Reviewer: Tim Sheridan
Story Title: Corrigan: Part 1
Written by: Greg Rucka
Penciled by: Michael Lark
Inked by: Stefano Gaudiano
Colored by: Lee Loughridge
Lettered by: Clem Robins
Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC Comics
I’ve always loved Gotham Central. It’s beem described as sort of a Law & Order or NYPD Blue for the world of Batman. And that is an apt description. Actually, it’s better than those shows, because you are already in an established world, and from there, you examine the lives of people placed in this extraordinary enviornment.
One of the main selling points of the book for fans has been the fact that it feels so real. The people in this book look and talk like real people, and not like superheroes. Even when a super-element is put in the mix, like a Josie Mac, a Joker, or this month’s Black Spider, you don’t have suspend your disbelief too much, because it’s delt with in such a matter of fact way.
The tone of the book is a properly dark one with muted colors and ugly settings. The police department building is not clean, and does not look like a fun place to visit. But that of course adds to the fun. You wouldn’t expect it to be big and neat, would you?
Anyways, enough on me extoling the virtues of this here book, you wanna know about this here issue.
For the first time in a while, I really felt like I was there with the detectives as they searched through a building looking for the Black Spider. Now I understand that sounds odd, but it’s true. They went through this building like it was catacombs, and at every turn something was going on, be it people yelling at them, blood on the walls, or a super villian jumping out and them. But as that happens, the aforementioned super villian is shot dead by one of the detectives, and right then and there, you have the next year’s worth of stories. That’s not all that they’ll be about, but this sets up a lot of questions.
Also, with the title Corrigan, we got the former Spectre showing up here. I don’t know what this is going to bring to the series, but hey, it’s pretty interesting nonetheless.
I’m really not doing this comic justice right now, and I apologize. But really, please just pick it up. This series has gotten better an better in the past two years, so I’m hoping you are already reading. If not, I can’t think of a better time to start.
The Final Word: Incredibly great writing, with excellent art. I just don’t know what else you could look for in a comic book.
