Gotham City Sirens 9 review and spoilers

Gotham City Sirens continues to be a wonderful book to read as Paul Dini continues to add layers and depth to Batman’s supporting villains cast. This month the Riddler comes into the spotlight and since he is one of my favorite Bat Villains I was more than pleased with this issue. Guillem March continues to delivery a beautifully drawn book and I’m convince he is a rising star that I look forward to following his career. If DC Comics hasn’t made him exclusive they certainly should. My only complaint with this book is everybody’s gripe with it that Catwoman continues to not get enough face time in this book. Selina could certainly do with a spotlight issue herself since everyone else in this book has had their turn. Riddle me this, are there spoilers ahead? Holy Edward Nigma yes Bat Fan!

This is issue starts with a break into the Riddler’s office, it seems the girls have come across another dead body that someone might think they are responsible for so they need good old Eddie’s help. The Riddler gets to show off his detective skill right off the bat (pun intended) by correctly deducing they girls are in trouble because they have broken in, are in their “work” clothes, plus Ivy has tied up his secretary in his lobby. If they have gone to this much trouble to seek his help someone must be dead he says. Right you are Riddler, someone has dropped a dead body right though the skylight of the girl’s hideout and into their swimming pool.

The Riddler presses the girls for details of their day and what happened before this and we get an update on what is happening everybody’s personal lives. The humor begins with Harley telling us about her day and gets sidetracked a lot. We do find out the some of her day is spent arguing with on line friends about whether vampires or werewolves are better. Harley is definitely in the Vampire camp and I bet she’s watched an episode of Buffy or two, but she was probably rooting for Spike and Angel. After getting sidetracked a few more times she reveals that she was relaxing in the swimming pool after walking the hyenas they rescued from the fake Joker a few issue back. She has no idea where the body came from that crashed into the pool she was lounging in.

Next Ivy tells us that she was at a job interview. The Riddler was incredulous of this but it is true. Ivy’s trip to the Amazon has made her realize that she needs more connection with the human world. She has decided to work at  S.T.A.R. labs and has altered her skin tone from green to appear normal, faked a resume and amped up her pheromones to convince the head of research to give her the job no questions asked. She is now the new director of bio-chemical research. She knows nothing of the body either since she arrived home just when the body came crashing though the skylight.

Catwoman updates us on her heart condition by telling us she has checked in with Doctor Midnight and he has pronounced her good to go. She decides to test this out by going a few rounds with Wildcat so we get some good old fashion brawling for a few pages. Selina is feeling renewed and good about herself and returns home in time to see the body still alive fall from the sky and say the word “Doctor.” So she has an alibi also. The Riddler realizes they can’t go to the cops because of their reputation and has been presented a riddle to solve so he takes the case and investigates.

Nigma makes his way to the crime scene and realizes that it is a setup since the victim has been made to look like our trio killed him. He seems at odds with himself during his inspection, a recent bomb blast has brought out his bad side and he is wrestling to keep it under control. The thing that keeps both his sides going is the puzzle that is presented of the frame up of the Sirens. Further investigation leads him to the basement and causes him to have to fight off a jungle of animals kept there. Avoiding a lion’s attack the Riddler is confronted with the real mastermind behind the murder Doctor Aesop. I must admit I’m not familiar with this guy so I can’t say much about him but he promises a face off of riddles vs. fables next issue that should prove interesting.

I am thoroughly enjoying the Riddler new status of master detective of Gotham and I hope Dini and DC stick with this for a while. Anybody can rob banks but how many can challenge Batman for the title of world’s greatest detective? Of course smart money is on Batman to win that one but it is fun to watch Eddie try to wrestle the title from him. The development of Ivy at STAR labs should lead to some fun story ideas and trouble. Harley is just plain silly fun out of the Joker’s shadow, who doesn’t love her? Now if Catwoman would just get back to kicking major ass this book would be down right purrrr-fect! Ouch, sorry couldn’t resist, too many Batman the TV show re-runs when I was a kid.