Connect with us
'GCPD: The Blue Wall' #1 is a fantastic and flawless first issue
DC

Comic Books

‘GCPD: The Blue Wall’ #1 is a fantastic and flawless first issue

‘GCPD: The Blue Wall’ #1 is a hit right out of the gate with deeply real characters.

Spinning out of I Am Batman, John Ridley embarks on a new police-focused narrative set in Gotham City. One might immediately think of Gotham Central, but this narrative is much more attuned to modern-day thinking on police, particularly when serious police reform is something actively spoken about today.

In truth, this story spins out of I Am Batman mainly because it utilizes Renee Montoya as the commissioner of the GCPD. She popped up in that series and actually considered taking on a role in the NYPD, but she’s back in Gotham, and the story heavily focuses on three cadets. Montoya opens GCPD: The Blue Wall #1 giving a speech to the new cadets graduating and joining the Gotham police force.

Listen to the latest episode of our weekly comics podcast!

Ridley makes a strong statement relatable to our world as these new cadets face different challenges. At the same time, we’re reminded they live in a world of supervillains as Montoya sees Two-Face in a crowd but is mistaken. She’s seen terrible things and thus knows these new cadets are facing challenges beyond our own, although their challenges in this first issue are all realistic.

It’s important to note that this book does not steer away from tough topics like defunding police, nor does it make the police department look squeaky clean. Montoya is a good person, but she’s reeling from her internal struggles and trying to keep them at bay to be a good leader, while the cadets are overly hopeful and a good surrogate for the reader who isn’t sure what Gotham might throw at them.

The main character in this issue is a girl named Park, who is bright-eyed and hopeful. We follow her as she connects with her two fellow cadets–also main characters but given fewer scenes in this issue–and goes out on her first day. On that first day, she is pressed with a tough decision to pull her gun on a kid who may or may not be a perp called in. This leads to her becoming a super-cop hero simply for not firing her gun at a Black kid. She sees it as ludicrous – surely cops aren’t heroes for simply not shooting innocent Black kids, but we know the truth of the matter is anything but. Her story is relatable, and her mixed feelings about becoming a publicity piece for the GCPD are fascinating.

Blue wall #1

Can Montoya inspire a generation?
Credit: DC Comics

Joining her after hours for a burger are two other cadets with different problems and entirely different jobs in the police force. One is named Danny, and he’s a parole officer. He’s hopeful in turning people’s lives around even when other cops on the same beat see it all as pointless. The other is named Ortega and is joining what is called Tricorner, one of the toughest and most needed to repair community/police relations in Gotham. On top of all this, Ortega must deal with racism from fellow officers. In their interactions, we see cops joining the police force for the right reasons but also seem a bit too positive, given how dangerous Gotham can be.

The dialogue in this issue is astounding, incredibly easy to read, and drops you right into every moment as if it was taking place in real-time. There’s nuance in what they say that informs the reader who these characters are and relate to others, and more importantly, who they genuinely are in private. That goes for the optimistic new cadets, who you’ll feel for knowing full well they’re about to be put through a meat grinder, and for Montoya as well, who is almost glassy-eyed at times and not sure how to guide new cadets who aren’t aware of the horrors Gotham contains.

Art by Stefano Raffaele is superb, especially for a gritty, realistic on-the-street story centered on human characters. One could even argue this isn’t a superhero comic, save for a nightmare vision Montoya sees early on. Colored to perfection by Brad Anderson, this book is toned without any bright comic book pop colors. The world around these characters is even antiseptic at times, drawing you into the realism of each scene. The world is rendered in high detail, with thoughtful backgrounds like a diner with random stuff plastered to the wall or a busy city street that could mimic a photograph of the New York City streets.

Letters by Ariana Maher are also excellent, with good emphasis on keywords and subtle touches on word balloon tails as needed. One nice touch is how some word balloons bleed into the gutters, creating a more stable sense of the words. The choice to redact the F-word is a nice touch, giving it a procedural feel which differs from the usual comic that uses symbols for swearing.

If you’re looking for a police drama rooted in a reality much like ours, check out GCPD: The Blue Wall #1. This series humanizes its characters while reflecting on real-world concerns of defunding the police and putting too much power into a cop’s hands. This first issue is flawless, smart, and anchored by the hard-boiled setting with deeply human characters.

'GCPD: The Blue Wall' #1 is a fantastic and flawless first issue
‘GCPD: The Blue Wall’ #1 is a fantastic and flawless first issue
GCPD: The Blue Wall #1
If you're looking for a police drama rooted in a reality much like ours, check out GCPD: The Blue Wall #1. This series humanizes its characters while reflecting on real-world concerns of defunding the police and putting too much power into a cop's hands. This first issue is flawless, smart, and anchored by the hard-boiled setting with deeply human characters.
Reader Rating1 Vote
9.2
Each character is rendered in a way that feels deeply real and honest
Three new bright-eyed cops taking on different types of gigs sets up a lot to be explored on the streets of Gotham
Montoya is working through demons while trying to be a great leader which is fascinating to unpack
Doesn't hide from real-world positions on police today
A gripe for some I'm sure, but it lacks superheroes or supervillains
10
Fantastic
Buy Now

Join the AIPT Patreon

Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:

  • ❌ Remove all ads on the website
  • 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
  • 📗 Access to our monthly book club
  • 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
  • 💥 And more!
Sign up today
Comments

In Case You Missed It

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024 WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024 AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024 AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt' Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt'

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in ‘Blood Hunt’

Comic Books

Connect
Newsletter Signup