Gotham Central 1: In the Line of Duty

Love procedurals, love Batman, love that it's Batman but not about Batman. The writing is well paced and the artwork is beautiful.Good stuff.I definitely recommend it.

I can remember back when Gotham Central was first announced, I was hooked before the first issue was even released. The concept alone made it impossible for me to even think about passing up. When it was finally released, I was extremely happy to see that it lived up to my expectations. There have been many, many cop shows on television, but only one was ever appointment television for me, Homicide: Life on the Street. Thankfully, if writers Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka took any inspiration from TV, that was the one they used as their model. Despite being a comic book and set in the world of superheroes, the series never leaves behind its down-to-earth approach. Even when the fantastic intrudes upon the gritty street-level happenings of the stories, it's presented in the most mundane fashion possible. Michael Lark's art helps a lot in this regard. His characters always look realistic (without looking photo referenced), including the costumed heroes and villains. (In a later story arc, he even avoids giving The Joker the exaggerated features--e.g., the nose and chin--that many artists tend to draw.)The first story is a perfect set-up to the series. Following a lead on a kidnapping, two detectives unexpectedly cross the path of Mr. Freeze resulting in one cop's death. From that point, it becomes a race against the clock to find Freeze before Batman does. The police department already begrudges the fact that a costumed vigilante makes them look bad, and they're not about to let him avenge the death of one of their own. The story is short, sweet, and to the point, as is the next one which follows up on the kidnapping that was only mentioned in the first.The final story in the collection is a bit longer and is a much more character-driven story. It focuses on Detective Renee Montoya--who was originally created for the '90s animated series but appeared first in the comics--as she deals with elements of her personal life suddenly becoming not so personal thanks to a vindictive ex-con whom she arrested but was released on a technicality. The first time I read this story, I thought it went on a bit too long. (The first two stories were two and three issues, respectively. "Half a Life" was five.) Upon rereading it, I have reversed my opinion. It's a story that reads much better in quick succession.I still have all the single issues of this series, but I look forward to when it's been released in hardcover in its entirety. I know it will be something I revisit many times in the years to come.

I've read fiction on Batman in regular "book" format and in graphic novels as well as enjoying the cartoons, video games and the most recent movie trilogy. Always, Batman is the central figure and I've never questioned that. This first graphic novel in the series didn't make me question it; it made me feel as though I had lived in a city where a shadowy caped figure was possibly overhead at all times. These stories are gripping, gritty and realistic.And because Batman is not a central figure, it makes him all the more powerful as a symbol. Every cop has to decide how they view the Bat, and this, in turn, is a mirror into how they view Gotham and the best way to deal with the rampant crime & corruption it harbors. Should a person who _knows_ what is right just go and take action; or do they follow due process of the law? This can go deeper and in different directions, but I'll leave that for you to explore. The first story really exploits this opening very well. The second story hardly even involves Batman directly. But, had he not been there and all the circumstances caused by his presence in Gotham; the story would never have happened. And that story is possibly even better than the first.So, then why only 4 stars? I felt the artwork could have been better. It's possible I'm missing something with that medium; maybe it was drawn more simply for a reason...? I was never confused as to what the artists were trying to depict (which has happened in other graphic novels). But I felt there was an ineffable richness that was missing from the work. Every frame felt a little flat. Maybe I'm just spoiled by today's video graphics and their overly splashy colors. Either way, it's not enough to keep me from enjoying the stories.tl;dr If you were ever curious what the gritty streets of Gotham are like from someone's view other than Batmans, this graphic novel will most definitely bring you there. I've only bought the first novel in this series, but I'm going to buy the second one soon and will most likely buy all of them shortly thereafter. This is an excellent edition to the Batman universe/mythology.

Gotham Central BOOK 1 is entitled "In the Line of Duty" but actually has three story arcs collecting the first 10 issues of Gotham Central ("In the Line of Duty" (#1-2), "Motive" (#3-5), and "Half a Life" (#6-10)).This is not to be confused with Gotham Central VOLUME 1 which collects #1-5. BOOK 1 is a newer release and the entire Gotham Central run can be collected in 4 books starting with this one.Now that you know what to look for, I will now tell you why you should read this. It's a gritty crime/detective drama with conventional and sincere characters that happen to live in a non-conventional super abnormal city (Gotham). They solve real mysteries like murders and kidnappings all while trying to balance their normal world with the spectacular world of Batman and all of his foes. Batman makes a few appearances, but this story is really about the GCPD. Imagine if Law and Order was set in Gotham City with all of it's perks and flaws.It really is a great read, it also reminds me of The Killing (another great detective/crime show).The art work does a phenomenal job of telling a deeper, richer story that words could never do. The way artist Michael Lark draws facial expressions or depicts body language is at times breath taking. The art work really helps enhance these dark and gritty stories.If you're a fan of crime dramas and Batman, then there's a high chance that you will love this collection.

I loved this book. I'm a huge Batman fan, but had been warned not to expect too much of the Bat in this volume. Yet he was all over it. His shadow stalked almost every page, with the cops wondering about turning on the Bat signal, thinking about not turning it on, or what was the procedure for doing so anyway? Trying to keep the Bat away from the investigation, determined to clear it up themselves...I thought that this would be me, if I was one of those cops. Gotham's finest, going about their mundane daily investigative tasks, finding stray cats, writing car theft reports and more paperwork- while the Bat hoovered up anything heavy duty or bizarre that came along. Why wouldn't they resent him?I come from a family of cops, my Grandad, my uncles, my Dad- even my Mum worked as a cop before she met my Dad...so I know that the majority of police work is dull routine slogging. Cops often don't have time to dig into cases because they are overworked, underfunded, constrained by resource managers...that's even before you factor in the rare lazy or corrupt ones. Yet we have a fixation with the idea of detection in so many (excellent) comics and TV series. We've turned it into a genre, an art form- and I love that. I've bought into it, hook line and sinker. That's what made this title so attractive. You have these stock characters looking like like cops from central casting, cleverly drawn with a grubby, noir Kojak style, wisecracking and then getting all fussed because one of their number is outed as gay. I thought we were over all that, and could accept people for what they are, but apparently Rucka and Brubaker think not. But apart from that one hiccup, the whole thing works so well. I don't know, maybe I was reading it ironically, but I loved the book. I was even slightly disappointed when things got a bit "superhero" in the last story. I wanted the cops to solve this one without my beloved Bats, and for a while, it seemed like they just might. Montoya was in a hopeless situation, framed up in the best Frank Cannon style but eventually the Bats takes over and makes it all look so simple.I loved the interplay between the cops and the implied presence of Batman, which somehow made him seem all the more awesome and mysterious.I can't wait to read the next in the series. Incidentally, I know a couple of folks have dissed the artwork in this book, but for me, it was brilliant. A definite five out of five.

Well i wasn't sure about this novel but for me anything batman is a plus it's the start of a series and im only half way through it but so far very impressed a look at how the police want to do things without the aid of batman overall from what ive read so far very good and look forward to getting book 2

another in the set my daughter is asking for. book arrived safely and quickly and was as usual well packaged,

Great read

If you like James Gordon it's a mus buy😆