Review by Booklist Review
Willow is a dog lover, athlete, activist, and student at Gotham City's Down River High School, but her mother's cancer has her feeling helpless. After money troubles lead her to ex--family friend E. Nigma (aka the Riddler), she accepts a lucrative job running his illegal gambling ring. This puts her in the crosshairs of the murderous Killer Croc, a near shave with whom leaves her wounded--and with dog superpowers, including enhanced senses and comical canine impulses. Meanwhile, someone is overrunning the architecture of Down River with plants. Donning the identity of Whistle, Willow investigates the floral assault and discovers a plot by Riddler and Poison Ivy to take over her beloved, historic Jewish neighborhood. This striking superhero debut narrows the scope, less concerned with epic adventure than establishing Willow and Down River, which, in the capable hands of Lockhart and Preitano, are fully fleshed out and deeply sympathetic. Themes of community activism, real-world struggles, and a touch of romance will make this a new favorite for fans of the current trend toward teenage superheroes.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
High school junior Willow Zimmerman, who is Jewish and light-skinned, balances her time between classes, caring for her ailing mother Naomi, and protesting City Hall's refusal to address recent anonymous "greening" attacks that have covered major community centers with vegetation. When Naomi's old friend E. Nigma returns to Down River, Gotham, he reconnects with Willow first, offering her a job running his poker nights for Gotham's elite. As Willow inadvertently allows her relationships with her mother and friends--including love interest Garfield Logan, who is Black--to fall to the wayside, she discovers the true extent of E.'s undertakings. Lockhart (Again, Again), in her graphic novel debut, establishes compelling drama as Willow attempts to justify the criminal activity funding her mother's cancer treatments, but recognizable DC characters and superhero elements crowd the narrative to the extent that Willow's major character moments lack adequate space to shine. Still, Preitano (The Oracle Code) excels at bringing the New York City--esque urban landscape--from the apartment buildings and bridges to Down River's corner deli--to life, with colorist Metzler's muted oranges and poppy teals adding atmosphere to Willow's typical origin story. Ages 14--up. (Sept.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A Jewish social activist who loves dogs: Meet DC's newest superhero. Origin story 101: a difficult backstory (Willow's mother has cancer and they can't afford treatment); the onset of powers (a Killer Croc attack somehow makes Willow able to communicate with the stray dog she's befriended); the moral quandary (Willow's financial savior is her mother's estranged friend E. Nigma, better known to DC fans as the Riddler); and finally, the decision to take on a secret identity (the titular Whistle). The script offers some exciting changes to the formula: Willow Zimmerman is explicitly Jewish, while (new to DC lore) neighborhood Down River has a multiethnic, Lower East Side feel--and teenage Willow is emphatically not a sidekick. The dialogue lacks subtlety but moves the story along, although the overreliance on expository captions highlights the fact that the versatile Lockhart hasn't previously worked in comics. The moody illustrations pair easy-to-follow large panels with occasional full-page spreads. Warm orange fills Willow's scenes and conveys her warmth and fire for justice; when the action moves to E. Nigma and Pammie Isley (another Gotham villain), the cool white and greens predominate, fitting the calculated machinations happening off-page. As befits an origin story, the superhero/vigilante element is relegated to the back half. The villains read as White; the background cast reflects the diversity of New York City. An intriguing introduction. (Graphic adventure. 11-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
