The current Gotham City Sirens miniseries is immediately endearing, and it accomplishes this by assuming that the reader is already familiar with all its characters and moving parts. Very little time has been spent on establishing exposition with no pre-existing dramatic hurdles to clear. We’re thrown into a book featuring characters we love with their relationships in clean working order, as ready to throw themselves into a fresh new adventure as we are.
This might sound like a minor feat, but Gotham City is a notoriously sticky setting, narratively. There are Gotham Wars to be considered. Our main heroes have their solo book struggles to worry about. Hell, Harley Quinn was recently abducted back into the Suicide Squad with the barest of repercussions.
DC Comics
Ignoring all that allows our Sirens the freedom to luxuriate in their funny, comfortable relationships. The absurdity of a cat fetishist, clown, and plant woman BFF triumvirate never feels more natural than in the snappy quips of longtime association.
Gotham City Sirens #2 unveils a bit more of series baddie Punchline’s evil plot, which is rooted in the uncomfortable realities of streamer culture and brand deals. There’s more than a small bit of parody in her pushing energy drinks, Logan Paul-style, in a world where online content is becoming more and more branded. That her energy drink also turns its consumers into zombies may be a bit on the nose, but her streaming model is surprisingly salient: skimpy clothing video game streams are by no means uncommon.
DC Comics
Kidnapping other women to expand the brand? I can’t say if that’s a common practice or not.
The book’s sense of humor might be its most magnetic aspect. Writer Leah Williams captures a kookiness in her Harley that sings. The relationships in the book feel earnest, well-tread, and delightful.
DC Comics
Taking over the reins from last issue’s artist, Matteo Lolli, is Daniel Hillyard, who leans into cartoonishly exaggerated facial expressions and occasionally goofy sight gags. The issue doesn’t feature as much action as its predecessor – but then, we aren’t spending as much time with stampeding buffalo bots, ATV chases, and actively feeding carnivorous plants as we did last issue.
Gotham City Sirens #2 continues one of the most fun minis of the year. Snappy, cute, and filled with keen character insight, it’s a must-read for fans of any (or all) of these badass anti-heroes.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login