David Hine is doing a great job of bringing the cop drama to the super-hero universe of Marvel Comics, but Ed Brubaker manages to outshine that effort with a tremendous level of realism and credibility here. The writer plays around with an expansive cast and crisscrossing storylines that forward the plot while delving into the characters. The art brings a darkness and maturity to bear as well, immersing the characters and the urban setting in a gritty, noir feel that bolsters the intensity of the plot and characters. Originally, I thought this series was going to be about how regular folks reacted to the colorful villains populating Gotham City, but instead, Brubaker (and Greg Rucka, the other regular writer on the series) delivers a well-crafted and genuine police drama that has little to do with the fantastic elements that come along with the backdrop.
The answers the detectives of the Gotham City police department are looking for are just out of reach, locked away inside the unconscious mind of Jervis Tetch, AKA the Mad Hatter, who's recovering in hospital from gunshots sustained in an escape attempt from Arkham Asylum. It becomes clear Tetch was working with someone on the outside, and disgraced cop Harvey Bullock, haunted by an open homicide case linked to Tetch, is convinced it's the Penguin. A chance tip from a distraught young woman with a dark secret leads Detective Driver to a different conclusion, though.
Lark and Gaudiano have gelled well as an art team. I have to admit to a preference for Lark's solo work, but the storytelling is quite effective here. The artists' use darkness to great effect here, but it never threatens to hide the characters or important details from the reader. Clarity is not sacrificed for mood. Neither is realism. Perspective is strong here, and there's a grounded, realistic look that pervades the entire issue.
The secret behind the unresolved case from which this story arc derives its title is a clever one. The reader assumes the Mad Hatter is involved some grand scheme, and the characters are drawn into the same assumption at first. Instead, there's a far more grounded and bitter reason for the murders. I loved the twist.
Of course, the "Unresolved" title also refers to the question of whatever happened to Harvey Bullock. What impressed me most about this issue is how far Brubaker was willing to go in a new take on Bullock. Thanks to the character's use in various Batman cartoons of the 1990s, I would have expected the writers wouldn't be allowed to muck about with Harvey all that much. I'm surprised and excited to discover that's not the case. Bullock was always rough around the edges, but he's completely out of control here. We pity him, but don't really like him, don't root for him.
