Gotham Central
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Gotham Central was a police procedural comic book series that was published by DC Comics. It focused on the Gotham City Police Department and the difficulties of its officers living and working in Gotham City, home of Batman. It was written by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka, with pencils initially by Michael Lark.
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[edit] Publication History
[edit] Formation
Greg Rucka and Ed Brubaker collaborated on the "Officer Down" Batman crossover. They wanted to do a series about the police in Gotham City and finally obtained approval from DC executives. The writers wanted Michael Lark for pencils and waited nearly a year to get him onboard due to scheduling, but used the opportunity to plan out the storylines. They plotted out the new series' elements and decided to script the first story arc together, then split the lengthy cast into two shifts: Rucka would write the GCPD's day shift storylines, Brubaker would take the night shift, and Lark would pencil them all.[1] Gotham Central's debut yielded Eisner Award nominations in 2003 for Best New Series, Best Writer-Rucka, Best Writer-Brubaker, and Best Penciller/Inker-Lark. [2]
[edit] Sales problems
The comics were a commercial failure, although it is arguable that they were an artistic success. The series eventually became notorious for its outstanding reviews, dedicated fanbase and poor sales. While reviewers consistently gave the series high marks and its fans made as much noise as possible, Gotham Central repeatedly failed to break the top 100 comics in sales. However, publisher DC Comics was encouraged by the improved sales of the trade paperback collected editions, so the creators were allowed to continue. Ultimately Lark and Brubaker moved on to other projects, and, after three years of publication, it was announced that the series was ending amid the Infinite Crisis aftermath. It continued to have sales troubles through to the conclusion: issue #37 ranked 102nd place [3], and issue #38 ranked 120th place [4] on the distributor's charts.
[edit] Potential television series
Sometime in 2003, there were rumors that The WB Television Network was interested in producing a television series based on Gotham Central, but then decided against it, not wanting to create another Batman-related TV show so soon after the spectacular ratings failure of Birds of Prey (and also to give the making and marketing of Batman Begins Warner Brothers' undivided attention). In an August 2006 interview with the Around Comics podcast, Brubaker confirmed these rumors, saying that he was told that many people at Warner Brothers loved the comic, and that if they hadn't had a moratorium on Batman TV shows, they "could have set up Gotham Central at WB in a heartbeat".[1]
[edit] End of the series
Despite fans' reactions, writer Greg Rucka assured that DC actually would have continued publishing Gotham Central as long as Rucka wanted to do so and that it was his decision to conclude it. Rucka explained that the end for the series was in sight when Lark left after issue #25 and Brubaker left after the "Dead Robin" storyline. Rucka felt that the three of them created the comic together and that he should not continue on without them. When DC was discussing the Infinite Crisis event and subsequent year-long story break, Rucka thought it would be a good time to end it. [5]
[edit] The current state of the creators
After leaving the series, Brubaker and Lark both signed exclusive contracts with rival Marvel Comics and took over Daredevil together following Brian Michael Bendis's years-long run on the series. Rucka continues to work at DC, continuing parts of Montoya's story in 52, DC's weekly comic bridging the one year gap between the end of Infinite crisis and what followed it, ie. the "One year later" state of DC's superhero titles.
[edit] Stories/Story Arcs
- In The Line of Duty
(Gotham Central #1-2)
Written by Ed Brubaker & Greg Rucka. Art by Michael Lark.
Marcus Driver's partner Charlie is killed by Mr. Freeze while the pair are investigating a lead, making the MCU (Major Crimes Unit) aware of a bigger plot by Freeze.
- Motive
(Gotham Central #3-5)
Written by Ed Brubaker. Art by Michael Lark.
The MCU investigate the late Charlie Fields' unsolved case, involving the murder of a teenaged girl and the villain Firebug.
- Half a Life
(Gotham Central #6-10)
Written by Greg Rucka. Art by Michael Lark.
MCU detective Renee Montoya is outed as a lesbian and finds her work environment and personal life turned upside down. The Batman villain Two-Face appears in this arc, having kidnapped Montoya.
- This is probably the most famous Gotham Central story, having won a number of awards.
- Daydreams and believers
(Gotham Central #11)
Written by Ed Brubaker. Art by Brian Hurtt.
A story told from the point of view of MCU temp Stacy as she writes to her friend Meg about her life in the MCU and her fantasies (including romantic fantasies about Batman).
- Soft Targets
(Gotham Central #12-15)
Written by Ed Brubaker & Greg Rucka. Art by Michael Lark/Michael Lark & Stefano Gaudiano.
The cops of Gotham find themselves literally under fire from the Joker, as he begins sniping both police and civilians in his murderous campaign. Every second becomes valuable; as to further the damage, Joker has made a website featuring streaming webcam footage from his next positions.
- Life is Full of Disappointments
(Gotham Central #16-18)
Written by Ed Brubaker/Greg Rucka. Art by Greg Scott.
A murder investigation is passed between three different sets of detectives across the three issues, allowing a glimpse into the various lives of the detectives. This story also features The Huntress.
- Unresolved
(Gotham Central #19-22)
Written by Ed Brubaker. Art by Michael Lark & Stefano Gaudiano.
An old murder case involving the Mad Hatter is reopened. However, the now disgraced Harvey Bullock suspects that the Penguin is involved.
