Broken Frontier

This was my first issue of Gotham City Sirens, and it was the figure of the Riddler sharply dressed in a bright green suit that prompted the purchase. The idea of Edward Nigma as a private investigator is new to me, though it may be old hat to those familiar with the continuity. It's intriguing to me for the master of riddles to be solving them instead of creating them as a foil to the Batman. Paul Dini's story plays out in the familiar noir trope of the damsel (in this case damsels) in distress (in this case not so vulnerable) relaying their tale to the Private Eye.

The issue is a paragon of character development, giving us a great insight into the private lives and desires of the three principal sirens, as well as the conflicted mental state of the Riddler. Through small details, such as the Internet habits of Harley Quinn, the weekly sparring session of Selina Kyle and Wildcat, and the secret desire of Pamela Isley for a “normal” job, Dini creates an instant likability for these super-villains. The plot is compelling, so even though the villain's identity is revealed at issue's end there is enough of a cliffhanger to bring the reader back for the conclusion.

The art is by Guillem March, whose work I was not familiar with, but whose illustration style is both beautiful and suited to the material. He excels in portraying the female form, but that is by no means the limit of his talent. He handles action and gesture with naturalistic grace, and draws believable backgrounds and objects. Some page designs are a little wonky, but not enough to be confusing or distracting. I look forward to seeing more of his work on this title or anything else.

The combination of Dini and March brings a mood and style to this book that pleases the Batman fan in me. Gotham City has long been a character in the Bat universe, and when executed correctly, it is a fantasy city where the darkness of the cityscape is cut with colorfully dressed characters with a not quite normal take on life. Though Batman is nowhere to be found here, that pleasing atmosphere is, in spades. Reading Gotham City Sirens made me smile. And that's enough to expect from funny books these days.