Gotham Central

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Gotham Central

Cover of Gotham Central #1, Art by Michael Lark
Publisher DC Comics
Schedule Monthly (concluded)
Format Ongoing Series (concluded)
Publication date Feb. 2003 – April 2006
Number of issues 40 issues
Main character(s) Gotham City Police Department
Creative team
Creator(s) Greg Rucka, Ed Brubaker, Michael Lark
Collected editions
In the Line of Duty ISBN 1401201997
Half a Life ISBN 1401204384
Unresolved Targets ISBN 1563899957
The Quick and the Dead ISBN 1401209122
Dead Robin ISBN 1401213294

Gotham Central is a police procedural comic book series that was published by DC Comics. It was written by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka, with pencils initially by Michael Lark.

The story focused on the Gotham City Police Department and the difficulties of its officers living and working in Gotham City, home of Batman.

Contents

[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 certainly 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 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".[5]

[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. [6]

[edit] Characters

[edit] Main cast

[edit] 1st Shift

  • Margaret "Maggie" Sawyer - Captain and head of Major Crimes Unit, commander of the first(day) shift.
  • Vincent Del Arrazzio - Detective Sergeant, Major Crimes Unit. 1st shift second-in-command. Partnered with Joely Bartlett. Associate of the Huntress.
  • Crispus Allen - Detective, Major Crimes Unit. Partnered with Renee Montoya.
  • Joely "Joe" Bartlett - Detective, Major Crimes Unit. Partnered with Vincent Del Arrazzio.
  • Thomas "Tommy" Burke - Detective, Major Crimes Unit. Partnered with Dagmar Procjnow.
  • Eric Cohen - Detective, Major Crimes Unit. Partnered with Andi Kasinsky.
  • Andi Kasinsky - Detective, Major Crimes Unit. Partnered with Eric Cohen.
  • Renee Montoya - Detective 2nd Grade, Major Crimes Unit. Partnered with Crispus Allen.
  • Dagmar "Dag" Procjnow - Detective, Major Crimes Unit. Partnered with Thomas Burke.

[edit] 2nd Shift

  • David Cornwell - Lieutenant, Major Crimes Unit commander of the second(night) shift, successor of deceased Lt. Probson.
  • Jackson "Sarge" Davies - Detective Sergeant, Major Crimes Unit. 2nd shift second-in-command. Partnered with Nelson Crowe.
  • Josh Azeveda - Detective, Major Crimes Unit. Partnered with Trey Hartley.
  • Romy Chandler - Detective, Major Crimes Unit. Partnered with Takahata.
  • Nelson Crowe - Detective, Major Crimes Unit. Partnered with Jackson Davies.
  • Marcus Driver - Detective, Major Crimes Unit. Partnered with Josephine MacDonald.
  • Trey Hartley - Detective, Major Crimes Unit. Partnered with Josh Azeveda
  • Josephine "Josie Mac" MacDonald - Detective, Major Crimes Unit. Partnered with Marcus Driver.
  • Detective Takahata - Detective, Major Crimes Unit. Partnered with Romy Chandler.

[edit] Supporting Characters

  • Harvey Bullock - Former Detective, Major Crimes Unit.
  • James Gordon
  • Nora Fields - Supervisor, Coroner's Office. Widow of Charlie Fields.
  • Stacy - Administrative Secretary to Commissioner Gordon/Atkins.
  • Jim Corrigan - Corrupt CSI, killed Crispus Allen. Killed by Allen's son.

[edit] Killed in Action

  • Charlie Fields - Detective, Major Crimes Unit. Partnered with Marcus Driver. Killed by Mr. Freeze.
  • Nate Patton - Detective, Major Crimes Unit. Partnered with Romy Chandler. Killed by the Joker.
  • Ron Probson - Lt., Major Crimes Unit. Killed by the Joker.

[edit] Recurring Characters

[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.

Renee Montoya is outed. Art by Michael Lark.
Renee Montoya is outed. Art by Michael Lark.
  • 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.

Renee Montoya is outed at the station as a lesbian and finds her work environment and personal life turned upside down. The Batman villain Two-Face appears in this arc, having fallen in love with Montoya and kidnapped her.

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 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.

At Akins' orders, 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.

Robin appears with Stacy in artwork for the cover of Gotham Central #35, by Sean Phillips.
Robin appears with Stacy in artwork for the cover of Gotham Central #35, by Sean Phillips.

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 Doctor Alchemy. Dr. Alchemy later changes the composition of Renee Montoya's 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.

Allen goes after the corrupt Jim Corrigan, only to be killed. Corrigan uses his connections and well placed lies to get off clean, persuading a disgusted Montoya to leave the force.

[edit] Characters after the series' end

  • The now deceased 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. She has taken up the mantle of The Question.
  • 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.
  • Harvey Bullock, after working as an informant for the GCPD, is hired once again on disciplinary probation, with the understanding that he is not allowed a single mistake this time. He and Batman have set a "clean slate" for their new working relationship.

[edit] Awards

[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 Gotham Central #33-40 ISBN 1-4012-1329-4

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ The Beat (Part 1): Ed Brubaker talks 'Gotham Central', Comic Book Resources, June 30, 2003
  2. ^ 2003 Eisner Comic Industry Awards announced, Comic Book Resources, April 10, 2003
  3. ^ Top Sales Charts for Actual Sales in November, 2005, Comic Book Resources, December 16, 2005
  4. ^ Top Sales Charts for Actual Sales in December, 2005, Comic Book Resources, January 13, 2006
  5. ^ Interview with Ed Brubaker, Around Comics Podcast No. 42
  6. ^ Greg Rucka on the end of Gotham Central, Newsarama, November 15, 2005

[edit] References

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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