Mother Panic

Last updated
Mother Panic
Mother Panic 8.jpg
Textless variant cover of Mother Panic #8, art by Emanuela Lupacchino.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics (Young Animal)
First appearance DC's Young Animal Ashcan Edition (2016)
Created by
In-story information
Alter egoViolet Paige
Species Human Cyborg
Place of origin Gotham City
Partnerships Batman
Abilities

Mother Panic, also known as Violet Paige, is a fictional vigilante appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and its imprint Young Animal, focused on mature readers. The character was created by writers Jody Houser and Gerard Way and illustrator Tommy Lee Edwards, first appearing in an insert preview of her own series in DC's Young Animal Ashcan Edition (2016).

Contents

Publication history

Creation

Young Animal is an imprint of DC Comics, designed to tell stories set within the DC Universe aimed specifically at mature readers. [1] Mother Panic was the final of the imprint's four launch titles to release. The series and its title character, Violet Paige, was conceived by Young Animal curator Gerard Way and illustrator Tommy Lee Edwards, both of whom conceptualized the character's background. [2] Jody Houser, the author of Valiant Comics' Faith, [3] was asked by Young Animal editor Molly Mahan to write several sample pages featuring Mother Panic to see if she "could nail [her] voice". Houser, who had grown up reading Batman , was hired shortly after turning in her work and began to write the series. She expanded upon Way's and Edwards' concept to "flesh out" the main character and establish her within Gotham City and the Batman mythos. [2]

Unlike the other Young Animal titles, which feature established DC characters such as the Doom Patrol, Mother Panic features an original character created for the series. [2] [4] Houser's vision of Paige was essentially that of an anti-Batman: unlike Batman, Paige's identity as a vigilante is "not entirely an act" and the character as a whole is "messed up". Houser hoped that the series would last for several years and that Paige will continue to evolve. She also wanted to explore aspects of Gotham not seen in other Batman-related comics, due to the mature themes of Mother Panic; for this reason, she excluded well-known adversaries such as the Penguin and Catwoman. The first several issues were illustrated by Edwards, [2] followed by Shawn Crystal [5] and John Paul Leon. [6] Jim Krueger wrote a backup story called "Gotham Radio" for the series. [7]

Writer Jim Krueger signing an issue of the series at Midtown Comics Grand Central in Manhattan. 2.27.20JimKruegerMotherPanicByLuigiNovi2.jpg
Writer Jim Krueger signing an issue of the series at Midtown Comics Grand Central in Manhattan.

The first issue of Mother Panic was published on November 9, 2016, [2] cover-dated January 2017. [8] The issue's story established Violet Paige and the series' setting in Gotham City, and featured a cameo by Batman and Batwoman. [4] [9]

All Young Animal titles (except Doom Patrol) were placed on hiatus after 12 issues. [10] In early 2018, DC published the five-issue crossover story Milk Wars featuring both Young Animal characters (including Mother Panic) and more traditional DC Universe characters including the Justice League. [11]

Mother Panic was relaunched in May 2018 with a new first issue and given the subtitle Gotham A.D. Unlike the first series, the second volume is set in a dystopian future where masked vigilantes are outlawed, Batman having abandoned Gotham. [12] Gotham A.D. ended after six issues in August the same year. [13]

Fictional character biography

Violet Paige is a controversial, bisexual celebutante in Gotham City who was tortured and cybernetically-enhanced by a secret organisation in her youth, becoming the vigilante Mother Panic to get revenge.

Powers and abilities

Due to being experimented on at the Gather House, Violet received cybernetic implants. These give her superhuman strength, capable of bending and breaking steel and leaving craters in concrete. These cybernetics are prone to malfunction, however, leaving Violet in extreme pain and unable to move until she can receive surgery.

Aside from her cybernetics, Violet is a capable fighter, being trained in martial arts and fencing.

Collected editions

#TitleMaterial collectedPagesPublication dateISBN
1A Work in ProgressMother Panic #1-6176June 20, 2017 ISBN   978-1-4012-7111-4
2Under Her SkinMother Panic #7-12168February 27, 2018 ISBN   978-1-4012-8615-6
Gotham A.D.
1Gotham A.D.Mother Panic: Gotham A.D. #1-6168November 13, 2018 ISBN   978-1-4012-8100-7

Other versions

Reception

The original Mother Panic series has been generally well-received. On the review aggregator ComicBookRoundUp, it holds an average rating on 7.8/10, based on 135 reviews. [16] Reviewing the first issue for IGN , Jesse Schedeen called it the standout of the Young Animal lineup. He wrote that although it was set within Gotham City, Mother Panic felt distinctive from the Batman family and surreal. [4]

Gotham A.D. was also well-received. It holds an average rating of 7.7/10 on ComicBookRoundUp, based on 45 reviews. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batman</span> Comic book superhero

Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in the 27th issue of the comic book Detective Comics on March 30, 1939. In the DC Universe continuity, Batman is the alias of Bruce Wayne, a wealthy American playboy, philanthropist, and industrialist who resides in Gotham City. Batman's origin story features him swearing vengeance against criminals after witnessing the murder of his parents Thomas and Martha as a child, a vendetta tempered with the ideal of justice. He trains himself physically and intellectually, crafts a bat-inspired persona, and monitors the Gotham streets at night. Kane, Finger, and other creators accompanied Batman with supporting characters, including his sidekicks Robin and Batgirl; allies Alfred Pennyworth, James Gordon, and Catwoman; and foes such as the Penguin, the Riddler, Two-Face, and his archenemy, the Joker.

