Waiting for that inevitable dagger.
Creative Staff:
Story: Jody Houser
Art: Shawn Crystal
Colors: Jean-Francois Beaulieu
Letterer: John Workman, Shawn Crystal
What They Say:
An unexpected face from the past throws Mother Panic’s mission into turmoil. But things from Gather House are never what they seem, especially friendships. Meanwhile, a plan is set in motion at the Pike Hotel to figure out exactly what’s going on in Rebecca’s head. Also features the next exciting chapter of “Gotham Radio” by critically acclaimed team of Jim Krueger and Phil Hester!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Mother Panic came together for me in the last issue in that way that some books do after a while where it just clicks and you figure it out. Jody Houser has worked what seems like a straightforward character in Violet so far and there’s a certain truth to that. But as each story expands what we know in past and present we get the far more complicated character to sink our teeth into. It also didn’t hurt that Shawn Crystal came onto the book for this arc and it just worked so well that it just elevated things. Each artist brings something strong to this series but Crystal added that extra ingredient I needed in order to understand how my mind was processing this as a Grendel-esque kind of series.
This issue is one that’s more about the dialogue than anything else as it’s very light on the action. The tension, however, is there throughout. Violet’s time with Jane is one where she knows that Jane is going to drive a dagger into her because that’s what Gather House was all about in many ways. Jane’s almost meek ways aren’t disarming Violet but she thinks she can get information out of her without revealing much about herself or what she knows. But Jane’s simple questions, and her knowledge that Mother Panic is Violet, does disarm Violet in a lot of ways, especially in the removal of her mask. The two have some really interesting bits of dialogue as they talk on the balcony where Jane has made sure that Wilson hasn’t followed her and it’s really engaging to watch in how they both react.
The flashes to the past highlights more of Violet’s past, again awash in an orange that’s unsettling, as we see how Jane befriended her to her own potential detriment. These are interesting little additions and adds to the complicated history that Violet has with Gather House and its residents, something that Jane only survived by not being there when Violet burned it all down. While she did escape she’s under the control of another as we saw with her husband and you knew that was going to complicate things. Seeing his involvement with Gala and how that will draw back to Violet does make you a bit sad, especially in seeing what Jane ends up doing to make sure that she doesn’t end up hurt herself after being caught, because you do hope that Violet misjudged and that Jane hasn’t gone down as bad a path as she has. But we wouldn’t have as good of a story.
In Summary:
Mother Panic is firing on all cylinders for me and sometimes even more so when there isn’t any action to the book. This is a solid character piece that moves us through more of Violet’s past, the connection with Jane expanded, and a good look once again at how Violet processes things and deals with those that she knows she can’t trust, which is pretty much everyone. Events turn quickly at the end here and I’m excited to see how badly it goes for all involved the next time around. The real win for me with this issue is the combination of all the creative elements that results in the book but Shawn Crystal’s artwork once again makes this resonate in a way that just delights me from the first panel to the last. Very good stuff.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 17+
Released By: DC Comics/Young Animal via ComiXology
Release Date: September 27th, 2017
MSRP: $3.99
