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