark Knight: Stories"

After being trapped in an elevator by terrorists, a group of Gothamites swap tales of their encounters with the Caped Crusader. Each story told details a Batman of a different era, ranging everywhere from the campy, pun-filled Batman of the Silver Age to the badass, heavily-armored Batman of the 90's. Finally, the real Batman shows up to save them and each Gothamite sees him as the version detailed in their respective stories.

"Battle for the Cowl"

Also following the events of "Batman R.I.P.," each member of the Bat family competes for the chance to take up the cape and cowl in Bruce Wayne's stead. All three of the previous Robins think that they deserve the title, but it's Dick Grayson who outshines the others when it comes to experience and responsibility. This story teaches us why the people of Gotham are able to overcome almost anything: as long as the Batman is around, so is Gotham City.

Tell us your favorite stories about the greatness of Gotham in the comments section below or hit us up on Twitter!