John Ridley is a master storyteller. Through movies, television, comics, and more, he not only entertains but educates. He isn’t afraid to take on difficult topics and challenge the viewer no matter what your personal views are. When you wrap up something of his, you’ll often be challenged to think about what you just watched, thinking of your own beliefs. GCPD: The Blue Wall #2 continues that Ridley excellence with an issue that has a little right and wrong and a whole lot of gray.

Some of Ridley’s entertainment has featured multiple storylines eventually coming together. GCPD: The Blue Wall #2 is an example of that as the various stories that began in the debut issue begin to crossover and converge. At the center of the series is three rookie cops, each on their own beat, and their attempt to do good in a corrupt system. At the head of the police is Renee Montoya who has had struggles in her past but also wants to reform the police department. The issue brings a lot together as two of the rookies must deal with the impact of their action and inaction and the third must deal with racism within the force. All three are idealistic in their own way and four weeks into their jobs, realizing that that idealism is being beaten down by reality. It captures the mess that is our modern police force.

The art by Stefano Raffaele is solid. With color by Brad Anderson and lettering by Ariana Maher, the art and color perfectly captures that slightly beat down reality these characters live in. This isn’t a Gotham that’s completely dark, dank, and foreboding. It’s a city that reflects these characters instead. It all good tip towards light and dark at any moment, balancing on a knife’s edge. The comic isn’t full of action, instead emotion is front and center and the team nails it all with a focus on the body language of each character to bring home how much it all weighs on each of them.

GCPD: The Blue Wall #2 is another fantastic issue by Ridley and the team. This entry highlights what he does best as a creator delivering a challenging and tragic issue.

Story: John Ridley Art: Stefano Raffaele
Color: Brad Anderson Letterer: Ariana Maher
Story: 10 Art: 8.5 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle