I am not huge into superhero comics, and had to google if Batman was DC or Marvel, but I like E. Lockhart, so I was really excited to get this ARC from NetGalley. First off, I loved the art. I thought the illustrated did a great job differentiating the characters. I also liked the story a lot. There is something immediately charming about a do gooder turned super hero with a dog side kick. I assume this is going to be a series and will be on the lookout for more.

For the most part I have been enjoying the new books about DC and Marvel characters, but I find this title a little lacking. Willow Zimmerman is just a girl trying to stay safe in Down Side Gotham City. Her mom has cancer, and her mom’s old college friend has come back around after years of absence. His name is E. Nigma. Poison Ivy and Killer Croc also have important roles. I find this one a little bit more far fetched then most. After an incident with Killer Croc, Willow has the capabilities of a dog and gives herself the superhero name of Whistle. How this makes an effective superhero, I am not quite sure. Plus, the major disaster that has to be stopped in this book is the “greening” of buildings. Basically causing plants to grow all over it. I don’t see what is so wrong with this. There are just too many holes in this story. I am not a big fan of art either. It seems more 80s style than modern graphic novels.

3.5 out of 5 wine glasses. I'm more of a Marvel person (but I dig DC too) - so I'm not sure if Whistle is a new character or just one I've never heard of before. The story is sweet: Willow is a high school student, animal lover, and community activist who takes pride in her neighborhood and wants to see her mom overcome a brain cancer diagnoses. I enjoyed the diversity of the characters, all of the DC characters that made cameos, and all of the details about Jewish life and culture. The artwork is good too - though I think I would have liked a broader color palette.

Note: I received a pre-release copy for free through NetGalley from DC.
I really enjoyed this! It lays the groundwork for some interesting future entries in the series, while also establishing a strong start to Willow's story and place within Gotham. It is also nice to see Gotham explored during daytime for once. This looks like it will be DC's Ms.Marvel, which is a very good thing.

I love a good origin story, and this is a good origin story. I particularly appreciate that DC is choosing great YA authors to write these graphic novels; it shows in the work they're doing.

This one is fun. If you like superheroes or teenagers figuring out the world or dogs, you'll probably enjoy this. This one probably also works in a middle grade classroom as the maturity level isn't too high.

A dynamic duo of a Jewish activist and her faithful canine companion - heck yes!
Willow Zimmerman is new to me in the DC universe. I had not heard of her as a DC hero/villain before this graphic novel. I am so glad to meet her and read her backstory. This is a timely piece in my life as my students are wrapping up a social justice issue project and this graphic novel contains many social justice issues and protests/events surrounding these issues. Willow is petitioning for more money for the educational system in Gotham City and reform for it as well. There's a lot to protest/petition in Gotham within the novel. I like Willow's activist approach to helping her city. I also connected with Willow since she worked at an animal shelter which reminded me of my Humane Society days. Willow becomes attached to a stay dog named Lebowitz. When Willow is faced with a moral dimena of accepting illegal work with Enigma and helping to pay the bills for her mother's cancer treatment or continue on with her life as is: Willow is exposed to more than she bargained for.
On a lighter note, Willow and Lebowitz wind up being connected more than anticipated. I quite like their bond and their superpowers. I also love how this novel walks the line between good/evil, justified/unjustified, hero/anti hero/villain.
Loved the art, themes and culture of this graphic novel. Whistle maybe my new favorite Gotham character.

Willow is a 16-year-old girl who is passionate about her beliefs. Between school and worrying about her mom, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, she advocates for her community and local stray dogs. In order to help pay their bills, Willow reunites with one of her mom's old friends E. Nigma. He gives her a high-paying job helping him arrange poker games for his friends. What Willow is doing isn't exactly legal, but she is earning so much money she doesn't care. After an attack by Killer Croc leaves her with dog-like abilities - increased hearing and smell and the ability to talk to dogs - she starts to question her role in the poker games. She trains herself to be a hero and vows to stop E. Nigma, aka the Riddler, and his friends from destroying her town.

