Comic Book Review: Gotham City Sirens #16

Literary & Artistic Credits

Writer: Peter Calloway

Penciller: Andres Guinaldo

Inker: Bit

Colorist: JD Smith

Letterer: Travis Lanham

Cover Art: Guillem March

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion

This issue is a definite boost in the right direction.  Peter Calloway’s “Beginning Again” story for the Sirens is very intriguing.  However, I believe a trend is evolving for Catwoman as she seems to constantly be dealing with the paranormal and supernatural within this title, and #16 reeked of it.  Even towards the end of the book, the moment before Selina is dragged into the ground has a very “cultish” feel.  The potential in this story is tremendous though and I can’t wait for #17 to come out.

I was jolted by the artwork, not gonna lie!  The first four pages caught me way off guard as being poorly printed and colored.  But then I realized what was going on.  The 4^th page where Selina and Bruce embrace each other was absolutely gorgeous and reminded me of a Victorian style painting one could find in a historical museum.  But aside from that, the book kept bouncing back and forth between moments of brilliance and low quality art.  The body structures many times looked very pruny and lumpy.  But other scenes, like Harley’s first attempt at getting Selina and Ivy’s attention, are incredibly detailed and full of angst.  There was never a consistent quality traveling throughout the book; it seemed to go 50/50 in its artistic quality and laziness.

I love how Harley is utilized in this issue.  Everyone, even readers, always seem to take Harley for granted, throwing her off as the demented comedic relief who can swing a mean hammer!  It was nice to see Calloway show that, as crazy and kookoo as she is, Harley still knows when she and her friends are in danger and we shouldn’t ignore her as often as we do.  (I’d certainly like to see Harley feature in a future arc, wouldn’t you?)

The dialogue between characters was very creative, especially when it came to Harley doing her best to point out the next big thing.  But I did take issue with Zatanna’s brief explanation (or lack thereof) of why Ivy needed to stay away.  Selina hit the nail on the head, how in the world is she supposed to keep Ivy away when she herself has no idea what’s about to happen that will piss Ivy off so much.  She could have at least instructed Selina to keep Ivy away from the windows so she couldn’t see the immense forest fire.  I felt this was a poorly written plot device on Calloway’s part.

Let’s get straight to it, that cover is amazing!  It’s one of the reasons why I think Guillem March is one of THE BEST comic book artists in the field; there is just so much depth and angst in everything he does.  However, I’d like to know what the hell it has to do with the story inside?  Who the fuck is that women holding the sword and why is Catwoman ready to pounce her?  Ugh, please people, make some sense of all this!

My Majestically Climactic Conclusion

I love the Sirens, and this issue is a lot of fun.  I can’t say it’s a great issue, but it’s definitely moving in the right direction as far giving the Sirens the much needed edge to bring it out of the dull drums it’s been lingering in for a few months. 

Rating: 7 out of 10  

Writing: 7

Art: 7

Themes: 7

Comic Book Review: Gotham City Sirens #15

Literary & Artistic Credits

Writer: Tony Bedard

Penciller: Andres Guinaldo

Inker: Lorenzo Ruggiero

Colorist: JD Smith

Letterer: Steve Wands

Cover Art: Guillem March

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion

This is the type of storyline I like to see coming out of the Gotham City Sirens; it’s bold, fresh, and separate from all the other titles, meaning you don’t have to rely on plot from other comics in order to understand this one.  It’s such a shame to see such a good idea fall short of its intended customer satisfaction.  That’s not too say this issue isn’t fun to read, there are simply a few unexplained details and uncharacteristic events that go all through out #15.

Ivy has become an unknowing slave-agent to her new flora boyfriend from another world.  Harley and Catwoman make a daring attempt to save their friend, but Ivy’s powerful green thumb (Or in this case purple) is more than the Siren duo can handle.  It takes Harley crawling on her stomach towards Ivy, pleading for her to remember they are friends and that this plant-guy is merely using her to progress his own personal goal.  Ivy comes to her senses and tricks her seducer into kissing her, killing him off almost immediately.

My problem with this issue comes in many small increments.  Overall the issue is fun to read and very creative, but there are a few aspects from Ivy and Catwoman that seem very uncharacteristic.

Catwoman has given Batman a run for his money numerous times and has held her own against some of the most powerful creatures in the universe.  Yet when it comes to plant beings from another world, she becomes as delicate as a little kitten.  Yes, there is a moment where Selina is able to slip in a significant attack which throws Ivy off guard, but overall I felt Catwoman was way off her game.  Now this could be to give Harley and Ivy that meaningful exchange as a way of reminding us that the clown and the plant have been best friends for more than a decade, in which case it makes sense.  But I’d prefer to have a stronger Catwoman that has, from time and time again, shown she is just as resilient and intelligent as Batman.

