Gotham Central Omnibus (2022 edition)

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.

Gorgeous art and the complete story under one cover combine to make this an irresistible find- set aside some time because you'll have a hard time putting it down once you start. For those of you wondering- you should work the binding before you read it- the front cover, then the back cover, then open five pages at a time from one side then the other side until you've opened the whole book- working the spine this way reduces the chances of pages coming out as you read- as can happen in any graphic novel but especially one of this size. (yes I've personally known the horror of a brand new mint graphic novel coming apart in my hands as I read because of the binding- it can happen with sewn or glued works- so you'll want to open a few pages at a time before you read to help prevent this- and open them about 50 percent at first so you don't crack the spine; that's my advice anyway) Moody art really adds to the story- even if you have the softback versions of this it's nice having it all in one place to read with no breaks. Great if you like these characters and setting.

A premise like this one, inside a superhero world, should not work at all but it does and it is perfect. What this creative team delivered along 40 issues is a realistic and gripping depiction of the role that regular people have in a world where superheroes became the answer to their apparent ineffectiveness. They have to deal with this forced new role where everyone, heroes and villains, level up their games but the police remain the same and have to work with what they have, hoping that they can be up for it. It is like watching an HBO TV show, I hope they can make a true adaptation one day. I know Gotham tried but missed the spot a bit compared to this masterpiece.

I saw the premise of this and thought its a Batman comic but from the GCPD point of view, why not give it a read. Im not even halfway through this book and this thing is structured like a crime drama. I love the batman comics and i know the tv show Gotham tried to do everything from the GCPD perspective, but this does it so much better. The character development is great, the pacing is superb, and the stories themselves give the GCPD a chance to bring justice to the bad guys of Gotham. Batman does occasionally step in to help, but it’s more GCPD focused and thats good! This is a must read if you want to see how everyday cops deal with Gotham City and have a crime drama vibe to it.

Excellent item

This being my first review I’ll keep it short, I currently work at Amazon and see how some merchandise may be improperly handled I was concerned about the condition that the book would arrive in but I have to say that very pleased when it arrived undamged. The book itself was sealed so no way it could open and damage the pages also arrived in a box. As for the content, currently reading it but liking what I’m reading. Highly recommend !!!

Absolutely loved reading this omnibus. The writing is absolutely top-notch. My only gripe is with the art. Although I do appreciate the artstyle, and it goes well with the mood of the story, the quality is not on par with the excellent story. To me, the art is as important as the story.

It’s all about the famous Gotham City!!!

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.

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.

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.