DC’s GCPD: The Blue Wall #1 follows Renee Montoya, still in her early days as the new commissioner of the GCPD, as she works to rebuild the department from top to bottom. The Gotham police force is infamous for its corruption. Public perception is at an all-time low, and Renee is still new to the commissioner role. Along with Renee, this issue introduces a trio of fresh-faced cadets entering the force straight out of the academy. Written by John Ridley with art by Stefano Raffaele, colors by Brad Anderson, and letters by Ariana Maher, GCPD: The Blue Wall #1 takes an earnest and essential look at good people trying to operate in a flawed system.
The issue unfolds as a police procedural. It switches focus between the just-graduated cadets on their first few days on the job and Renee as she struggles with the responsibilities of running the department. Renee is consistently overwhelmed by the burden now on her shoulders, she wants nothing more than to do her job well and enact truly meaningful change in the city, but she doubts herself. Renee is dragged down by the weight of her experiences. In sharp contrast, officers Park, Ortega, and Wells are eager to begin their patrols. Each of the new officers encounters situations that highlight various levels of corruption and bias in policing. How the characters react gives the reader a clear understanding of their personalities.
Ridley does an exceptional job at injecting reality into the fantastical with this issue. It would feel disingenuous to put out a book about policing today without directly addressing the real-world problems society currently experiences with law enforcement. Gotham is a heightened reality, but that doesn’t stop Ridley from tackling important issues with tact. This book opens wearing its heart on its sleeve, a crucial step in gaining the reader’s trust that it will not shy away from discussing the topics at hand. Themes of community, the desire to do good, and the pressures of an oppressive system are all front and center.
Raffaele’s art is packed with detail. The overall feel is gritty and street-level, matching the tone of the book perfectly. Panels are full of life, with an exceptional amount of background detail rendered out from characters to buildings to bars. Faces are drawn with great care, highlighting subtle expressions at crucial moments. Movement is captured effectively in relation to established geography, and the use of panel gutters enhances pacing.
Anderson’s colors are excellent throughout. Lighting in daylight and at night is used to great effect. The colors accent the art and maintain the realistic tone of the book. Maher’s lettering is another wonderful element in the issue. Curse words are blacked out as if they’re classified on a police document. It’s a subtle touch, but it’s just one more thing that makes the entire issue feel cohesive.
There’s a lot to digest in this opening issue. There are heavy and relevant themes at play here that could easily be mishandled in lesser hands. Renee is a standout character in the contemporary DC Universe, and it’s nice to see her take a prominent role in such an important book. This is as strong of a start as a series can ask for, setting the tone and stage for a phenomenal tale. With GCPD: The Blue Wall #1, Ridley and the rest of the creative team present a thought-provoking issue that demands attention.
