THIS WEEK: Gotham City Sirens#1-3 arrives! Plus, we have our usual round-up of blurbs about other DC books hitting shops!
Gotham City Sirens #1-3
Writer: Leah Williams
Artist: Matteo Lolli
Colorist: Tríona Farrell
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
There hasn’t been a Gotham City Sirens run since the series ended in 2011, leaving fans eager for a revival after a 13-year hiatus. DC seems to have gone all out for its return, with nine variant covers—including incentive pieces from Ben Harvey and Terry Dodson. With Leah Williams at the helm as the series writer and Matteo Lolli delivering phenomenal artwork, there’s plenty of reason to want be optimistic about these first three issues.
It’s exciting to see the trio—Harley, Ivy, and Selina—back together, bursting through the pages with the same energy that made them iconic. The issue kicks off with Jaina Hudson, aka White Rabbit, fleeing from the newly formed Nasty Boys, a group of villains whose ridiculous himbo cowboy theme adds a unique flair. Right from the start, it’s clear that Punchline is set to be the main antagonist, setting the stage for a showdown that fans have been waiting for.
However, the direction taken with our protagonists is a mixed bag. Harley is portrayed as the quirky ‘woo’ girl, Ivy as the brains, and Selina as the tech support, which feels a bit formulaic. While it’s not disingenuous—there are genuinely funny moments, like Harley dragging bio-mechanical corpses into Ivy’s hideout, turning it into her problem—the character dynamics could have been more nuanced. These interactions, particularly Ivy’s smirk at the chaos Harley brings, feel true to their history, even if Williams presents them in her own way.
The story seems influenced by modern events, such as the chaos surrounding the release of energy drinks like PRIME. The introduction of XO PUNCH, causing riots in Gotham, mirrors these real-world events, grounding the story in a relatable context. The comic also weaves in video game culture, with bio-mechanical corpses controlled by gamers and Punchline streaming on a Gotham equivalent of Twitch, further connecting the narrative to current trends.
It quickly became clear that the series wanted to be its own “fun comic,” aiming for a lighthearted tone centered around the Sirens taking down Punchline’s online empire. That’s not a bad thing—it’s important to remember that the “fun for fun’s sake” crowd deserves just as much attention as the “This is the Only Book That Matters” crowd. However, it was somewhat disappointing to see the next two issues feel a bit rushed and chaotic.
Despite some charming moments between the Sirens—like donning cowgirl disguises from Harley’s “personal collection,” Jaina’s emotional support “gat,” or enlisting Harley’s bodega guy, who only asks for a kiss on the head from Ivy—it was difficult to stay fully engrossed in the story. It’s not that the story was bad; it just felt average.
Overall, the return of Gotham City Sirens is a mixed bag. While it’s thrilling to see Harley, Ivy, and Selina back together, the execution of the story doesn’t quite live up to the hype that the series’ return generated. Leah Williams and Matteo Lolli bring energy and creativity to the table, but the narrative feels uneven—sometimes leaning too heavily on its “fun for fun’s sake” approach at the expense of a more engaging, cohesive story.
Gotham City Sirens excels in its ability to tap into contemporary culture, using real-world influences to craft a story that is both relevant and entertaining. However, the rushed pacing and chaotic storytelling in the later issues prevent it from reaching its full potential. It’s a comic that fans of the Sirens will likely enjoy for its nostalgic value and humorous moments, but it may not satisfy those looking for something more substantial.
As Gotham City Sirens progresses, there’s hope that it will find its footing and deliver a more balanced narrative that fully captures the unique charm of Gotham’s favorite femme fatales. For now, Gotham City Sirens is a fun, if flawed, return to form—one that might leave readers divided, but still curious to see how the four part series ends.
