Gotham always has room for more vigilantes.
Mother Panic has always seemed like the odd man out in DC's Young Animal lineup. It's the only one of the four books to feature a wholly original character, yet in many ways that characters more comfortably fits the superhero mold than Cave Carson or Shade. It even takes place in Gotham City. And it's clear from the art alone that this is a far darker, grimmer book than the rest. At its core, Mother Panic #1 tells a fairly straightforward story of a new vigilante making her debut on the Gotham scene, but the tone and presentation are more than enough to set this series apart from the rest of the Batman family.
Mother Panic #1 is probably most intriguing as a counterpoint to writer Jody Houser's work on Faith. Whereas that series offers an idealistic look at a new heroine building her reputation, Mother Panic introduces a much darker and more brooding anti-heroine. Violet Paige is an heiress of Gotham celebrity who returns to town with a very violent mission in mind. The fact that she actually says the line, "F*** Batman!" during the course of this issue tells you all you really need to know about the character and her relationship with Gotham's other heroes.
The Gotham connection is easily the least compelling element of this book. Strong as the Batman franchise is right now, we hardly need another book featuring the Caped Crusader and his crowd. But that connection is also the book's most superfluous element. Instead it's the surreal tone that gives Mother Panic its flavor. Houser doesn't reveal a great deal about Violet and her past in this issue, leaving readers to fill in blanks and question what exactly her mission and motivations are. The fractured narrative and off-kilter approach to this superhero origin story give the book a dreamy quality, particularly during a sharply written scene introducing a very highbrow serial murderer.
Tommy Lee Edwards (who co-created the concept along with Young Animal showrunner Gerard Way) has rarely been more at home on a book. Edwards distinctive scratchy, moody style makes the book feel like equal parts psychedelic romp and gritty crime noir. It's not just the heavy lines and shadows that set the tone, but Edwards' varied and striking use of color. There are cases where there's an annoying lack of consistency to a character's physical appearance, but not to the point where the narrative becomes confusing.
Rounding out this issue is a brief backup story from writer Jim Krueger and artist Phil Hester. This tale leans more heavily on the "R-rated Batman" angle, but with strng results. The idea of framing the story from the perspective of an optimistic radio DJ is clever, and Hester's intricate grid layouts (which grow steadily more dense and frantic as the tension mounts) effectively bring the script to life.
The Verdict
Now that all four titles have made their debut, it's safe to call DC's Young Animal imprint a resounding success. Mother Panic is a somewhat more traditional superhero story, but the psychedelic visual style and and surreal, fractured narrative give the book a flavor all its own. Time to add yet another Gotham-based comic to your pull list.
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