Book Review: Gotham City Sirens Vol. 4: Division

Book: Gotham City Sirens Volume 4: Division (trade issues: #20-21, 23-26) by Peter Calloway with illustrations by Guillem March

Description:

Together, Catwoman, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy are three of Gotham City's most powerful quasi-reformed criminals. But when Harley stages a riot in Arkham Asylum to reach her former employer and lover the Joker, it could be the beginning of the end for Gotham City Sirens.

As the situation inside Arkham quickly spins out of control, and Harley becomes more and more mired in her obsession with the Clown Prince of Crime, Poison Ivy and Catwoman struggle over how to handle their estranged teammate. The Gotham City Sirens are ready to make their final stand, but will they be fighting each other?

Hell hath no fury like a Gotham City Siren.



Rating: 5 stars

My Review:

I read the single issues including issue #22 (which is not included in the trade) which was a cross-over story with Batman and Red Robin. These amazing stories were the last seven issues of the series before the reboot.

The first story "Hell Hath No Fury" (issues #20 and #21), had Harley Quinn deciding to change her life by going after the Joker who was in Arkham Ayslum. She wanted to put a permanent end to him. In this story, Harley is shown outsmarting everything and everyone that she goes up against to break into Arkham. Harley's bubbly personality makes people under estimate that she's deadly and very clever, which I think she uses to her advantage. At the end of the story, you have Poison Ivy and Catwoman on the way to stop Harley. However, some mysterious force is calling out to Catwoman (the cross-over story) and has her changing her plans.

The second story "Judgment on Gotham" (issues #22 which is not included in the trade) was a cross over with Batman issues #708 and #709 and Red Robin issue #22. In this story Azrael is trying to judge Gotham city and it's protectors: Batman, Catwoman and Red Robin. The three of them go through various trials to see if they are worthy. In issue #22, Catwoman find herself having to deal with her unstable sister Maggie along with dealing with her judgement from Azrael and The Crusader. This story was dark but very interesting.

The last story "FRIENDS" continues from "Hell Hath No Fury" with Harley who has now rejoined with the Joker to wreak havoc in Arkham along with other patients and convicts. During the chaos, Poison Ivy shows up trying to get Harley to leave with her before Batman arrives. However, this only results in a fight between the two ladies and shows how Harley is as good at mind games as the Joker. Batman does indeed arrive but with Catwoman and you get to see the parallels between the teams of Joker and Harley versus Batman and Catwoman.

In the end Batman ends the chaos at Arkham putting the Joker, Harley, Poison Ivy and the rest of the patients back in cells but that doesn't end this story. Poison Ivy is given the opportunity to seek her revenge against Catwoman and convinces Harley to join her. The two end up finding Catwoman but the fight doesn't go as planned. However, there was information disclosed that changed everything.

I have to say this series was great and reading the last page marked an end to this awesome Bad Girls series. Too bad this ended because something that I would have loved to have seen, a Birds of Prey and Gotham City Sirens cross over story. That will only happen now if it's in an elsewhere story.

I will start posting reviews for the New 52 Catwoman, Suicide Squad (Harley Quinn) and Birds of Prey (Poison Ivy) real soon.