Likewise, I find it interesting that one of most villainous and diabolical characters in the Batman world is so easily manipulated.  This is Ivy’s forte, the ability to manipulate men into doing what she wants them to do, yet she immediately falls for this homely alien plant-man at the drop of a hat.  I would have at least been happy if Ivy stayed a little more cautious about her new boyfriend’s intentions.  I was ecstatic to see Ivy finally figure it all out after Harley’s groveling and put an end to the manipulative alien.

One question is wandering through my head though, is this alien’s queen actually on her way to Earth or not.  It seemed to me that she was already summoned and her arrival was inevitable.  So are we going to see this come up again later on, or is Bedard hoping we forget about that little fact?

Artistically I was not impressed, but it is very hard to move on to anything else after Guillem March has set the bar so high.  It’s nice to see he’s still doing the covers, but the pages within do not speak to the high level of artistic maturity that the cover establishes.  I say this knowing that Guinaldo is talented and has a better eye for art than most artists in the field, but the problem comes mainly with how stiff the characters seem to be.  I felt coloring Ivy in a shade of purple to help establish this “change” of heart she had gone through was a strange and poor choice to make.  I understand why it was done, but there are better colorization choices that could have been made to show Ivy’s evil side.

My Majestically Climactic Conclusion

Gotham City Sirens has been a delight to read ever since #1.  #15 does not boast well for the future.  Ever since Dini left, the quality of storylines has gone down and isn’t getting better.  But keep in mind the Sirens are still fun too read, but don’t expect anything spectacular or thought provoking.  Only pick up this issue if you just want something extra to read.

Rating: 5.67 out of 10

Writing: 7

Art: 5

Themes: 5

Comic Book Review: Gotham City Sirens #14

Book Information
Written by Tony Bedard
Penciled by Andres Guinaldo
Inked by Lorenzo Ruggiero
Colors by JD Smith & Tomeu Morey
Letters by Steve Wands
Cover by Guillem March

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion
Would everyone please sit down? I think you’ll need to if you’re not already. For the news I’m about to expose to you could very well shock you beyond belief. Here it is…This month’s issue is nothing like last month’s! It’s hard to believe, I know. With all the flack that Tony Bedard’s “feline possession” storyline was getting, it’s hard to imagine that DC Comics actually tried to do something new. It’s true, last month gave us a religious crazy person out to kill her sister as a way of exorcising the cat demon within, now Mr Bedard delivers a story about aliens and plant toxins that doesn’t disappoint.

Ivy discovered a few months ago that Star labs was experimenting with plant toxins in order to make plants grow stronger. She took a job there as a way of keeping a watchful eye on Star only to find out that the company was holding a plant-like alien as the gene donor to further their experiments. In a desperate attempt to free the outer space visitor, Ivy and her pals do all they can to escape Star labs and allow their new found friend to go home. What transpires, however, is a major twist in the pre-conceived notion of our flora friend.

I did enjoy having Ivy back in the pages of the Sirens; it just didn’t feel right not having her running around with the clown and the cat. It’s also nice when DC throws out a classic, cheesy sci-fi horror story in a very serious and dramatic comic book title. Having Tony Bedard writing this issue makes the book even that much more appealing. There’s nothing wrong with Paul Dini, in fact I consider the Sirens to be Dini's litery masterpiece, but Tony has a certain level of class in his writing. 
This story arc brings back so many memories from my early childhood when I was reading young adult sci-fi novels written by Bruce Coville and R.L. Stein; taking something as harmless as plants and turning them against the world. This comic is candy for the sci-fi nerd who appreciates a good classic sci-fi parade.

Lorenz Guinaldo understands how to make each character feel like they are actually moving, giving detail and amazing accuracy to each fist swing, leg kick, and jump. The only problem I face is that without the great Guillem March, I don’t feel like I’m getting the artistic nourishment from when he was consistently penciling the title. It’s a sad thing to say, but when a masterful artist is replaced by a lesser one, it’s hard for me to look past the flaws. Never-the-less, Guinaldo provides us with amazing visuals that most artists can only dream about.

My Awesomely Climactic Conclusion
I’ve wondered constantly when the Sirens are going to become a part of a major story arc in some other title or mini series. They’re already a product of the Batman universe, I could only assume when they would be utilized in the mess made by Grant Morrison. However, much to my surprise, the Sirens have stood to the test and, for over a year have been a successful entity on their own. This toggle between Dini and Bedard is working out to be something of a gold mine, and this issue shows that the potential for next month’s issue is of the charts.

Ratings
Writing: 9
Themes: 10
Art: 8.5
Overall: 9.17 out of 10

Comic Book Review: Gotham City Sirens #13

Book Information
Written by Tony Bedard
Penciled by Peter Nguyen & Andres Guinaldo
Colored by Tony Avina
Inked by Jack Purcell & Raul Fernandez
Lettered by Steve Wands
Cover by Guillem March

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion
The strange and horrific two part horror story of Catwoman’s possessed sister is over, but Tony Bedard has left room for second coming. Last month gave us the introduction of Maggie Kyle who somehow came under the control of an angelic demon whose purpose is to exorcise Selina Kyle and remove the cat demon within her. #13 brings us the battle where Maggie goes up against her own sister and we learn how Maggie came to her insane religious state of mind.

