Gotham Central

[BubbaGump]

Well I have the TPB "Unresolved Targets" and it's really one of my personal favorites. However, it's a bit hard to find, and I've only read those selections of stories.

I've read on Wikipedia that sales were extremely low for GC on its 40 issue run, and though I understand that the concept of Batman not appearing as often might not appeal to everyone, I thought these were some of the most well-written storylines I've read in a while. I mean come on. It's Ed Brubaker (Man Who Laughs) and Greg Rucka (No Man's Land novelization) we're talking about here.

I think it's severely under-read and extremely underrated. For those who've read the stories, what are your opinions on it?

 

[DW4]

Honestly I never read Gotham Central. It centered around several of Gotham's cops like Montoya, Gordon, Bullock etc?

Was it considered canon?

 

[CConn]

Yes, it was.

Personally, I was never into it. Granted, I started reading it in the middle of its run. Maybe if I started at the beginning, I'd have a more favorable opinion of it.

 

[Nepenthes]

I've read the Joker story in a comic shop before but I'm considering buying it to own, its definitely one of the best Joker stories I've ever read.

Can anyone tell me which other trades are most worth buying? Any other major villain appearances?

 

[union_jak]

I have the first two TPBs. It's a refreshing perspective on Gotham I'd say. Mister Freeze is in the first one, and Two-Face is in the second.

 

[dr.strange]

i liked the series,sorry to see it go. i dont have every issue,but maybe i ll get a trade paperback or two.i thought it was well written,and not having batman as the main focus was cool.if anyone gets a chance to buy some issues, jump on it.

 

[Nepenthes]

I have the first two TPBs. It's a refreshing perspective on Gotham I'd say. Mister Freeze is in the first one, and Two-Face is in the second.

Which is better in your opinion? Whats Freeze's angle in the story?

 

[union_jak]

Which is better in your opinion? Whats Freeze's angle in the story?

Well in In The Line Of Duty Mister Freeze is as cruel as ever, and you see how he affects the Police's morale. They decide they want to catch him without getting Batman involved.

In Half a Life it opens with a story from NML and one from Evolution. It basically chronicals Two-Face's relationship with Renee Montoya and how much he becomes obsessed by her despite Montoya coming out during the book.

Don't really prefer one over the other.

 

[itsthebatman]

Really, really liked it. I have the five TPB's that came out. In The Line of Duty, Half a Life, Unresolved Targets, The Quick and the Dead, and Dead Robin.
All quality. 'Unresolved' had an arc that featured Penguin and Mad Hatter, and did good things with them. Hey, another Mad Hatter story I like, regwec! The little chap is doing well. Bullock was in it as well, which is always good. Great writing, and I LOVE the art by Michael Lark - his Joker in particular is tres creepy. Which is nice.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

I've heard rumors of them turning it into a tv series...

That could be potentially cool...

 

[Memphis Slim]

Well I have the TPB "Unresolved Targets" and it's really one of my personal favorites. However, it's a bit hard to find, and I've only read those selections of stories.

I've read on Wikipedia that sales were extremely low for GC on its 40 issue run, and though I understand that the concept of Batman not appearing as often might not appeal to everyone, I thought these were some of the most well-written storylines I've read in a while. I mean come on. It's Ed Brubaker (Man Who Laughs) and Greg Rucka (No Man's Land novelization) we're talking about here.

I think it's severely under-read and extremely underrated. For those who've read the stories, what are your opinions on it?

It was one of my favorites. Very well wrtten!! I felt like I was watching a TV show......Homocide or Law & Order.

 

[Orko Is King]

I'm working on the 2nd TPB at the moment. Good stuff. Half A Life won an Eisner Award a few years back as well.

 

[CantThinkOfAName]

Gotham Central was like my favorite DC comic when it was out. Almost every story arc was great, right up the very end

 

[CantThinkOfAName]

Honestly I never read Gotham Central. It centered around several of Gotham's cops like Montoya, Gordon, Bullock etc?

Was it considered canon?

Not Gordon or Bullock, although Bullock did appear in one arc (the Penguin one). At the time Gordon was retired and Bullock was fired. Montoya and Allen were the main characters, along with a couple other cops. Thats what was so great about it was that it just these new normal people who had to deal with crazies of Gotham.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Not Gordon or Bullock, although Bullock did appear in one arc (the Penguin one). At the time Gordon was retired and Bullock was fired. Montoya and Allen were the main characters, along with a couple other cops. Thats what was so great about it was that it just these new normal people who had to deal with crazies of Gotham.

