When Greg Rucka was first writing Detective, what I really enjoyed was his focus on the cops of Gotham, and I had really enjoyed Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark collaborating on Scene of the Crime, so this book has a creative pedigree that is pretty impressive. In addition, the idea of a book that just focuses on cops intrigued me, and still does. This is a strong start, if not the blockbuster opening I was hoping for, with a good introduction to the new cops and refresher on the old and some effective depictions of what super-powered criminals mean to normal guys on the street.
Gotham Central opens much like an episode of Law & Order or NYPD Blue, with a pair of cops happening on a crime. I liked that the cause of the case that will drive the main plot came from a routine tip gone wrong, and I liked the method by which the detectives meet Mr. Freeze, as it's not so much different from what might have happened if the guy had been a random perp with a machine-gun hiding behind the door. I wasn't quite as crazy about the hints that Freeze is involved in some kind of plot, and that he might have left the detective alive as a clue, because that seems too much in the realm of super-heroes and not quite as grounded as a cop story, but I'm withholding judgment until I see where the story is going.
The reactions of the cops to a death of one of their own, and the mobilization of the force, is definitely a smart move to open the book. Brubaker and Rucka have a reason to bring in all the characters, day and night shift, and a good reason to explore how the cops feel about Batman's help. It's an interesting take, and it's an absolutely believable point of pride for the cops. I particularly enjoyed the talk between Sarge and Marcus about Charlie putting Batman on the board. It's that kind of insight into how the cops operate in Gotham that I'm hoping for more of in Gotham Central.
Michael Lark's artwork looks good here, if not quite as sharp as it did in his work on Scene of the Crime. I was impressed by a lot of it, most notably his work on the sinister Mr. Freeze and the after-effects of his gun, and the expressiveness of the characters is definitely going to be an asset to the book. The horror that Marcus feels, or the empathy and sadness that overcomes Montoya at several points, it quite clear, as is the understated anger of Lieutenant Probson. And as with his Scene of the Crime work, Lark does amazing work on the details of the backgrounds, whether it's curtains on the windows, signs on the streets or vehicles; his Gotham lives and breathes, which makes the all-important setting feel real. On the other hand, there are some scenes, particularly the longer shots, which look like they weren't quite finished being inked, losing the detail in the faces that usually is so impressive.
I'm not as crazy about the main plot involving Freeze in some sort of mystery plot, because it does give a tension and a timeline for the cops but it feels like more of a case for Batman than for cops. However, the atmosphere, the characters and the overall style of the book is right where I wanted it to be, and I'm definitely looking forward to more.
