Customer Reviews

Gotham Central Vol. 2: Half a Life (Batman)

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One of the best-written, most consistently entertaining mainstream comics on the shelves today, Gotham Central is the four-color cousin of popular TV police procedurals like Hill Street Blues, Homicide and NYPD Blue - telling stories of the DC Universe's toughest town from the perspective of the hardened detectives of the GCPD's Major Crimes Unit. Technically a Batman-family title, it is the one that is simultaneously the least and most reliant on the Dark Knight's presence, one that looms heavily over every story arc even if he himself rarely appears in them.

"RENEE MONTOYA HAS A SECRET." says the back cover blurb rather coyly. Specifically, she's a lesbian, a truth she's kept from her parents, her fellow officers, and her current partner, Crispus Allen. When she's outed and the man seemingly responsible turns up murdered, her backup gun found at the crime scene and incriminating evidence at her home, she finds herself under arrest and fighting not just for her job and her reputation, but for her life when help comes from a most unexpected source. Unexpected in the original run, at least. In this trade collection, DC generously includes two reprinted stories - all for only $14.99! - that serve as preludes (one from Batman Chronicles #16, the other from Detective Comics #747, both written by Greg Rucka but not illustrated by Michael Lark), shedding light on and setting up what originally seemed like an out of left field situation for those not well-versed in Gotham continuity.

The strength of this collection lies not in its overarching plot - solid though it is, despite some elements that suggest a fondness for Thomas Harris' Hannibal Lecter novels - but in its three-dimensional characterizations and smart dialogue, a trait that marks much of Rucka's work, both in comics and his novels, particularly when it comes to strong women. From the conflicted Montoya and her deeply predjudiced parents; to her arrogant but stand-up partner, Allen; to the bigoted taunts of her fellow officers, including the female ones, Rucka manages a realistic, nuanced take on a potentially exploitative subject, without any of the heavy handed objectifying, glamorizing or proselytyzing that one might expect in a relatively mainstream comic book. (Or, say, from Mark Millar.) Montoya works as the emotional center of the story, more about her than her sexual preference, because Rucka has given her multiple layers and not simply settled for a cipher on which to hang his story, an important factor that makes the ending work as well as it does, even when Batman and one of his classic rogues gets involved.

Gotham Central in general, and the "Half A Life" collection specifically, are stellar representatives of the best the form currently has to offer.

Half a Life is the second story arc of a continuing comic called Gotham Central. And Gotham has never looked this gritty since Miller left for warmer climates. Michael Lark, who deserves immense amounts of money for the unbelievable work that he does, provides artwork that is to die for. It's dark and taut and each panel is perfection. Greg Rucka provides us with a very, very excellent character in Renee Montoya. She is tough as balls, intense, and very human. This is powerful storytelling.

Gotham Central has turned out to be one of the best comics in the past couple of years. Pushing Batman and his cast of crazy villains to the side as cameos and giving us the meat of the cops lives and cases provides hours of riveting reading. And rereading. Because these stories have depths and nuances that you didn't pick up the first time, trust me.

BTW, highly suggest Bruebaker and Lark's Scene of the Crime GN. Good stuff there too! Really good!

Gotham Central: Half a Life is about Gotham cop Renee Montoya. Montoya comes from a traditional Hispanic family. Her parents own a grocery. Their constant concern is that their only daughter is not eating enough, and when is she going to get married and give them grandchildren? That is a big problem for Renee, who is a lesbian and secretly dating a female chef.

When photos appear at work, Renee is mocked and scorned by her co-workers. Her brother confronts her - doesn't she know this will kill their parents? Tell them the photos were doctored, begs Renee. But things go from bad to worse when Renee is framed for the murder of the creep taking the photos. If she didn't do it, who did? And what does Two-Face have to do with this?

The story is right after the year-long No Man's Land storyline that took up the entire Batman comic line for the year of 1999. The beginning of Half a Life contains references to life during and after the federal designation of Gotham City as a condemned disaster area. Highly recommend the five No Man's Land GNs if you haven't read it.

This volume reprints stories from Batman Chronicles #16, Detective Comics 747, and Gotham Central #6-10. Note that issues #6-10 were also reprinted in volume one of this title. They are reprinted here along with the two other items to give a `complete' collection of Detective Montoya's relationship with Harvey `Two-Face' Dent. The first two stories are almost unrelated to the Gotham Central, both in tone and content, other than Two-Face's presence, but as he plays a major part in the resolution of the Gotham Central story we must assume DC thought it would be a good idea to reprint them all together. Commercial considerations aside, if you have read volume 1 of Gotham Central, then you don't really need this volume - I read a library copy.

NOTE: This is the only one of the five-part "Gotham Central" comics I've read.

A tale that brings a touch of social modernism/drama to the world to comics in perhaps the only way it could be (while remaining tasteful). GCPD Detective Renee Montoya - while formerly a tertiary, behind the scenes character - is the forefront of this story that brings to light one old and one new secret in her personal and professional life that may threaten to destroy both. Since the start of this story in the "No Man's Land" story-arc (including: Batman Chronicles #16 and Detective Comics #747), Renee has developed a relationship of sorts with supervillain Harvey Dent/Two-Face. She has a new partner at the GCPD; Metropolis transplant Crispus Allen (who eventually becomes the Spectre; an event that starts Renee on the path to eventually becoming the new Question after Vic Sage), who replaces the discharged/disgraced Sergeant Harvey Bullock. And the bombshell to top them all: she's gay! It isn't long before her life begins to fall apart as part a grand scheme that has her outed to both the GCPD and [perhaps worse] her devoutly religious parents and being framed for murder. The plot is eventually revealed to be the master-plan of Two-Face, who is so infatuated with her that after "taking everything away from her" will now come in to make her his. In a struggle that nearly ended with the two killing each other, Batman (who is almost a non-presence in this story) comes to the rescue (sorry for the cliche). Two-Face returns to prison, Renee's name is cleared and she returns to her job; and finally/sadly she officially comes out to her less-than-understanding parents. Happily though, she has he lover to fall back on.

This was a most compelling story with all the power of a televised cop-drama and "not quite conventional" love story that works on every level. While objection abounds, the choice to take Renee's character gay works better than expected, and actually adds to her in a very constructive way (never mind that she gets some more prominent face-time in the comics for it). Two-Face is as compelling and deluded as he ever was, but his visual design leaves something to be desired (he appears to have a look that corresponds to his more "pre-1990's" character design with a left side that looks like deformed green wax); still, he never looses his power as Batman's #2 rogue (interestingly enough). Batman is almost never there for the majority of the story, but his few-and-far-between appearances remain good ones; he is primarily a way to bring about a conclusive ending (as his character actually functions).
This is a great story and will be enjoyed immensely (also, as mentioned above, it is just one step in Renee's further development in the DCU).

Wow! This is a real gem of a book. I picked it up without knowing what to expect from a Batman spin-off about Renee Montoya, but I was more than pleasantly surprised by the deft writing and dark, gritty drawing. The reason behind why Montoya's enemies outed her is pretty twisted, showing that the insane mind doesn't realize its own craziness.

I really liked the feel of how the plot was carried out. It was well paced and kind of gave me the feeling like I was watching a cop drama movie or TV series. You could really get a sense of the tone, inflection, and emotion in the character's voices by reading the dialogue. It's nice to find such tense drama in a book.

There is not too much Batman in this version of Gotham City, but Renee Montoya's story kind of leaves you going, 'Batman who?'

Who cares about superheroes? Gotham cops are a million times more interesting. Rarely in comics will you find writing and art of this quality, especially together in one book. Renee Montoya is the most interesting, emotionally complex character that DC has produced in years. See the rest of Gotham Central as well as 52 and Crime Bible for a continuation of her story.

All the characters play out their roles in perfect pitch. The story throws Montoya's life through the wringer and the reasoning behind it just feels, well, twisted enough to make sense in Gotham. I liked the gritty cop's-life tale-telling style and the art complimented the story well. Overall, I loved this particular issue...