Now that we're past the point of being three-quarters done with this title, we can safely say that the majority of Tom King's "Penguin consists of issues that, while no means poor, are falling short of the prestige crime drama the readers may have initially imagined.

This is a series that's stumbling across the finish line a little. Whatever cool or intriguing ideas that were being set up in the first half are fizzling out. This is an issue which sees the final moments of a suffocated candle, just seconds before there's naught but ash and smoke. Sorry about that last line. It's just not a great comic.

: This is a satisfying conclusion to a mostly great Gotham crime epic. It's the best issue that we've had from this title in months. If you've been hoping that sticking out the middling issues will all be worth it, consider yourself rewarded.

This is an issue that feels like it desperately wants to be more than a set-up issue for a couple of big upcoming face-offs, but it all falls a bit flat by sagging noticeably in the middle.

This is a build-up issue done right. We get enough fun stuff in the forms of visual gags and character moments to justify a whole issue's worth of storytelling, while adeptly setting up a larger looming conflict. A lackluster backup needn't scare fans away: this issue is another lukewarm win.

Another lackluster backup aside, even though this issue is a bit of a step backward, I don't think it's quite been knocked off its course yet. Chugging along.

This issue feels like some looser narrative elements are tightening up. I'm happy to put myself in the minority camp of folks who genuinely look forward to this title every month. I'm riding that high for now. We'll see how long it lasts.

I know that Tini Howard hasn't had the greatest run of things in the eyes of DC readers, and while I do agree that it's time for a shakeup, I'll be missing her take on Harley Quinn. It was never boring!

This is a sure-handed, if unsubtle new direction for the title. This reviewer hopes that Kalan can lean a little less on the crutch of Harley's monologuing going forward, and that the artistic effort can be beefed up a bit, but the changing of the guard for the HQ title is not off to a bad start at all.

, I'm glad we were able to get through last issue's not-unenjoyable exposition in order to get to the fun of this issue. This book could easily have fallen into all the girl-power cliches of an unimaginative bachelorette party, but so far, it has risen above those middling expectations. I look forward to the second half of this brief run.

Gotham City Sirens is finally doing a more coherent job of delivering its pop culture/social commentary message. It's just a little odd that it's picking up that steam with only one issue to go.

GCS #4 is a curiously formulaic conclusion to a mini-series that was never afraid to throw out unconventional ideas. The formula it's working with, however, is a proven one.

:In spite of a Vandal Savage appearance that feels like DC editorial keeping some sort of misguided big picture in mind, Harley Quinn's 2024 Annual is the HQ book of the year. I'm calling it now.