MOTHER PANIC #1
Written by Jody Houser
Art by Tommy Lee Edwards
Published by DC Comics (Young Animal)
Batman maybe Gotham’s most famous hero, but he’s not the only one running around town in a mask. Mother Panic is in town, but the question remains: is she a hero, or a villain?
In Mother Panic #1 we meet Violet Page. She’s filthy rich, she’s got an attitude, she’s part of Gotham’s elite, and oh yeah: she’s a vigilante. Some of this might sound familiar, but it isn’t. DC may claim this takes place in the same Gotham we know, but it didn’t feel like it. Everything about Mother Panic is stranger and more offbeat than anything in the Batman books.
Mother Panic is written by Jody Houser, and I have to admit I am not familiar with her work. There are some strong moments with character development in this issue, mostly during the flashbacks peppered throughout the comic. But I felt that the overall story was missing something. I guess I was expecting for “wow” from a first issue.
The highlight of the first issue is Tommy Lee Edwards’ art, which in this book showcases two styles of art. At first this can be jarring, but once you get used to it the art actually fits the story rather well. The costume design is another matter. I still can’t decide if I like it or not, but I’m sure it will be very popular during conventions.
During my Black Friday comic buying, I decided to pick up a copy of Mother Panic #1 from DC’s Young Animal imprint. I didn’t know much about this book other than the promos said it took place in Gotham City.
It’s safe to say that Mother Panic is not for everyone. And it’s definitely not for children. This book has violence, and four letter words. Although I didn’t love Mother Panic #1, I didn’t hate it either. At the end of the day, if you like the new Young Animal imprint so far, Mother Panic might be worth trying out.