<i>The Dark Knight Returns</i> 1986 four-issue comic book miniseries by Frank Miller

The Dark Knight Returns is a 1986 four-issue comic book miniseries starring Batman, written by Frank Miller, illustrated by Miller and Klaus Janson, with color by Lynn Varley, and published by DC Comics. It tells an alternative story of Bruce Wayne, who at 55 years old returns from retirement to fight crime while facing opposition from the Gotham City police force and the United States government. The story also features the return of classic foes Two-Face and the Joker, and culminates with a confrontation with Superman, who is now a pawn of the government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batgirl</span> Comic book superheroine

Batgirl is the name of several fictional superheroines appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, depicted as female counterparts and allies to the superhero Batman. The character Betty Kane was introduced into publication in 1961 by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff as Bat-Girl, and was replaced in 1967 by Barbara Gordon, who became the iconic Batgirl. The character debuted in Detective Comics #359 by writer Gardner Fox and artist Carmine Infantino, introduced as the niece/adoptive daughter of police commissioner James Gordon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephanie Brown (character)</span> DC Comics character

Stephanie Brown is a fictional superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, most commonly in association with Batman. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #647, and was created by Chuck Dixon and Tom Lyle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxie Zeus</span> Fictional DC Comics character

Maximilian "Maxie" Zeus is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, primarily as a minor enemy of Batman. He is depicted as a mentally ill former history professor who is obsessed with Greek mythology and believes himself to be the god Zeus, becoming a crime lord in Gotham City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ratcatcher (comics)</span> DC Comics character

Ratcatcher is a character appearing in American comic books and other media published by DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of Batman. He belongs to the collective of adversaries that make up the Dark Knight's rogues gallery. Once an actual rat-catcher in Gotham City, Flannegan sank into a life of crime. Calling himself the Ratcatcher because of his special ability to communicate with and train rats, Flannegan has used his minions to plague Gotham on more than one occasion by unleashing hordes of the vermin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver St. Cloud</span> Comics character

Silver St. Cloud is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the vigilante Batman. The character debuted in Detective Comics #470 and was created by Steve Englehart and Walt Simonson. Silver St. Cloud is typically depicted as a romantic interest of Bruce Wayne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Lee Edwards</span> American illustrator

Tommy Lee Edwards is an American illustrator. Edwards's varied portfolio includes works created in the realm of comics, video games, books, advertising, film, and animation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professor Pyg</span> Fictional character in DC Comics

Professor Pyg is a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an adversary of the superhero Batman. Pyg was created by Grant Morrison, Andy Kubert, and Frank Quitely and debuted as a corpse in the alternate reality story Batman #666 before being introduced as a recurring character in the mainstream DC Universe two years later in Batman and Robin #1. Professor Pyg was re-introduced following DC's The New 52 comics relaunch in 2011, appearing throughout the continuity and the subsequent DC Rebirth relaunch that began in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kate Kane</span> Comic book superheroine

Batwoman is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writers Greg Rucka, Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Mark Waid, and artist Alex Ross, Kane is a wealthy heiress who becomes inspired by the superhero Batman and chooses, like him, to put her wealth and resources toward a campaign to fight crime as a masked vigilante in her home of Gotham City as Batwoman.

DC's Young Animal is a "pop-up" imprint of DC Comics started in 2016. It was developed in collaboration with Gerard Way, an American musician and comic book writer, author of The Umbrella Academy. Its main focus is to relaunch characters and settings from the DC Universe in stories for mature readers, done with a more experimental approach than DC's primary line of superhero comics. The line has been overseen by Vertigo group editor Jamie S. Rich and executive editor Mark Doyle.

<i>Batman: White Knight</i> Limited comic book series by Sean Murphy

Batman: White Knight is an American comic book published by DC Comics. The eight-issue limited series, written and illustrated by Sean Murphy, began monthly publication in October 2017 and concluded in May 2018. In the series, the Joker is seemingly cured of his madness and sets out to become a politician under his real name of Jack Napier, seeking to change his public image as a "villain" and save Gotham City from Batman, whom he views as the real enemy of the city.

