Creative Staff:
Story: Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing
Art: Lynne Yoshi, Jose Marzan, Jr.
Colors: Kelly Fitzpatrick
Letterer: Wes Abbott
What They Say:
When a GCG team rolls into trouble in Clayface Valley, will Kara be the only thing standing between them and sudden death?
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
I’ve had a good bit of fun with the first three issues of this series with Kelly and Lanzing delivering some fun ideas that I hope they’re able to really flesh out and dig into more than a superficial way. Digital-first doesn’t mean skimping, which happens from time to time with these kinds of series. The last issue and this one brought in Yoshi and Marzan, Jr. for the art duties and they certainly work well and adhere to the overall style, though it’s just a bit more cartoonish than I care for, especially with Kara. It helps that at the moment the book is working with a simpler design thanks to the location its in because this is a world when in the Garage and other places really needs to look worn, grimy, and part of the age, which I’m not sure they can do like we saw previously from Brian Ching.
This issue keeps things moving as we get the main trio of the moment heading into the canyon to get the goods back, and that means lots of movement. The whole aspect of the canyon being what Clayface has formed into over the years is a really neat idea that works well and has some good moments of use to it but I’d imagine it working better in animation than it does here to give us a sense of motion and being closed in by it. There’s a good bit to like with it as Banshee gets caught up in the attack and that forces Barda to save her as Kara can’t believe that she wouldn’t. The inner dialogue for Barda is good here as it shows that she’s fighting against the conditioning by Granny Goodness that would have her just abandon Banshee while also having her realize that Kara would be right as well. Sometimes a new view can change how you perceive things and while I don’t think Barda is malleable I do think Kara’s voice in all of it will be something that clicks with a part of her own mind that she hasn’t let really be free.
While that unfolds we get Kara racing off to go after the truck with the parts and that has her confronting one of the Red Hood club goons who’s intent on taking her out, which to her still feels like they’re going way too far. It’s a good moment as she’s made to realize that the Red Hood side is after weapons while the Gotham club is after spare parts in the approach on how to use things. Where it goes a little wonky is when one of the devices goes off in front of Kara and it turns out to be a giant sun bomb essentially gives her a big boost of power, freaking out the Red Hood guy while showing what kind of asset she may be to Barda. It’s this moment that she becomes a bit more accepted in the group but I’m hoping for more digging into what all of it means for Kara rather than just “Hurray, I’m powerful now!”
In Summary:
I’m digging the concept for Gotham City Garage a good bit as I’ve liked the setup that we’ve gotten so far and the first superficial look at the main cast. Barda’s getting the most depth now after Kara’s introduction and it works well to establish the familiar things but within the context of this series. We get a bit of a trial by fire (and sun bomb!) for Kara here and a nudge with Barda in dealing with others that shows the changes that Kara’s arrival will make. I like what Yoshi and Marzan bring to the page here and there are some good scenes but I’m just not convinced they’re a good fit for the book overall, especially when it segues into some darker areas that need to hit that grimy and claustrophobic look that it should have to really fit the mood.
Grade: B
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: DC Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: September 27th, 2017
MSRP: $0.99
