GCPD: The Blue Wall #6 is published by DC Comics, written by John Ridley and illustrated by Stefano Raffaele.
Issue #6 is available 22nd March 2023 either directly from DC Comics online or from your local comic book store, digital copies will be available to download from the usual content providers.
Synopsis
With Gotham City in a state of panic over the recent murders and the GCPD buckling under the weight of the department’s connection to the crimes, can Police Commissioner Renee Montoya restore peace without crossing the line herself?
What price is she willing to pay in order to do what is right?
Review
In this issue we are placed in the midst of all out panic on the streets of Gotham as Danny Ortega continues his murder spree, the GCPD are ramping up their efforts to capture this threat to the public of Gotham but also a threat to their own force as the police are the main target of Ortega’s revenge fuelled murder campaign. It is of the upmost importance that Commissioner Montoya gets on top of this to assure the public that all her efforts to clamp down on crime isn’t just open gestures and she can be seen as a proactive leader, but this isn’t just a public situation as Ortega also took out Montoya’s brother so it has a more personal impact too as this has the potential to take Montoya deeper down that darker path once more. Montoya is determined to finish this without the help of a famous caped hero, this is something the GCPD force can do alone, but can they?
Thanks to John Ridley the much told story of Gotham and it’s police force has been given a completely different lease of life adding a level of realism that makes the dark Gotham world come alive. I have always loved the various stories coming from Gotham beit comic or screen version but this particular story arc has bar far been my favourite, it has a genuine raw emotion that just hits on a whole new level and I would definitely love to see this adapted for screen.
The illustrations of this book have a raw energy that makes you feel the emotion of the written words, Stefano Raffaele has kept that almost DC trademark style that the fans will come to expect but it seems to add more depth to the story allowing the reader to personally feel the story on each page.
Verdict
An emotionally intense story that brings a whole new realism to Gotham, this story is relatable but has a raw energy that take you deep into the darkest streets of Gotham. This is John Ridley’s writing at his best.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