Review:
This sleek and beautiful book is bursting its leather, spandex and leafy seams, so packed is it with brilliance. With witty banter, non-stop action, villains reformed and heroes deformed, it is a tour de force collecting the first year of the Gotham City Sirens ongoing series from 2009-10.
It all starts with a brilliant concept: three of the Batman's most persistent and popular female villains band together, not to kill the bat, but to turn over a new leaf and follow a more straight-and-narrow path - well, sort of. They wind up as partners and roommates. They promise to have each other's back and be there for one another physically, emotionally, mentally. Again, sort of.
I mean, there is Ivy's attempt to drug Selina and extract the identity of the Batman. And her gagging of Harley Quinn at inopportune moments to silence her childish chatter, even if she is the only one who sees what is really going on.
But whether it is adapting to Catwoman's weaker heart or finding and plunging a desiccated Ivy in a pond to resurrect her, or keeping Harley from bat relationship choices, there is a clear respect, bond, even affection between them.
And what a ride they give us readers! Writer Paul Dini does the heavy lifting script-wise, giving us confrontations with Hush in disguise, Joker and Gabby and Doctor Aesop. Carnage and chaos and clever, caring conversations. The Riddler is also a regular in these pages, another reformed rogue - sort of. He gets a standalone team up with a new Batman as Scott Lobdel pens a one-shot chapter and Mister Nigma gets several other more-than-cameo appearances.
Why all the "Sort of" descriptions here? These classic characters have well-known passions, motives, foibles and they are all present in these pages. But Dini uses our familiarity with their villainy to tell a richer story with more complex characters, ones whose motivations and decisions are always to be viewed through a multi-faceted lens.
Check out, for example, the sweet, if dark, Christmas special (#7) in which each of the three leading ladies marks the festive season in their own unique way. As much about death and dysfunction as peace on earth.
Guillen March's visuals are stunning. With action bursting from every page, good use of forced perspective and extreme close-up, fluid borders to panels with characters regularly overflowing. He especially shines in the darker arcs, the darkest of all being the serial killer one-shot tale that he plotted and drew, with Mark Andreyko putting his concepts into dialog.
Tony Bedard also pops in for a two-parter focused on Catwoman and her holy nun of a sister. The sister, unfortunately, is convinced that she can drive the demon from Selina. Dark, delicious if a bit more magical than the typical Batman universe fare.
There is so much to like about this collection, a highly recommended four capes.
Description:
From Emmy and Eisner Award-winning Paul Dini (DETECTIVE COMICS, Batman: The Animated Series) comes GOTHAM CITY SIRENS BOOK ONE!
Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn—they’re beautiful, they’re deadly, and for the first time in their lives, all three are trying to fly on the straight and narrow. Tired of playing by other people's rules, regardless of which side of the law they're on, these tough ladies have a new agenda that's all their own, and they'll use any means necessary to pursue it.
Only, sometimes, friends can be more trouble than they're worth. Particularly when they're unaccustomed to things like loyalty… or sanity.
With the Bat away, these sirens will play, and no one— not Hush, the Riddler, or even the Joker—knows what to expect from the bad girls of Gotham City. But life off the lam is no bed of roses. Especially when maniacs are killing innocents and making it look like the Sirens are the culprits, when Ivy’s new civilian identity proves murderously difficult to maintain, and when Catwoman’s sister comes to town to ride of the demon she believes possesses her… and rid her of her life in the process!
Featuring the gorgeous artwork of Guillem March (BATMAN), Andres Guinaldo (NIGHTWING), and more, Batman’s hottest rogues tread a new path by the along with writers Paul Dini, Tony Bedard (SUPERGIRL), Scott Lobdell (TEEN TITANS), and Marc Andreyko (BATWOMAN) in GOTHAM CITY SIRENS BOOK ONE.
Authors: Paul Dini, Tony Bedard, Mark Andreyko
Artists: Guillem March
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: Oct. 28 2014
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1401251758
Pages: 320 pages
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