Reviewer: Andy Campbell
Story Title: Keystone Kops (part 1)
Written by: Greg Rucka
Art by: Stefano Gaudiano
Colored by: Lee Loughridge
Lettered by: Clem Robins
Associate Editor: Nachie Castro
Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC Comics
It was announced recently that Ed Brubaker signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, which meant that he would no longer be writing Gotham Central with Greg Rucka. Well, if this issue is any indication, we will continue to be in very capable hands, as Greg Rucka writes a very emotional tale of heroism.
Probably the biggest draw for Gotham Central has always been the gritty and realistic writing, as the fantastic DC universe is viewed through the eyes of the cops of the GCPD; this book is all about what happens to the man on the street. Without giving too much away, some teenagers fighting leads to tragedy for the police officer who saves them. Montoya investigates, as the incident occurs in her old neighborhood, and what she finds will lead the GCPD to a city quite out of their jurisdiction. In addition, the lack of communication between Montoya and her parents is explored again, as they disowned her earlier in the series when she revealed that she was a lesbian.
The writing in Gotham Central continues to be top-notch, as the stories are as good as any cop drama out there, if not better. You always feel for the characters, and it really makes you look at the mainstream books in a different way, especially the Batman books. Gaudiano’s art is a perfect fit as well, as it has the perfect gritty feel for a noir story. I have to give a nod to colorist Lee Loughridge for this issue as well, as the colors are spot-on: very simplistic overall for the gritty tone, sepia tones to change the mood, and a perfect mix of shadow and the mysterious green glow in the laboratory scene. Brilliant work.
