Gotham Central (2026 comic book revival)

Gotham Central is a crime drama comic-book series written by Greg Rucka, Brian Michael Bendis, and Brad Meltzer and illustrated by Fiona Staples. This series is published by DC comics under the DC Black Label imprint for its mature themes and is a revival of 2002 comic series of the same name created by Greg Rucka, Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark. The story centers around the Gotham City Police Department and the difficulties of living and working in Gotham City, while also expanding beyond the GCPD to include the city government, criminal justice system, mental health system, news media, organized crime, the port system, and industrial complex. 
== Publication History ==
=== Development ===
Greg Rucka, Brian Michael Bendis and Brad Meltzer wanted a flagship title for DC Black Label imprint and decided to revive Gotham Central series as a response to popular demand. This revival would take a somewhat different approach as it would expand beyond Gotham Police Department to introduce other institutions and their relationship with Gotham law enforcement. Rucka stated during Comic-Con 2025 that the Gotham Central revival would draw inspiration from The Wire, The Shield, NYPD Blue, Hill Street Blues, the Line of Duty, Law & Order, and Better Call Saul. 
Bendis stated that the series would treat the fantastical superhero elements of the Batman and DC universe the same way George R.R. Martin treats magic and fantasy in the Game of Thrones universe. Bendis went on to say that the fantastical elements will be used moderately or simply be implied while the majority of the focus will be more on realism, political intrigue, police procedural, legal drama and characterization. 
The division of different institutions will be divided between Rucka, Bendis and Meltzer. For its first volume, Rucka would be writing storylines involving the GCPD, Meltzer would write stories involving DA's office and city government, and Bendis would write stories involving news media, mental health system and organized crimes. These stories will all be interrelated and will accumulate to an inevitable climax. 
This Gotham Central revival also marks the first comic book appearance of Rachel Dawes from The Dark Knight trilogy as well as Summer Gleeson, Joan Leland, and Roland Daggett from Batman: The Animated Series. Rachel Dawes' characterization is based on the Nolan's Batman films as well as Janet Van Dorn from the Batman: The Animated Series episode entitled The Trial (in which aforementioned episode serves as Rachel Dawes' backstory). In the series, Rachel serves as Gotham's district attorney and is based on the appearance and likeness of Katie Holmes and Maggie Gyllenhaal. 
Also in the series is Summer Gleeson an investigative journalist for the Gotham Gazette, Joan Leland a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum and Roland Daggett a founder and CEO of Daggett Industries. Rucka also cited Gus Fring from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul as a loose inspiration for this iteration of Roland Daggett. 
== Cast of Characters ==
This Gotham Central revival focus on different institutions throughout Gotham with GCPD serving as the connective throughline. The main characters include Renee Montoya, Rachel Dawes, Henry Fielding, Carlos Alvarez, Jack Forbes, Alex Aisi, Calvin Brooks, Jason Bard, Christopher Nakano, Summer Gleeson, Joan Leland, and Roland Daggett. Each character represents different institutions and factions within Gotham as the series explores the intricate relationship between bureaucracy and the effects it has on ordinary people. As well showing the personal consequences of crime, corruption and vigilante superheroes on both public officials and civilians. 
Other characters such as James Gordon, Harvey Bullock, Slam Bradley, Batman, Penguin, Selina Kyle, Ghost-Maker, Underbroker, Luke Fox, etc. serves as supporting and recurring roles.
Category:Gotham City
Category:Comic Books
Category:DC Comics