Gotham Central Omnibus HC

Anyone who turns a nose up at the entertainment value and artistic merits of graphic novels should think again if they take a peek through Gotham Central. This substantial hardback - the size and weight of a large dictionary no less - collects all the editions of the Gotham Central comic book series. It is brilliantly entertaining - combining the police procedural approach of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct series of novels (name-checked in the introduction) with the super-hero world of Batman and his associated villians in Gotham City. The artwork is uniformly excellent, and clever writing and graphics help to unfold a rich series of stories in a deceptively simple format. Just what would it be like to be cop working the beat where a masked super-hero intervenes on a regular basis, solving crimes and causing mayhem in equal measure? Well, here's where you get to find out. The characters are brilliantly real, their dilemmas and challenges are all-too-familiar, and the stories crack along at the briskest of paces. Hugely enjoyable to dip into for a couple of stories at a time, it is hard to resist the tempatation to hurry greedily through the contents the book is that good. Big to handle and certainly pricey - but terrific entertainment.

Excellent heavyweight collection of a great gritty set of stories that really flesh out the unsung GCPD who have to deal with more than the usual crazy stuff and fallout left by Bats - not all are fans. Lovely sewn bound version (worth heeding advice from other reviewers about easing open in several places first to loosen it up a bit and to avoid stressing the spine - a good tip), good quality paper and at the reduced price, much cheaper than tracking down the individual issues (probably true even at full price for all 40 issues). Weighs a ton though! Great read and art, recommended.

Outstanding piece of work. The artwork, even by different artists, is consistent with the theme and the writing, again by different writers, absolutely spot on. This genuinely felt like an HBO box set experience - but as a graphic novel. The use of Batman in this is very, very clever and gives a different view of him. Much better actually, I have no interest in Bruce Wayne or his playboy lifestyle. Great to have no reason to ever see that. Here, Batman is a presence that looms over Gotham, sometimes involved, usually not. Loved the main characters. There are huge emotional arcs over the issues that have been really thought out and lots of established and more obscure characters given a fresh lick of paint. Probably ended a few issues too late, a victim of it's own success. Joyful.

Very carefully & brilliant dialogues from Brubaker love the character designs too. Nice alternative take on Gotham tales. More to read.

Great stories and great artwork

This omnibus had been staring at me for months when I decided to read it. I don't know why, but the art seemed a bit boring.... until I started to read the story. Now, I feel Lark's art suits the story wonderfully. It sure grows on you. Unfortunately, Lark didn't do all the pencils. Greg Scott's art in particular is so disappointing compared to Lark's. The characters are compelling. Just don't expect this to be a book that focusses on Batman and your typical Gotham villains. It's all about the Gotham Central cops, and some of these characters are well-rounded. There's much to love here.

An excellent read. Pulsating until the end and fantastic artwork.

A excellent read

Article abîmé. Nous sommes vraiment déçu.

Very good story, art could be better in some issues, however the amazing character writing makes up for this. The ending was very sad. The binding was good with no issues for me.

Geweldige omnibus van o.a. E.d. Brubaker en Greg Rucka over de politie van Gothem City. Het gaat over de politie mensen en detectives die zaken zonder Batman willen oplossen. Goede verhalen en ook mooi art-work wat zorgt voor een wat donkere toon. Misschien wel de beste omnibus die ik heb.

I just received a copy of this book a few weeks ago, and so far I'm only about a quarter of the way in, give or take. Math has never been my forte, so whatever page 250 out of an over 950 page book equates to fractionally, that's where I am right now. So I don't feel comfortable giving it a full 5 stars yet until I finish it. However, what I have read so far definitely warrants 4 stars, in my opinion. The writing is great. The artwork is great. It truly feels like I'm reading some kind of gritty cop procedural. The characters are written in a very funny, edgy, and natural way. They don't come off like cop parodies who stand around the station drinking coffee and eating donuts. They have lives outside the office. They have backstories. They have unique personalities. They are all very memorable. I also like that the book truly makes the cops and how they solves cases the main focus instead of them playing second fiddle to Batman. In fact, Batman is more like a supporting character in this book that you only occasionally see. And because the stories and characters are so well written, I don't mind that Batman is not around as much. It truly is a great read so far. The only qualm I have is that because the book is so big and thick (it's roughly the size of a large dictionary I would guess), I wish it came with one of those sewn-in bookmark ribbons. UPDATE: Just finished the book a few days ago and am now prepared to give it a full 5 stars. Excellent writing and character development. Very sad ending. Enjoyed it all nonetheless. A great read and a book I would highly recommend.

Gotham Central Omnibus is a masterfully crafted crime drama that strips away the capes and cowls to focus on the human cost of living in Gotham. Written by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka, with moody, grounded art by Michael Lark and others, this series follows the detectives of the GCPD as they solve murders, navigate corruption, and survive in a city haunted by supervillains—and overshadowed by the Bat. The brilliance of Gotham Central lies in its perspective. Batman is a distant figure here, almost mythic, while the cops—Renee Montoya, Crispus Allen, Marcus Driver—are painfully real. Their victories are hard-won, their losses devastating. Arcs like “Half a Life” and “Soft Targets” deliver emotional depth and procedural tension that rival the best of HBO crime dramas. The omnibus format is generous and well-produced. It’s a softcover, but the binding is solid, the paper quality is crisp, and the layout clean. It collects the full run, making it the definitive edition for fans and newcomers alike.