Take a photo of a barcode or cover
bonnybonnybooks 's review for:
Gotham Central, Vol. 1: In the Line of Duty
by Ed Brubaker
I am not a comic book aficionado. I know my Batman from the movies and a bit from the cartoon version that I’d sometimes catch when my little brother watched it. Still, I think Batman is a badass and I’m becoming an ever increasing fan of graphic novels so I wanted to read a bit more of his comics. I heard about the Gotham Central series from NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour (the best podcast on this and any other planet, btw), where one of the contributors is a comic book geek and raved about this series. I thought that this would be a good pick for someone like me - doesn’t require much background knowledge and is a fairly unique look at life in a comic book city. I loved it.
First of all, I must ask: why the hell would anyone ever live in Gotham City? Like, ever? I understand that people have lived and continue to live in cities considered dangerous or where you are more likely than average to be blown up or shot – Belfast during the Troubles, Tel Aviv during the Intafada, Baghdad today. But Gotham City is its own kettle of fish. It’s not only regular crime you’re dealing with. Nope, you also have to cope with freeze rays and incredibly elaborate plots to destroy the entire city on a regular basis. I would flee that city like it was on fire (which it probably often is).
But, according to the comics, people DO stay in Gotham. Including the brave men and women of Gotham Central P.D. The series follows the Gotham Central police department and their various cases – the mundane, the seemingly mundane and the wholly crap supervillainry is afoot. It opens with the whole Gotham-is-full-of-crazy-shit I was talking about. Two detectives on a routine investigation of a kidnapping tip stumble into…Mr. Freeze. Things do not go well. I mean, c’mon here, people of Gotham. Policemen are supposed to encounter bad guys with guns or knives or maybe a baseball bat. NOT A SUPERVILLAIN WITH A FREEZE RAY.
This series is really fun. I mean, dark, yeah (it IS Gotham). But fun. It’s a noirish detective series, so you get some of the mystery and crime element (which I gobble up). And you get to see what life is like for ordinary people in an extraordinary city. You aren’t following around Batman/Bruce Wayne, who knows what’s going on. You’re following people who are weary and jaded but who are trying to piece together clues without being able to get a glimpse of the big picture.
Plus, they know that if they fail they get humiliated by having the Bat materialize and do their jobs for them. Can I just say that I squealed with glee every time the Goddamn Batman showed up? It was always the bestest. The writers very smartly made these cameo appearances rare and often unexpected. And it was even better to be able to view the Goddamn Batman from the eyes of the ordinaries. And guess what? He is kind of a dick. He shows up out of nowhere, does his thing, and then disappears with as few words as possible. He is brusque, to say the least. It would be frustrating and mystifying and I can see why he has a contentious relationship with the police department.
I’m sorry this series got a stunted run, but I can’t wait to get my hands on the rest of the volumes. A++ and I think perfect for die-hard fans and newbies alike.
First of all, I must ask: why the hell would anyone ever live in Gotham City? Like, ever? I understand that people have lived and continue to live in cities considered dangerous or where you are more likely than average to be blown up or shot – Belfast during the Troubles, Tel Aviv during the Intafada, Baghdad today. But Gotham City is its own kettle of fish. It’s not only regular crime you’re dealing with. Nope, you also have to cope with freeze rays and incredibly elaborate plots to destroy the entire city on a regular basis. I would flee that city like it was on fire (which it probably often is).
But, according to the comics, people DO stay in Gotham. Including the brave men and women of Gotham Central P.D. The series follows the Gotham Central police department and their various cases – the mundane, the seemingly mundane and the wholly crap supervillainry is afoot. It opens with the whole Gotham-is-full-of-crazy-shit I was talking about. Two detectives on a routine investigation of a kidnapping tip stumble into…Mr. Freeze. Things do not go well. I mean, c’mon here, people of Gotham. Policemen are supposed to encounter bad guys with guns or knives or maybe a baseball bat. NOT A SUPERVILLAIN WITH A FREEZE RAY.
This series is really fun. I mean, dark, yeah (it IS Gotham). But fun. It’s a noirish detective series, so you get some of the mystery and crime element (which I gobble up). And you get to see what life is like for ordinary people in an extraordinary city. You aren’t following around Batman/Bruce Wayne, who knows what’s going on. You’re following people who are weary and jaded but who are trying to piece together clues without being able to get a glimpse of the big picture.
Plus, they know that if they fail they get humiliated by having the Bat materialize and do their jobs for them. Can I just say that I squealed with glee every time the Goddamn Batman showed up? It was always the bestest. The writers very smartly made these cameo appearances rare and often unexpected. And it was even better to be able to view the Goddamn Batman from the eyes of the ordinaries. And guess what? He is kind of a dick. He shows up out of nowhere, does his thing, and then disappears with as few words as possible. He is brusque, to say the least. It would be frustrating and mystifying and I can see why he has a contentious relationship with the police department.
I’m sorry this series got a stunted run, but I can’t wait to get my hands on the rest of the volumes. A++ and I think perfect for die-hard fans and newbies alike.