Gotham City Sirens #1 is written by Leah Williams and published by DC. Artwork is by Matteo Lolli, colours by Triona Farrell and letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Main cover art (left) is by Terry and Rachel Dodson.
Gotham City Sirens #1 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
When a violent and highly illegal energy drink-sponsored hunting operation threatens the lives of wildlife and the residents of Gotham City alike, the only ones fit to save the day are the criminal trio of Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn. Back together again for the first time in years. Sometimes the only way to fight bad is with even worse! With special appearances by White Rabbit, Punchline, and introducing the himbo cowboy henchmen sensation soon to be sweeping the nation known as “The Nasty Boys!” Get your chaps, spurs, and hats out cause it’s hunting season! By the end of story you’ll be covered in guts, goo, and grit! Featuring the talents of Leah Williams, Matteo Lolli, Daniel Hillyard, and more! If you’re not chanting “Hot tubs and headshots and hotties, oh my!” by the end of this four-week-long series, you’re doing it wrong!
Review
DC’s most legendary trio of bad girls gone good make a welcome return to comics today with the first issue in a new, limited-run of Gotham City Sirens. Over a decade since the first run of Sirens came to an end Catwoman, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy are teaming up for a four-issue arc from writer Leah Williams and artist Matteo Lolli. This latest run on the series promise White Rabbit, Punchline and even himbo cowboys, but can it live up to Paul Dini’s blockbuster beginnings?
Williams wastes no time in getting down to business in issue #1. Taking cues from many a blockbuster movie, Gotham City Sirens #1 stars out by quickly setting the scene for each of its three leads. There’s a little leg work to do before seeing the trio back together. But with only four issues in the series there’s no doubt that events are going to move quickly.
First we catch up with Catwoman. Whilst Williams doesn’t explicitly state when Gotham City Sirens takes place it’s clear this isn’t during the events of Absolute Power. That’s also clear from Selina being back in her most recent black costume rather than the current purple. Presumably back on the streets of Gotham, Selina stumbles across Jaina – one half of the White Rabbit consciousness – being chased by our first glimpse at those himbo cowboys. Then it’s over to Harley who finds herself in an equally perplexing situation when she stumbled upon two wannabe cowboys chasing after a herd of bio-organic bison. When events take an even more confusing turn she returns to Ivy who is currently investigating the mysterious ingredients in Gotham’s latest drink craze, the brand new flavour of XO Punch™.
It’s a lot of ground to cover and takes up the bulk of this first issue. But Williams expertly lays out the groundwork for bringing all these plots together in the final pages. You see these three anti-heroes are all investigating parts of the same puzzle and, for now, that all leads to Punchline. What initially feels like an issue of setting the scene for these characters to reunite quickly becomes so much more. Introducing a potential first-level boss and an overarching story which is more than capable of carrying the series through the rest of the month.
The original run on Gotham City Sirens has become the stuff of legend for its incredible artwork by Guillem March. New series artist Matteo Lolli has a style so far removed that is sidesteps all need for comparison. This new book looks great. It feels fresh and most importantly it’s as vibrant as its colourful cast of characters. Colourist Triona Farrell teams well with Lolli’s more angular style with sharp block colours and a palette befitting each of the characters during their re-introduction. These two make a great pairing and I have every hope Gotham City Sirens short run this year will be equally as memorable as its last.
Verdict
A bold start for the new Gotham City Sirens. Superbly written and exquisitely drawn, issue #1 is an enticing start to the new four-issue/four-week limited series.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
