Rate this book

Gotham Central Deluxe Edition, Book 1: In The Line Of Duty (2004)

by Ed Brubaker(Favorite Author)

4.37 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

1848561733 (ISBN13: 9781848561731)

languge

English

genre

Graphic Novels & Comics

publisher

Titan Books

series

Gotham Central

review 1: "I want to ask you not to use the signal...to let us handle this one by ourselves."It seems like every time there's a problem in Gotham City, Batman's got to swoop in and save the day. But what about the cops? They spend all their time chasing after criminals, only to admit defeat and ask the bat for help at the end of the day. There are a lot of dirty cops in Gotham City, but Gotham Central follows the cops who actually care to do their job. It's not a Batman comic. He only shows up for maybe 4-5 pages of this 230 page volume, and that's a great thing. Because to the Gotham police, Batman is the phantom that exists to haunt the police department, to remind them how much they lack.As Alfred put it in Batman: Zero Year, "You're angry with us. All of us. You were a little bo... morey, all alone in that alley, and no one was there for you. Not me, not Gordon, not your fellow Gothamites...I fear that deep down, you're doing this all, being Batman, as some way of punishing us. By making us bear witness. You're making us all watch. The whole city. You shut us out and punish us night after night, as you go out there and protect those we can't."Brubaker makes you feel that in each of these stories. It's a different side of Gotham City and Batman, one I haven't seen before. In a world with thousands of Batman stories, this series feels unique, because it truly explores a side of Gotham we haven't seen before. Brubaker writes great crime stories, and his writing fits perfectly in this world. Rucka is great too, making Gotham look and feel like a real city, and making you forget that this is the home of Batman. If you're a fan of Batman or crime fiction, I highly recommend this series.
review 2: Boy this would make a great TV show. Time may prove that this would have been the better option for a Gotham-based program. What makes this good? Bringing the human element front and center. Regular people are usually relegated to two main roles in most comics: bystander or hostage, both in need of rescue. Gotham Central and others like it (Marvels, Astro City, Hawkeye) succeed by daring to take the camera off the capes and tights, training it on the average joe. These characters are more than cannon fodder who get roughed up by super villains so we see the need for a Batman. They show heart and gumption, as many who inspire us in real life do every day. Good writing from two of the best, and old school art complete the package. Wish there was an omnibus edition of this.... less

Download links for: Gotham Central Deluxe Edition, Book 1: In the Line of Duty

Advertising