For the most part, I enjoyed this issue, just like I enjoy most of Tony Bedard’s work. He seems to do well when hired for guest writing spots as well as writing exceptionally creepy tales. The back story of Maggie and how she became this insane, Nun-on-steroids was put together quite well and helped to explain this rather sudden change in Selina’s sister. However, I’m not entirely sure it makes sense in the end. One can assume that watching your husband be murdered in the most gruesome way could make you go completely insane, which is what I thought had happened and that Maggie was merely talking to herself and not some fallen angel. But the ending leads us to believe that Maggie was, in fact, possessed by some higher power compelling her to kill her sister. I would very much hope that Paul Dini follows up on this so we may discover the identity of this phantom demon. (Phantom demon…hmmm. Seems like an oxymoron.)

I was disappointed to not have Poison Ivy in the mix, but that isn’t the point of the story, Ivy’s just my favorite Siren is all. (Sniff sniff) But it was a lot of fun to see Harley smashing things with her hammer again! I feel like it’s been ages since she’s gone on a gavel swinging rampage.

With minor little distractions aside, what truly bugged me in this issue was the art. Last month was so amazing I had chills running up my spine. But when you have two separate pencilers and two separate inkers, you’re going to run into problems. Guillem March set such a high standard that it’s sometimes difficult to read this title without him heading the pencil work, but when you make both Harley and Catwoman looks as if they’ve come straight out of an anime cartoon, looking as if they are twelve year old girls stuck in women’s bodies, I can’t help but chuckle. Now I won’t deny that Maggie looked even creepier than in last month’s issue, so points awarded Nguyen and Guinaldo, or whoever took charge of the scary side, but the maturity in the artwork was almost non-existent. Towards the end of the book the artwork got better, but overall it is very unsatisfactory.

But the cover, drawn by the great Guillem March, is fantastically horrifying. I love how the symbology (Shout out to Boondocks Saints, woo hoo!!) of the entire scene represents the crazy state that Maggie is in; this conflict of sadness and obligation of killing Selina permeates all throughout Maggie’s face and extends into the desolate mountainous area behind her.

My Profoundly Climactic Conclusion
Fun story with minimal confusing parts. Overall a very fun read and interesting story arc. I hope Tony Bedard is able to get his hands on more consistent work soon. But DC, please, find some better artists in the future.

Ratings
Writing: 8.5
Themes: 9
Art: 3
Overall: 6.83 out of 10

Comic Book Review: Gotham City Sirens #12

Book Information

Written by Tony Bedard

Penciled by Peter Nguyen

Colored by Tony Avina

Inked by Jack Purcell

Lettered by Steve Wands

Cover by Guillem March

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion

It’s fun to see DC make a good author transition.  Tony Bedard, currently writing for Green Lantern Corps, gives shape to this latest issue of the Gotham City Sirens that is honorable and dignified in Paul Dini’s absence.  This new arc shows Catwoman breaking into a catholic church, searching for files on her missing, formerly nunerized sister Maggie.  We soon discover that Maggie has gone through some maddening spiritual reformation, causing her to believe that cats are demon’s which have taken over her sister’s body. (And I’m sure Tim Burton would second that motion right?)  The only way to save Selina, in Maggie’s mind, is to kill her.

I never picked up Catwoman’s Blackest Night tie-in, so I’m lost on as to what happen with Catwoman’s sister and why she was laying, bruised and beaten on the footsteps of a city house.  But I do know that WHAT I’ve read thus far is interesting and twisted, just the way I like.  It did go a little over the top, especially when Maggie takes the fire poker and bashes it over the exorcists cat, but I guess when it comes to religious fanatics, this is how they would react to demon’s and demon possession right?  But even more interesting, Catwoman now has a new enemy which is 1) her sister, and 2) who has a religious hatred for felines.  If DC decides to utilize Maggie in this capacity for future stories, this could become very interesting in the life of Catwoman.

Nguyen, whose artistic style doesn’t touch Guillem March’s, was able to deliver some pretty powerful images that blend into the story quite well.  The scenes at the exorcist’s house were demonic and terrifying and really made my blood curdle with anticipation.  And boy Maggie’s new “Demon-Nun” outfit was creepy, reminding me of the Phantasm’s outfit.

I was a little disappointed in the minimal usage of Harley, but that’s a minor concern that has very little bearing on the quality of the story.  I just find that Harley’s potential as a character has not been acted out like it should have been by now. 

My Profoundly Climactic Conclusion

Bedard was a good choice to fill in as writer until Dini returns next month, as was Nguyen.  However, I’m sure fans are anxiously waiting the return of both Mr. Dini and Mr. March next month.

Ratings

Writing: 7

Themes: 9

Art: 8

Overall: 8 out of 10