<i>Batman: Damned</i> American comic book

Batman: Damned is an American comic book published by DC Comics. The three-issue limited series, written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by Lee Bermejo, began on September 19, 2018 and concluded on June 26, 2019. The series experienced numerous delays throughout its run, with the third issue being rescheduled a total of five times. Damned was the first series published under the DC Black Label, an imprint allowing writers to present unique takes on DC characters for a mature audience, and Azzarello and Bermejo described it as a loose sequel to their 2008 graphic novel Joker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DC Black Label</span> Imprint of DC comics

DC Black Label is an imprint of American comic book publisher DC Comics consisting of original miniseries and reprints of books previously published under other imprints. The imprint intends to present traditional DC Universe characters for a mature audience with stand-alone Prestige Format series. The first title of the imprint, Batman: Damned, was shipped on September 19, 2018.

<i>Batman: Curse of the White Knight</i> Limited comic book series by Sean Murphy

Batman: Curse of the White Knight is an American comic book published by DC Comics under its Black Label imprint. The eight-issue limited series, written and illustrated by Sean Murphy, began publication on July 24, 2019 and concluded on March 25, 2020. It is the sequel to Batman: White Knight and is the second installment in the Murphyverse's White Knight series, which takes place within a self-contained alternate reality that is different from and unrelated to the main DC Universe.

<i>Batman: Beyond the White Knight</i> Limited comic book series by Sean Murphy

Batman: Beyond the White Knight is an American comic book published by DC Comics under its Black Label imprint. The eight-issue limited series — written and illustrated by Sean Murphy, lettered by AndWorld Design and colored by Dave Stewart — began its monthly publication on March 29, 2022 and ended on February 14, 2023. It is the sequel to both Batman: White Knight (2017–18) and Batman: Curse of the White Knight (2019–20), and is also the fifth installment in Murphy's self-titled Murphyverse line. It is also an adaptation of the animated television series Batman Beyond (1999–2001), with the plot of the comic book being based on the original premise of the TV show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jody Houser</span> American comics writer

Jody Houser is an American professional comics writer known for her work on adaptations and licensed properties. She was nominated for the Eisner Award in 2017 for her writing in the comic series Faith (2016). Additionally, she was the writer on the second volume of Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins, which became a New York Times best-seller in September 2020.

<i>Batman: The Imposter</i> Limited comic book series by Mattson Tomlin and Andrea Sorrentino

Batman: The Imposter is an American comic book published by DC Comics under its Black Label imprint. The three-issue limited series, written by Mattson Tomlin and illustrated and lettered by Andrea Sorrentino, began publication on October 12 and concluded on December 14, 2021. The limited series was released to critical acclaim, with critics praising the mature story, action, and Sorrentino's art. The standalone story takes place in the early years of Batman, in which an imposter dressed as Batman murders Gotham criminals while Bruce Wayne tackles the duality of his crime-fighting lifestyle.

<i>Batman: White Knight Presents: Red Hood</i> Limited comic book series published by DC Comics

Batman: White Knight Presents: Red Hood is an American comic book published by DC Comics under its Black Label imprint. The two-issue limited series - co-written by Sean Murphy and Clay McCormack, illustrated by Simone Di Meo and George Kambadais, lettered by AndWorld Design and colored by Dave Stewart - began publication on August 2, 2022 and ended on the 23rd of the same month. It is both a spin-off and a prequel to Murphy's Batman: Beyond the White Knight (2022), and is also the sixth installment in his self-titled Murphyverse comic book line.

References

  1. ↑ Shiach, Kieran (8 April 2016). "Gerard Way Launches Young Animal, A New Mature Readers imprint at DC Comics". Comics Alliance. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 McMillan, Graeme (9 November 2016). "'Mother Panic': Behind Gotham City's New Comic Book Vigilante". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  3. ↑ Mayer, Petra (29 July 2017). "Questions For Jody Houser, Writer Of High-Flying 'Faith'". NPR. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 Schedeen, Jesse (9 November 2016). "Mother Panic #1 Review". IGN. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  5. ↑ "Talent Directory: Shawn Crystal". DC Comics. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  6. ↑ "Talent Directory: John Paul Leon". DC Comics. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  7. ↑ CBR Staff (26 July 2017). "PREVIEW: Mother Panic #9". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  8. ↑ "Mother Panic". Grand Comics Database. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  9. ↑ Kim, Matt (11 November 2016). "DC's R-Rated Comic 'Mother Panic' Makes Gotham Totally Psychotic". Inverse. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  10. ↑ "Young Animal Continues Shade, Cave Carson and Mother Panic with New Titles and Storylines". 14 December 2017.
  11. ↑ "Dc/Young Animal: Milk Wars". 16 March 2021.
  12. ↑ "DC's Young Animal Imprint is Getting a Cosmic Reshuffle Next Year". 14 December 2017.
  13. ↑ Pulliam-Moore, Charles (May 10, 2018). "DC's Excellent Young Animal Imprint Is Coming to an End". io9 . Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  14. ↑ Mother Panic: Gotham A.D. #1 (May 2018)
  15. ↑ Future State: Gotham #4 (October 2021)
  16. ↑ "Mother Panic Comic Series Reviews". ComicBookRoundUp. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Mother Panic: Gotham A.D. Comic Series Reviews". ComicBookRoundUp. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.