This Club Has Everything — Reviewing ‘Gotham City Sirens: Unfit For Orbit’ #2

Come on down to Lunaria, the hottest new nightclub in Gotham City. Whew, maybe it’s actually a bit too hot. Ouch, is that fire!? Some pink guy calling himself Despero is here and he’s laughing.

Starting to think this club isn’t what it’s stated to be.

Facing the fire is nothing new for the Gotham City Sirens as they delve deeper into the spaceship-shaped club’s secrets. The second issue of this weekly series dances onto shelves from Leah Williams, Haining, Alex Guimarães, and Tom Napolitano.

Throwing one of the Justice League’s heavy hitting villains against street-level characters is a dangerous move. It requires the ability to write a way for them to not be wiped off the board instantly and not lose a bit of the fun energy already introduced. There is no worry with Williams behind the writing wheel though.

There is plenty of fighting here and while the Sirens give it their all, they’re no match for the Kalanorian warlord. Williams lets all their personalities and abilities shine through as they put up a decent fight. Everything about Despero’s little cult and “owning” talk is as creepy as it’s supposed to feel. Exactly the kind of energy a guy always showing his abs with a toothy grin and purposefully ripped cape might give off.

All of the action flowing through the pages feels so slick and energetic. Plenty of rougher textures are at play as Haining continues to marry the two textures together so easily. Giving everything, even when it’s hard, this slightly charming whimsy that fits the nature of the characters while still being sharp and dangerous, like having arms cut off and threats of fire.

This comic happily rests between regular comics and Black Label comics in many respects. As noted, there is some bloody stuff here but it’s not overly gory. Just the right level for the impact without grossing out too much. It is an arm being ripped off, so any squeamish feelings are natural.

Plenty of flashy colorful individuals and situations flood these pages. Guimarães takes over the colors this time and keeps up the light-but-vibrant feelings from the previous issue. Many of the backdrops are a more natural toned-down palette that sets the overall energy of the spaces. Lots of metals and other colors, but backgrounds that are often just splashes of color like blue or purple to really play into the club atmosphere.

Slick and glossy, but in the best ways possible. Just really fun on every single visual level.

Felt deeply in the always awesome lettering work of Napolitano. Giving every bit of dialogue, exclamation, and more such vivid bursting energy. Just such a weightless feeling as it floats around the page, hitting with powerful impact. Especially in the timing for landing the more humorous beats.  Colorful flashes enter for some of the characters to give their voices more uniqueness, and fonts shift around to make emotional and physical moments land even more.

Gotham City Sirens: Unfit For Orbit #2 is now available from DC Comics.