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A Never-Ending Blue Flu.

Not only am I losing the only funny sitcom on network television (Arrested Development)...But now, I am going to lose one of the BEST written comics. Ever...

Gotham Central will shut its doors with issue 40, although the powers that be claim a "similar" book will rise from its ashes in the guise of Streets of Gotham (or something like that). You know, as bummed as I am, I can't say I am all that surprised. Gotham Central, for all my boasting and even buying of for non-comic book reading folks (who will now want to kill me when they read this) I KNEW Gotham Central's days were number since issue 1.

Gotham Central was just a book that I think DC could not keep justifying financially... The numbers were never high enough for the suits and while a book with an iconic character can survive low numbers for DECADES, one with cops as the focus and the costumes as background just wasn't going to fly. (Although, I am willing to bet ANY of the smaller companies would have killed for GC's numbers).

I can still be bummed, but I can't hate DC for this. They gave Gotham Central way more support then most non-iconic books received. (See, Fallen Angel at DC – bless you IDW). However, as Arrested Development (and countless other shows/movies/books) proved, awards and critical acclaim can only slow cancellation, not stop it.

Someday, when I am lord and master of either the DC or Marvel universe, I will give Greg Rucka and/or Ed Brubaker carte blanche to create any hardboiled detective series they want, and sales numbers be damned, I will let the books run until they can’t write anymore stories. Hell, I’ll even pull a West End Games and take my hard-earned money and put it into a Gotham Central, Sleepers, or Felon television series and begin the hands-down pummeling of Law and Order.

But, until that time comes… I’d be happy if they just kept Gotham Central on the selves.

And brought back Felon…