The story telling is much more focused in this book compared to volume 1. The flashbacks are less chaotic and easier to follow. I really liked the story in the first half of the book. John Paul Leon is a gifted storyteller and I didn't find myself lost at all. The villain was interesting as well. Then Shawn Crystal steps in on the second half of the book and I was lost half the time again. His style is cartoony which doesn't fit the tone of the book at all. All of the women characters looked the same. I was constantly confused by the love interest and best friend who look exactly the same. I wish the backup story that now spans both volumes would be collected in its entirety when it is complete instead of being split across multiple volumes. I had no idea what was going on in that story.

Mother Panic has a very neat visual look to the character. It has the potential to be an interesting book if Houser is given the right artist who can stay on the book for awhile.

Violet Paige is running into problems with her cybernetic implants. So her attacks on crime has been curtailed. But her past keeps cropping up as she discovers things about her past that do not match up with her memories. And then there is the revelation about her mother. Plus there is the solving of the murder of Danny Rose, radio host.

A very interesting and unusual character. A very interesting series.

With volume 2 of Jody Houser's "Mother Panic," Violet's investigation into her past, as well as her quest for revenge, push her closer to becoming the champion for Gotham she never intended to be.

With this second installment, the writing for the series feels tighter and more effective, still driven by the dynamic internal conflicts of Violet and those that surround her, but finding a tighter focus that was lacking in the initial collection.. This volume follows the same stylistic and artistic changes as the first, dividing the story into three distinct sections--with the first being the best visually and the last expanding the plot beyond Violet to the larger conflicts and intrigues of the city. And though this third section continues to be the weakest element of the series, it does provide an interesting scope that would not otherwise be present.

The series still has its rough patches, but volume 2 is a clear movement in the right direction, proving that "Mother Panic" occupies an engaging and unique space within the story of Gotham City, embracing the grittiness and complexity of vigilantism but never forgetting the humanity of those caught up in the plot.

It's not a perfect series, but it is a series to watch. It has a definite appeal (albeit to mature audiences), and I expect many interesting things to comes as the series continues to find its feet, and Violet's story unfolds amidst the glamour of high society and the grime of Gotham's darkest streets.