If that's your cup of tea, then i reccomend a mini series called Gotham Nights. Batman appears very briefly throughout, and the main focus is on several different citizens of Gotham. There were two differsnt minis...i never read the second one, but the first was riveting. :bat:

 

[Watson]

I'm resurecting this thread since I just finished Unresolved Targets today. I enjoyed it way more than I had expected I would. It's so dark, and the way that the cops interact with Batman and his rogue gallery is so wonderfully done. You get a much better sense of how frustrating it can be having a superhero around when it comes from the cops perspective. And the Joker arc in Soft Targets was very good, quite creepy.

I've heard rumors of them turning it into a tv series...

That could be potentially cool...

You know, as I was reading this I thought to myself "This would make an awesome TV show!" It would have a built in fan base of Bat/comics fans and could also be a draw to those who enjoy Law and Order/CSI type shows.

 

[BubbaGump]

You know, as I was reading this I thought to myself "This would make an awesome TV show!" It would have a built in fan base of Bat/comics fans and could also be a draw to those who enjoy Law and Order/CSI type shows.

One was actually planned in 04-05, but I think WB didn't want to distract the attention from BB. I'm not really sure, but either way, it's in development hell.

 

[Watson]

^Really?! It would seem more obvious to get a boost from a new Bat movie opening up. Maybe one day though

 

[BubbaGump]

Someday...

 

[Nathan Petrelli]

What are the TPB's called for Gotham Central and are they worth buying?

 

[Nepenthes]

Start with Unresolved Targets which is the Joker trade, and you'll know if you think they're worth buying. More info on the collections is here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotham_Central

 

[Nathan Petrelli]

I'm reading about it, it sounds really interesting, especially the story about the kid found in a Robin suit dead.

 

[Nepenthes]

^ that's another of my favourite arcs, some great moments

The Catwoman issues, Poison Ivy one shot and Huntress appearances are all uncollected though . They are my other standouts. Also one where the receptionist talks about life in the GCPD for an entire issue, because she's not a cop she's the only one who's allowed to touch the bat-signal, its a different perspective. If anyone sees Gotham Central 11, 17-18, 26-27 and 32 in a back issue bin, buy them.

 

[The Denialist]

Gotham Central used to be one of my all-time favorite comics, back when it was still in publication. I really love the stories that focus on the citizens of Gotham, and what it's like living day to day in that crazy city. I'm also a big fan of Law and Order, so Gotham Central was right up my alley.

 

[Qoèlet]

Gotham Central was freaking sweet. I know the TV hopes were more or less dead in the water some time ago, but I'd watch every episode if they made it, and then after it got cancelled prematurely after a season or two I'd buy the DVD's and watch them in geeky marathon sessions. I actually read through the whole series over a few days last month, and even though it ended on a really sour note, I thought the whole thing was fantastic. I always loved the Gotham cops in the Batman titles, and it still pisses me off that Bock (always my favourite cop) basically disappeared after they made him chief. I mean, I know he was replaced by another token black guy in Crispus Allen, and I think Allen is a great character too, but even though they both get the T.B.G. distinction, they're totally different characters and is too much to ask for both wicked good characters to show up in my favourite titles? If the Commissioner's the most oft appearing cop in Gotham, why the hell can't Chief Bock show up and rock his hardcovers every now and again (assuming he's even still chief after OYL and the ill-defined corruption issues... of course, with that whole thing in mind, why not demote him and get him back on Major Crimes with the re-hired Bullock? Hardback and Bullock making a comeback would be sweet)? Of course now neither one of them is in the Bat-titles, and that just sucks... but I digress, back to the actual topic.

It was good to see the Major Crimes guys in action on their own, new perspectives with different storylines, and the fact that Batman only showed up once in a while didn't hurt his allure. I just got sucked right in with the first issue, where Driver and his partner make a quick stop to follow up a longshot lead, then open the door to see Mr. Freeze sitting there.

The Joker story was FANTASTIC. Can't remember the exact issue, but I also really liked the one story narrated by a corrupt beat cop who goes on about natural selection

Spoiler

and is ironically the victim of nature at the end when we discover that the homeless girl he and his partner kill to cover up their crime is in fact one of Poison Ivy's park kids.