- Corrigan
(Gotham Central #23-24)
Written by Greg Rucka. Art by Michael Lark & Stefano Gaudiano.
Crispus Allen's job is threatened after corrupt CSI Jim Corrigan removes evidence from a scene. This story also features the death of Batman villain Black Spider and ties into the Batman War Games crossover.
- Lights Out
(Gotham Central #25)
Written by Greg Rucka. Art by Michael Lark & Stefano Gaudiano.
The Bat-Signal is removed from Gotham Central after the events of War Games, which lead the MCU to (further) distrust Batman.
- On The Freak Beat
(Gotham Central #26-27)
Written by Ed Brubaker. Art by Jason Alexander.
A murder investigation in which Catwoman is a suspect is further complicated when Catwoman learns about detective Josie Mac's psychic powers, a secret she has kept from the others at the MCU. This story also features Slam Bradley.
- Keystone Kops
(Gotham Central #28-31)
Written by Greg Rucka. Art by Stefano Gaudiano/Stefano Gaudiano & Kano.
An officer is transformed into a monster after an accident involving an old laboratory belonging to Flash villain Dr. Alchemy. Dr. Alchemy later changes the composition of Renee Montoya's pro-lesbian necklace, causing it to permanently scar her chest with the dual venus symbol.
- Nature
(Gotham Central #32)
Written by Greg Rucka. Art by Steve Lieber.
A story told from the perspective of one of the many corrupt police officers of Gotham City. This story features the character Poison Ivy.
- Dead Robin
(Gotham Central #33-36)
Written by Ed Brubaker & Greg Rucka. Art by Kano & Stefano Gaudiano.
A boy's body is found, wearing a Robin costume. The MCU must assume that the boy really is Robin, and Batman becomes a major suspect. This story also features the Teen Titans.
- Sunday Bloody Sunday
(Gotham Central #37)
Written by Greg Rucka. Art by Steve Lieber.
Tying into the events of Infinite Crisis, this story features Crispus Allen trying to get home to his family in a disaster-stricken Gotham City. This issue also features Captain Marvel and the death of The Fisherman.
- Corrigan II
(Gotham Central #38-40)
Written by Greg Rucka. Art by Kano & Stefano Gaudiano.
Crispus Allen goes after the corrupt Jim Corrigan, only to be killed. Corrigan uses his connections and well placed lies to get off clean, leading to detective Montoya choosing to leave the force.
[edit] Characters after the series' end
- The now deceased Crispus Allen has become the new Spectre during the events of Infinite Crisis.
- Renee Montoya has become one of the major characters in 52, a series dealing with the aftermath of Infinite Crisis.
- Josie Mac and Maggie Sawyer have also appeared in minor roles in 52.
- Marcus Driver and Josh Azeveda have appeared in the mini-series Tales of the Unexpected, along with the Spectre (Crispus Allen). Additionally, Romy Chandler and Stacy have made brief cameos.
[edit] Awards
- Eisner Award - Best Serialized Story 2004 - "Half a Life" (Gotham Central #6-10[6]).
- Harvey Award - Best Single Issue or Story 2004 - "Half a Life" (Gotham Central #6-10[7]). Tied with Love & Rockets #9.
[edit] Collected Editions
| Title | Material collected | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| Gotham Central Vol. 1: In the Line of Duty | Gotham Central #1-5 | ISBN 1-4012-0199-7 |
| Gotham Central Vol. 2: Half a Life | Batman Chronicles #16, Detective Comics #747, Gotham Central #6-10 |
ISBN 1-4012-0438-4 |
| Gotham Central Vol. 3: Unresolved Targets | Gotham Central #12-15 and #19-22 | ISBN 1-56389-995-7 |
| Gotham Central Vol. 4: The Quick and the Dead | Gotham Central #23-25 and #28-31 | ISBN 1-4012-0912-2 |
| Gotham Central Vol. 5: Dead Robin, on sale June 13, 2007 | Gotham Central #33-40 | ISBN 1-4012-1329-4 |
[edit] References
- Comic Book Resources interview with Brubaker
- 2003 Eisner Award nominations
- Diamond's sales chart for November 2005
- Diamond's sales chart for December 2005
- Newsarama interview with Rucka on the series' end
[edit] See also
- Batman
- Gotham City Police Department
- Batman: GCPD - Gotham City Police Department, a comic book series similar in theme to Gotham Central.
[edit] External links
| Batman | |
|---|---|
| Creators: | Bob Kane • Bill Finger • Other writers and artists |
| Supporting Characters: | Robin (Tim Drake) • Nightwing (Dick Grayson) • Batgirl • Batwoman • Alfred Pennyworth • Lucius Fox • Barbara Gordon • Commissioner Gordon • Harvey Bullock |
| Villains: | Bane • Catwoman • Clayface • Harley Quinn • Joker • Killer Croc • Mr. Freeze • Penguin • Poison Ivy • Ra's al Ghul • Red Hood (Jason Todd) • Riddler • Scarecrow • Two-Face • Other villains |
| Locations: | Arkham Asylum • Batcave • Gotham City • Wayne Enterprises • Wayne Manor |
| Miscellanea: | Batarang • Batmobile • Batsuit • Popular media • Publications • Storylines • Alternate versions of Batman |