The Round-Up
- Nightwing #117: Written by Tom Taylor, drawn by Bruno Redondo, lettered by Wes Abbot, colored by Adriano Lucas, and edited by Jessica Berbey and Rob Levin. We’re approaching a pivotal moment in Nightwing’s ongoing narrative,
a run that has consistently kept fans on their toes. We see Dick Grayson tackling both internal and external challenges, and it’s clear that the stakes are higher than ever as this series builds towards its next major arc. The issue opens with Dick still grappling with his fear of heights, literally as he hangs from a tighrope before blacking out from fear. Deadman, ever the insightful ally, realizes that Dick’s tension stems from his inability to truly relax, Dick jokes about needing scented candles and a bubble bath, and Deadman, obliges. This unexpected humor doesn’t just serve as comic relief; it gives Dick the mental space to reflect and uncover a crucial detail he had overlooked. He recalls that Shelton Lyle handed him a glass of water in Nightwing #105, which he now suspects was the source of his poisoning. The real emotional crux of the issue comes when Deadman takes drastic action to help Dick confront his fear. Taking control of Dick’s body, Deadman forces him to climb a mountain and leaves him stranded on a ledge for 24 hours. It’s during this grueling ordeal that Dick has a heartbreaking realization: his parents weren’t supposed to die in that fateful accident; he was the intended target. This revelation is devastating, and Taylor does an excellent job of conveying Dick’s pain and guilt through a traumatic flashback where his deceased parents beckon him. However, this emotional breakthrough also becomes the turning point where Dick finally overcomes his fear of heights, symbolically and literally rising above his past traumas. The pacing of the issue, however, feels a bit rushed. The quick resolution of Dick’s fear of heights—an arc that could have been drawn out for greater emotional impact—leaves Bruce’s role in donning the suit feeling somewhat underwhelming. Overall, while the pacing may feel hurried at times, Nightwing #117 continues to deliver the emotional depth and narrative twists that have made this run so compelling. Fans of the series will likely find themselves wanting more as the arc is coming to an end. - Jenny Sparks #1: Written by Tom King, drawn by Jeff Spokes, and lettered by Clayton Cowles. This team came together for this new series and right off the bat I can tell you this series is going to be a hit or miss for a lot of fans. Captain Atom is essentially a husk of his former self and has become someone posing as a god, or someone who believes he could be one, literally quoting the bible as he rampages. From the start the story it showing different parts of peoples lives as they all come together in the end as people Sparks has to save from Atom. While through Sparks view we se her get “summoned” by Batman, told they need her to handle the situation while she tells Bruce and Clark to go back to their cities “The grown ups have work to do”. King really tries to sell her as the badass who doesn’t answer to anyone while also mashing in these other peoples lives into separate panels on the same page. Overall it was somewhat messy as you don’t even know who or why these people are important until the very end. However with this portrayal of Captain Atom does leave you wondering what will happen next, especially given he now has hostages and Sparks is on her way to confront him yet again after he seemingly “killed” her. Despite its somewhat disjointed narrative, the series has intriguing elements that might make readers curious, especially those invested in seeing how Sparks handles the looming threat of a deranged Captain Atom. Whether the series will resonate with all fans remains to be seen, but the tension and unpredictability set the stage for a potentially explosive confrontation. If King and Spokes can tighten the storytelling in future issues, this series might just prove to be a compelling addition to the Jenny Sparks mythos. For now, it leaves us with enough questions to keep us curious about what’s coming next.
a run that has consistently kept fans on their toes. We see Dick Grayson tackling both internal and external challenges, and it’s clear that the stakes are higher than ever as this series builds towards its next major arc. The issue opens with Dick still grappling with his fear of heights, literally as he hangs from a tighrope before blacking out from fear. Deadman, ever the insightful ally, realizes that Dick’s tension stems from his inability to truly relax, Dick jokes about needing scented candles and a bubble bath, and Deadman, obliges. This unexpected humor doesn’t just serve as comic relief; it gives Dick the mental space to reflect and uncover a crucial detail he had overlooked. He recalls that Shelton Lyle handed him a glass of water in 
Jenny Sparks #1: Written by Tom King, drawn by Jeff Spokes, and lettered by Clayton Cowles. This team came together for this new series and right off the bat I can tell you this series is going to be a hit or miss for a lot of fans. Captain Atom is essentially a husk of his former self and has become someone posing as a god, or someone who believes he could be one, literally quoting the bible as he rampages. From the start the story it showing different parts of peoples lives as they all come together in the end as people Sparks has to save from Atom. While through Sparks view we se her get “summoned” by Batman, told they need her to handle the situation while she tells Bruce and Clark to go back to their cities “The grown ups have work to do”. King really tries to sell her as the badass who doesn’t answer to anyone while also mashing in these other peoples lives into separate panels on the same page. Overall it was somewhat messy as you don’t even know who or why these people are important until the very end. However with this portrayal of Captain Atom does leave you wondering what will happen next, especially given he now has hostages and Sparks is on her way to confront him yet again after he seemingly “killed” her. Despite its somewhat disjointed narrative, the series has intriguing elements that might make readers curious, especially those invested in seeing how Sparks handles the looming threat of a deranged Captain Atom. Whether the series will resonate with all fans remains to be seen, but the tension and unpredictability set the stage for a potentially explosive confrontation. If King and Spokes can tighten the storytelling in future issues, this series might just prove to be a compelling addition to the Jenny Sparks mythos. For now, it leaves us with enough questions to keep us curious about what’s coming next.Miss any of our earlier reviews? Check out our full archive!
Aren’t we done with Tom King shitting on yet more characters? Every story has the same beats and tropes, but we’re supposed to think he’s edgy because he has characters smoke and swear — albeit with cutesy “aren’t we naughty?” characters doing the heavy lifting of profanity? I guess his years as a spook gave him access to blackmail material against DC execs.
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