CBR: THE BAT SIGNAL: Peter Calloway

**CBR News** · 12-02-2010, 02:50 PM

The "Gotham City Sirens" writer spoke with CBR 's BAT SIGNAL about moving in with the lovely ladies of the Batman Universe, his plans for Harley, Ivy and Selina, and the long anticipated return of Bruce Wayne.

Full article here.

**Mr Prince** · 12-02-2010, 03:38 PM

Who's been with Gotham City Sirens since Calloway has been on and how do you like it? Any books that you'd compare it to that you like similarly.

I love Harley, Selina and Pamela and read the first 5 issues when it was first published, but I didn't feel there voices were quite right and the story seemed more about the Riddler than them... Which shocked me because I was a fan of Dini characterization of all of them in past stories.

What's are the pros or what's interesting about the series now and is different to you than when first started?

Thanks,

Scott

**Retro315** · 12-02-2010, 05:17 PM

I've read some of them here and there ... the one with Selina's sister. It was okay, but I don't know if it was Calloway or not.

The Blackest Night Catwoman one-shot was basically all three of the Sirens and it was decent.

I haven't read any of the most recent Sirens + Zatanna + Talia stuff. Too many eggs in one basket, I thought. I don't usually have knee-jerk reactions to comics to avoid them, but just the idea of all five of these Dini-loved, Bruce-tied women in one storyline seemed excessive.

**Captain Jim** · 12-02-2010, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by Retro315

I've read some of them here and there ... the one with Selina's sister. It was okay, but I don't know if it was Calloway or not.

The Blackest Night Catwoman one-shot was basically all three of the Sirens and it was decent.

Those were both by Tony Bedard.

**FHIZ** · 12-02-2010, 05:35 PM

I want to like the book I really do, but it needs to get past a few things in order for me to get on

1. Get past the current arc, I don't want another Zatanna mind wipe fiasco
2. Get a better artist, Jeremy Haun who is potentially doing some issues would be a BIG improvement
3. Have stories of consequence, not these no matter arcs that are going down.

**mpgeist** · 12-02-2010, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by FHIZ

I want to like the book I really do, but it needs to get past a few things in order for me to get on

1. Get past the current arc, I don't want another Zatanna mind wipe fiasco
2. Get a better artist, Jeremy Haun who is potentially doing some issues would be a BIG improvement
3. Have stories of consequence, not these no matter arcs that are going down.

I agree with all of this. Also they should really be at odds with each other more. Truth be told I'd rather they just take Selina out and put someone else in the feature. I really dont think they should live together honestly. I can see them teaming up sometimes out of necessity but living together just doesn't make sense to me.

**FHIZ** · 12-02-2010, 07:38 PM

I'd be up to just have a new Catwoman book. The following is there.

**DarkKnghtJared** · 12-02-2010, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by FHIZ

I want to like the book I really do, but it needs to get past a few things in order for me to get on

1. Get past the current arc, I don't want another Zatanna mind wipe fiasco
2. Get a better artist, Jeremy Haun who is potentially doing some issues would be a BIG improvement
3. Have stories of consequence, not these no matter arcs that are going down.

I have to agree--it's possible that it could get awesome again, but right now I'm kinda "eh" on the whole book right now.

**Jbenn** · 12-02-2010, 08:58 PM

It's interesting that Calloway admits that "If you really think about it, there really is no good reason why these three women should be together." which is what readers have been saying since issue 1. Of course he ties it to all to Harley that's she the connection between all 3 but if you think about it - Harley does hate Batman (Selina doesn't) and Harley has tried to kill/main Selina in the past. Why Selina would want to live with Harley and put up with Ivy still makes no sense.

**Mr_Wayne** · 12-02-2010, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by Jbenn

It's interesting that Calloway admits that "If you really think about it, there really is no good reason why these three women should be together." which is what readers have been saying since issue 1. Of course he ties it to all to Harley that's she the connection between all 3 but if you think about it - Harley does hate Batman (Selina doesn't) and Harley has tried to kill/main Selina in the past. Why Selina would want to live with Harley and put up with Ivy still makes no sense.

I think that once a writer has officially answered this in an intriguing it might get more respect as a book.

**FHIZ** · 12-02-2010, 09:58 PM

as a writer, its up to him to make a good reason why the three should be together, and thats what the book has lacked.

**Captain Jim** · 12-03-2010, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by FHIZ

I'd be up to just have a new Catwoman book. The following is there.

Not so sure about that. I think DC would love to do a Catwoman book if they thought it would sell. The last time she had a regular title, though, its sales were abysmal toward the end. And it wasn't because it wasn't a quality book, because it was. You'll note that Sirens debuted only a few months after the Catwoman book was canceled. It's pretty clear (to me anyway) that Sirens was its replacement, to continue to give the character some regular exposure. (The thinking being, if Catwoman won't sell on her own strengths, perhaps the combined strengths of the three characters will carry a book.)

**DarkKnghtJared** · 12-03-2010, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by Captain Jim

The last time she had a regular title, though, its sales were abysmal toward the end. And it wasn't because it wasn't a quality book, because it was.

Really? I thought it went down the crapper after when they went OYL and spiraled down ever since. I'm also pretty sure there was a few years difference between the end of Catwoman and the beginning of Gotham City Sirens.

**Jbenn** · 12-03-2010, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by DarkKnghtJared

Really? I thought it went down the crapper after when they went OYL and spiraled down ever since. I'm also pretty sure there was a few years difference between the end of Catwoman and the beginning of Gotham City Sirens.

Sales started to slip when the Baby Daddy reveal came to pass and many of the readers who were hoping Bruce was the father of Helena Kyle split. Then we had 10 issues or so of "Baby in Jeopardy/Holly on the run" issues until Selina gave the baby up (mostly because with the sales gimmick gone, the baby was a liability just like most comics kids seem to be), then were some pretty bad tie-ins to Amazons Attacks (which Will Pfeiffer was also writing) and Salvation Run, neither which was well received. Sales were still dwindling and the book had no real direction unlike when it started where Brubaker had Selina set-up as the guardian of Gotham's East End.