Is the fictional city of Gotham, best known as the home of the one-and-only Batman, actually just Toronto?

Given the state of the city, specifically the almost everyday TTC attacks and heinous crimes, including the alleged swarming murder of Ken Lee by eight teens, you could be forgiven if you got the two cities mixed up.

Toronto transit update for today:
- 16 year old kid stabbed on a bus
- 2 TTC employees chased by a person with a syringe

When does Bane show up?

— Stephen Punwasi 🏚️📉🐈☃️ (@StephenPunwasi) January 26, 2023

Social media users are comparing Toronto with the infamous Gotham City, which, at least for right now, are both known primarily for their lawlessness.

In the last week alone, a woman was stabbed in the face and head on the Spadina streetcar, a 16-year-old was stabbed on a TTC bus, two transit workers were chased by an assailant with a syringe, and two teenage girls were allegedly criminally harassed at Wilson Subway station.

Woke up this morning wondering if Toronto is actually Gotham.

— Lissala (@Lissalalalala) January 26, 2023

Twitter users are questioning whether they have actually woken up in Gotham City sans Batman and definitely with more expensive average monthly rents.

Toronto definitely in its Gotham era

— jorge luis vasconez (@JorgeVasconez) January 26, 2023

In non-TTC crime events, a 14-year-old boy was arrested and charged with attempted murder following a downtown stabbing in early January. A 37-year-old man is facing manslaughter charges after allegedly pushing an elderly woman down on the sidewalk, who later died on the scene from injuries last week.

Man said “Toronto is like Gotham city but more expensive” LMAO

— josé villa. (@rozayyjose) January 26, 2023

For those blaming the media for highlighting these instances and promoting a false narrative, the number of TTC "security incidents" has actually risen based on a 2022 analysis, and things haven't exactly improved since.

Toronto needs a superhero. Bare crime.

— Waiting To Oxtail (@ThatDudeMCFLY) January 26, 2023

While other non-TTC crimes may not be higher than this time last year, there is no doubt recent events are pretty disturbing.

toronto is the gotham city of north america

— drew (@eggcheesebageI) January 26, 2023

Is it an alarmist comparison? Maybe. But it definitely highlights how people are concerned and finding themselves at a loss of what to do about Toront's current state. 

Perhaps not even Batman could fix this.