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mischiefphantom's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
jason_pym's review against another edition
3.0
The first Gotham Central collection is amazing, the writing is spot on. But here each of the stories had something that didn't quite fit. The story Life is Full of Disappointments has two accountants killed by poison in a big corporate building, yet the company carries on working as normal, and the secretary is just vaguely annoyed by the detectives turning up. Because in general the quality of the series is so high, these kind of inconsistencies are really jarring. Still an enjoyable read, though.
rohitremeshhello's review against another edition
5.0
Gotham's finest are always playing catch up to the masked vigilantes. In this series, we get a slice of life into the camaraderie of the Major Crimes Unit of Gotham City. Reminds me of the TV show Brooklyn 99 but obviously Gotham Central is much darker.
aches's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
newbarrel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
dantastic's review against another edition
5.0
It's Christmas in Gotham and the Joker is picking off victims one at a time with a sniper rifle. The girl whose job it is to turn on the Bat signal has a crush on Batman. Two women are poisoned. A cold case involving the murder of an entire high school baseball team draws the attention of the GCPD AND ex-cop Harvey F'n Bullock! All par for the course down at Gotham Central...
So, yeah. Gotham Central had to be the best written comic book produced during it's entire run. I didn't think it would be possible for Brubaker and Rucka to top the first volume but they did, and Michael Lark pulled it all together with his art, which is understated but perfect for the tone of the series.
The individual stories were great. I love that Bru-Rucka doesn't give us nerfed versions of the villains just because they're going up against ordinary cops, not Batman. Speaking of the Bat, he's in this volume even less than the last one but I have to say I didn't miss him very much.
That's about all I have to say. Crime stories + Gotham City = Pure Comic Book Gold. Go out and get the Gotham Central omnibuses right now!
So, yeah. Gotham Central had to be the best written comic book produced during it's entire run. I didn't think it would be possible for Brubaker and Rucka to top the first volume but they did, and Michael Lark pulled it all together with his art, which is understated but perfect for the tone of the series.
The individual stories were great. I love that Bru-Rucka doesn't give us nerfed versions of the villains just because they're going up against ordinary cops, not Batman. Speaking of the Bat, he's in this volume even less than the last one but I have to say I didn't miss him very much.
That's about all I have to say. Crime stories + Gotham City = Pure Comic Book Gold. Go out and get the Gotham Central omnibuses right now!
tmwebb3's review against another edition
4.0
Can't keep track of the detectives except for the famous ones, but good otherwise.
clarks_dad's review against another edition
4.0
Great detective stories continue! This time prominently featuring the Joker's latest antics intermingled with the downward career spiral of Lieutenant Probson and the return of Harvey Bullock on the other side of the badge as he returns to the unfinished business of a high school bombing. What's great about Book One continues to be great about Book Two. Above everything this is a police procedural and a human drama of the highest order. The fact that they're dealing with Bats's rogues just helps to orient us, and it really breathes new life into the characters to see how people without the resources or uncanny Sherlock level genius of Bruce Wayne can deal with the anarchic and malevolent spirit of Gotham.
There's a very real sense that the city itself is alive - and the imagery of it chewing up and spitting out the best and boldest of the city in the form of corruption, alcoholism, depression and all the normal human forms of degradation make this series truly great. The bat continues to be an ambiguous and ambivalent spirit and there is a dispiriting feeling when he shows up to save the day sometimes in the final couple panels. Rucka and crew don't shy away from the unfairness of it all, and I think in doing so are trying to draw attention to the unsung heroes and point out that people like Batman don't exist in isolation. They are part of a tapestry and their actions have consequences beyond the usual saving of innocents that we tend to glorify. Often these heroes shine so brightly that the people around them doing honest work can't help but fade into the background. The new commissioner seems to sum it up best as the Joker continues to terrorize Gotham: "I don't think we can go on like this much longer, Maggie. As you said, we can't know whose fault this was. We shouldn't even have to wonder. That's the problem. We've got cops dying while we wait around for him to save the day. That's just not right." To which Maggie responds, "No sir, it's not. But it's Gotham." Pretty much sums up the feeling of the entire series, and it's a great one.
There's real tragedy to be had here as well. Joker doesn't pull punches and he's as violent and dangerous in Rucka's hands as he ever was in Alan Moore's and Rucka will kill people that you've grown attached to. There's a revolving door of police officers that gives life to this department, this unit, that enhances the realism. The story begins to truly transcend individuals and becomes more of a collective story - a history of Gotham, of the PD and of the MCU.
There's a very real sense that the city itself is alive - and the imagery of it chewing up and spitting out the best and boldest of the city in the form of corruption, alcoholism, depression and all the normal human forms of degradation make this series truly great. The bat continues to be an ambiguous and ambivalent spirit and there is a dispiriting feeling when he shows up to save the day sometimes in the final couple panels. Rucka and crew don't shy away from the unfairness of it all, and I think in doing so are trying to draw attention to the unsung heroes and point out that people like Batman don't exist in isolation. They are part of a tapestry and their actions have consequences beyond the usual saving of innocents that we tend to glorify. Often these heroes shine so brightly that the people around them doing honest work can't help but fade into the background. The new commissioner seems to sum it up best as the Joker continues to terrorize Gotham: "I don't think we can go on like this much longer, Maggie. As you said, we can't know whose fault this was. We shouldn't even have to wonder. That's the problem. We've got cops dying while we wait around for him to save the day. That's just not right." To which Maggie responds, "No sir, it's not. But it's Gotham." Pretty much sums up the feeling of the entire series, and it's a great one.
There's real tragedy to be had here as well. Joker doesn't pull punches and he's as violent and dangerous in Rucka's hands as he ever was in Alan Moore's and Rucka will kill people that you've grown attached to. There's a revolving door of police officers that gives life to this department, this unit, that enhances the realism. The story begins to truly transcend individuals and becomes more of a collective story - a history of Gotham, of the PD and of the MCU.
rbreade's review against another edition
Contains the stories "Daydreams and Believers," "Soft Targets," "Life is Full of Disappointments," and "Unresolved."