'Gotham': Trailer gives a glimpse at the Fox series based in the world of Batman
There are few comic book properties as bankable as Batman, yet fans have been somewhat unsure of what to expect from , Fox鈥檚 upcoming TV show set in the Dark Knight鈥檚 hometown. Originally pitched as a Batman series before Batman, instead following the young in his rise through the ranks of the city鈥檚 corrupt police force. Now the classic villains have begun to appear, and the first trailer leaves no doubt that when Bruce Wayne is a character in just about anything, he鈥檒l be sharing the spotlight.
It鈥檚 easy to understand why would be one of the main points of the first look at the series (courtesy of ), since both he and the murder of his parents is universally known among comic fans. The first trailer attempts to introduce Jim Gordon as the man vowing to find the culprits behind the Waynes鈥� murder, while also promising that his journey into Gotham鈥檚 criminal underworld will be filled with enough characters to keep him busy for weeks. It鈥檚 a tough balance, but clearly one that Fox finds satisfactory, as the series has received .
It鈥檚 promising to see Jim Gordon take center stage in the first footage, even if he is sharing it with elements of the Batman mythology that have been deeply explored already. Luckily, the darker side of Gotham City seems to be important in the show鈥檚 DNA as well, and with this brief look implying something between The CW鈥檚 and a typical police procedural, it鈥檚 obviously the characters that will help differentiate the action from similar 鈥榬ealistic鈥� crime dramas.
It鈥檚 worth pointing out that the showrunners would not feature Gordon鈥檚 promise to Bruce Wayne so prominently if it weren鈥檛 a sign of what to expect. Since viewers don鈥檛 have to worry about the story suddenly jumping decades into the future (as is the case with most Batman origin stories), that means the chance to see how Bruce actually learned to understand the crime in his city, and of the importance of law itself. Gotham might take a step away from the comics and make Jim Gordon the one who teaches him, as well.
Some comic fans might bristle at a TV series messing with canonical origin stories, wishing instead to see Wayne鈥檚 training come after years of self-inflicted exile. But there will be plenty of other chances for die-hard comic fans to celebrate 鈥� or attack 鈥� with the wealth of villains on hand. Although , , and a young Poison Ivy are only glimpsed, expect them all to play a significant part, even if it may not be in the form or costume fans have come to know and love.
Andrew Dyce blogs at .
