An appropriately dark conclusion to an already dark series, with Gotham being torn apart in Infinite Crisis (a tie-in story that actually works really well, even though it has almost no repercussions whatsoever), Robin apparently turning up dead in an alley, and a longtime cast member dying. It's a damn shame this was cancelled when it was, as there is plenty of meat left on the bone here (not to mention that the art is better than it's ever been). Overall, this may very well be the best Batman title that's ever been published, and Batman is barely in it. ( )

Gotham Central is by far, my favorite complete comic/graphic novel series I've read to date (However, [b:Locke and Key|3217221|Locke and Key, Vol. 1 Welcome to Lovecraft|Joe Hill|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327921403s/3217221.jpg|3251160] isn't finished yet and that's nipping at it's heels).

With the exception of that strange Infinite Crisis story line imposed within the middle of this collection, this was a perfect finale to a great series. I can't even give it less than five stars due to how excellent the Corrigan and Die! Robin, Die! stories were.

The Robin story line was one of my favorites in the series, especially when it came down to it's conclusion When Batman confront's the man behind the deaths, he turns up the intensity and intimidation to eleven. I loved that he told them to kill the lights, cameras and recordings as he just threatened, beat and terrified the criminal until he got what he wanted!. The Corrigan story was excellent as well, he was written like a real scumbag; a dirty cop you love to hate.

I didn't realize that this had been the end of the series and when I realized that my experience within the Gotham City Police Department was effectively ending, the ending became that much more heartbreaking. My God, Montoya has to be one of the most tragic characters I've read in quite sometime. Just when you think she's finally reached bottom, Brubaker and Rucka just keep taking from her until she becomes the broken mess we're left with.

This series is criminally under rated and the fact that it needed to fight to get a full 40 issue run is mind blowing. DC struck gold with this series but finishing out as strong as it did is certainly a rarity in today's world. So, at least there's that. I guess. ( )

I wrote a brief little thing about this series in the entry for volume 1.

"Gotham Central" is the best, and grittiest, DC series I know of. Its main strength is how it humanizes the officers of the GCPD, without demonizing the several corrupt cops or making heroic icons of the good ones - of whom there are many. These are mostly just normal and decent people, dedicated to a tough job made tougher by where they serve. This particular series of stories is made particularly interesting by the line-of-duty death of a long-term character whom we have come to know, along with his family and partner (and this book reminds us that it's not always clear which is the closer relationship). ( )