Batman-less series still packs a punch

THERE'S no such thing as a slow day in Gotham City Police Department and that should come as good news for viewers of a new, deliciously dark, 16-episode TV series named after Batman's hometown.

Brimming with suspense and moving at a lightning fast pace, the hour-long pilot of Gotham - which made its debut in the US last week before being fast-tracked to cable channel WarnerTV in Singapore just two days later - is as good as any big-screen superhero outing with its high production values and top-notch casting.

This, despite the fact it doesn't even feature a minute of the Dark Knight in action. Instead, Gotham focuses on the never-before-told origin stories of some of the best-known super villains from the Caped Crusader's comic book series - the twisted and colourful kinds who often prove to be more interesting than the protagonist himself.