What makes
GOTHAM CITY SIRENS such a fun book?
The charm, wit, and absolute dedication to character that writer Paul Dini brings to it.
But what happens when you take Dini out of the equation?
Yikes!
Issue 3, by guest writer Scott Lobdell (whose past work made him mostly a Marvel man), writes a couple of instances of wit ... but not much charm and not much attention to character. Most of the issue is about Dick Grayson's Batman deciding if he can trust The Riddler; and it's okay, but this book is supposed to be about Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn trying to be good in a world where they know how to be bad. Selina and Ivy appear only momentarily at the very beginning as hateful shrews before storming away angry, which is a slap in the face to those of us picking up the book to read the girls as only Mr. Dini can write them.
On the other hand, I'm almost glad that this issue barely even acknowledges the storyline Dini set up in issue 2, with Tommy "Hush" Elliot -- posing as Bruce Wayne -- attempting to woo Harley Quinn to get revenge on Selina and Ivy. I really don't want anybody but Dini dealing with that development, but that still doesn't make this fill-in issue worth three bucks.
Guillem March's art is as solid as always, but I'd rather see him drawing the titular sirens in adventures mapped out by Mr. Dini than sketching Batman and the Riddler scowling at each other.
Despite its amazing cover, I just really didn't feel like this was worth it. (And fear not! Dini's back next month, along with business as usual.) - John Bierly
