City Siren TP
Screenwriter: Joanne Staller
Artist: Cary Randolph
Colorist: Khary Randolph, Chapter 1 with Matt Herms 5-6
Written by: Andworld Design
Publisher: Boom! studio
Publication date: May 2024
As I reflect on “City Alarm,” I can’t help but think of Tupac’s “Brenda Got a Baby.” This pregnancy affects the entire community, but the truth is, it shouldn’t. Written by Joan Stahler, city alert It’s about choice. That’s what each chapter of Layla’s story is about, as she deals with Jerome’s (“Roma”) unexpected pregnancy. In the first chapter, we meet Layla and are introduced to those who try to influence or support her. This is one of the most visually stunning comics I’ve ever read. Cary Randolph’s The line work, how the environments fall back into gray to give a sense of atmosphere and then the use of color focus within panels and pages is brilliant; like a lift to the visual language sin city. What’s more important is the energy and emotion of the characters. Layla’s performance is excellent and the opening splash gives great insight into the theme. Unfortunately, the abortion clinic was a site of contention, as protesters responded to Layla’s desire to terminate her pregnancy with gestures and vitriol. Even before we’re given the supernatural and superpower elements, this is such a compelling image.
Layla is sixteen (she herself is just a baby), homeless, and not ready to be a mother. More importantly, as a victim of the system, she did not have an educated family structure and longed to establish a connection with her mother.
Each chapter offers a new perspective on another interested party’s plans and grand machinations for Layla’s potential child, but none of them are truly interested in what Layla wants or in Layla’s well-being. Chapter 2 We get a new look at pregnancy as Layla meets her new friend Marisol’s mother, the coven. What’s compelling about Coven is the reality of women’s safety when faced with the real and ever-present threat of male violence. The more obvious extension of male violence here is the nightmare, as opposed to the sirens (Layla and Marisol are sirens). The Clan sees the baby as a means of strength and protection from the threat of nightmare/masculine violence, and hopes that Lyla will carry her pregnancy to term. The Nightmares wish to have abortions, and while this may initially appear to be out of concern for Rome, the power they have over women through power and violence is something they cannot allow to be challenged.
Chapter three sees more of the group trying to make a decision for Layla, but it also explores what makes Rome the character tick. He’s nuanced and certainly runs with the wrong crowd, but he’s trying to be decent among unsavory men who are more than willing to use their power to conquer and hurt women. Roman is reluctant to use his nightmare suggestion powers, explaining that his and Lyla’s possible child was not conceived under the influence of his powers. Although his life force is directly tied to the pregnancy, he goes to great lengths to find and try to help Lyra. In contrast to Rome, David introduces Lyra to a world of monsters that is unfamiliar to her, opening it up to her and the reader. David means well and seems to be a decent man, but Lyla has good reason to be distrustful, as does every woman in this story. David has an “I can save her” energy, which isn’t great, but he also provides Leila with a shoulder and space to take her mind off the burden of everyone’s pregnancy goals. Everyone is out for themselves and for power, especially Layla’s mother Lilith, who is introduced to put an end to the problem.
Chapter 4 tells the story of Lilith’s revelation, but also faces the reality that mother/parent status is not to be taken lightly, and someone who doesn’t want to be a parent will be a misfit. I have nothing but praise for Randolph’s art throughout the series, and I particularly enjoyed the interactions between Lilith and her vampire ex-lover Diane.
Their story is a tragic one among other tragedies of loss and rejection of responsibility, a mirror to where Lila might be headed, as Marisol observes in Chapter Five. city alert (Though not with the best of intentions), this is what leads to Lila and Marisol’s breakup and Marisol’s kidnapping by the Nightmare. To save Marisol, the Sirens must fight the Nightmare. The problem with Chapter 6 is that it closes the thread, and I think some of the pacing suffers because of it. We get great action scenes throughout the story, and Randolph does his best to give us dynamic action and big moments whenever Nightmare and Siren clash. It’s cathartic to see Nightmare get her comeuppance, especially at the hands of the transsexual Siren. By the final chapter, the pieces fell into place and it felt like it was finished very neatly, especially when the Rat King showed up again. He craves power, but backstage, it feels like he needs more time to cook. He asks Layla to choose between him and her friend, a decision that feels obvious, especially since she hasn’t officially met the man yet. Once he’s taken care of, we achieve what Leila has been trying to achieve.
Layla decided throughout the run to terminate her pregnancy, and seeing Lilith in the mirror, she’s glad she stood firm in that decision and that it was her decision. How Lilith’s own termination ends, with Lyla finding peace and freedom at the end, sets a good foundation for the ending. With all the loose ends tied up and the book ending, I wish the final issue had a little more breathing room, but I’m satisfied with the story as a whole.
It is compelling, with strong characters and well thought out, and a complete picture, written by Staller and illustrated by Randolph, shows us complex people, patriarchy and misogyny, the importance of choice, female resistance and decent men. necessity. The supernatural elevates everything here, through the creation of biblical mythology, and even the idea of pregnancy as punishment turns it up to ten, and without the ability to choose, that’s what pregnancy is. city alert This is a necessary story and I can’t recommend it enough.
don’t forget Check out The Beat’s comments section More graphic novel reviews!