Willow is a teenager with a desire for activism and justice for her beloved city of Gotham. Her mother has cancer, so she gets a job at the animal shelter cleaning up after the dogs to help with the bills. She makes friends with a dog that she would love to adopt, but they can't afford it. When she reconnects with one of her mother's old friends, E. Nigma, he offers her a job working his gambling parties. Willow takes the job, hoping that the good pay will help her pay the medical bills, but she never imagines that her boss is the very one destroying the town. In a fight with a brutal monster, Willow gains the power to hear conversations from a long distance and the ability to summon her dog friends to help her. Will she be able to stand up to the evil working in Gotham?

I enjoyed this graphic novel very much. The storyline was complex enough to keep my attention and leave me in suspense, and the illustrations perfectly portrayed and complemented the text. The characters were realistic and it was easy to sympathize with Willow while she was in an impossible situation. Though I didn't care for some of the language used, I enjoyed everything else and would definitely read another book about Willow. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys superhero origin stories, graphic novels, and a good story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I absolutely loved this superhero graphic novel where the main characters gets super powers from a DOG!!!! Adding in the Joker, Poison Ivy was great too. I loved the diversity and the main character's activism.

Willow is super into trying to fix her neighborhood, but when she gets a message from her mom's old friend the Riddler...she ends up working for him to pay for her mom's cancer surgery. Her priorities slowly shift from saving her neighborhood to her job. An encounter with Killer Croc and some dog DNA make her re-evaluate those priorities. I really hope we see more of Whistle and the Hound! Suggested for all YA collections.

Dc Comics YA line is amazing and continues to tackle different issues. Lockhart's writing is insightful and brings up how gentrification and economic disparity is affecting teens and families in Gotham. Another amazing aspect of the book is Lockhart's take on The Riddler and Poison Ivy as new and upcoming villains. Manuel Preitano's (The Oracle Code) illustration reminded me of Ed Brubaker's color palette but brighter, a polished narrative arc drawn and colored to excellence.

Things to look out for: A Jewish superhero with sidekick dogs, a young Poison Ivy reclaiming the green space, The Riddler trying to make amends with a past life while sinking in contradicting actions, gentrification as a major theme in comics.

This book is definitely a great addition to every library and a great introduction to superhero YA graphic novels!

I continue to be impressed by what DC Comics is doing with their YA graphic novels to draw in a younger audience, especially young women.

I’ve enjoyed a lot of the graphic novels from this DC subset, but Whistle might be my favorite to date.

I adore E. Lockhart’s work and was thrilled to find that she was one of the authors working with DC. The results definitely don’t disappoint.

I love how Lockhart threaded Whistle’s origin story through Willow’s connections to the Riddler and Poison Ivy. Willow’s situation at home presents an interesting conundrum of what types of actions become justifiable if they somehow help our loved ones, and how we atone for whatever guilt we feel as a result.

And of course, the best part of Willow/Whistle’ s story? Her superpower has made her into some kind of hybrid of a dog and a person who attracts and commands dogs! Not sure I can think of a better superpower than that.

Let’s discuss the art for a moment, because it was outstanding. I love the way Manuel Preitano tendered both Gorham and its citizens, and his style and color palette were absolutely perfect for the story.

I do wish that Lebowitz/The Hound had gotten more dialogue, but perhaps that will come in further installments.

Speaking of, I do hope that said further installments actually happen. It seems that DC is producing a lot of these YA origin story graphic novels about a huge variety of characters, but so far not much in the way of series continuations.

I suppose they’re going for high volume and then seeing which get the most buzz, but it’s a little disappointing to consistently invest in/become attached to these only to see the series never progress beyond one graphic novel.

I hope this changes in the future, and I especially hope this particular story gets green lit to continue. I need more of Whistle and The Hound!

I liked this! I thought it was cool to have a Jewish teenage superhero and I liked the little touches of DC sprinkled throughout, on shirts and posters and graffiti. The story itself is a little awkward, especially the resolution, but overall, this is one of the better ones in this line.

This is a really cool reimagining of Gotham City and its villains (and presumably heroes) that complicates the relationship between right and wrong in a way that is both very real and not overly nihilistic. The main character, Willow, is doing the best she can to stay true to herself and help her family with the options she has. She believes in the good in people, even when they disappoint her, and she believes in tikkun olam (repairing the world). It's a refreshing take on a genre filled to the brim with grimdark takes. It's also relevant, in that the story uses DC characters to delve into issues of family, class, environment, and gentrification, but never strays into ham-fisted territory. The dog-based superpowers are pretty fun too.

I do wish it delved more into the relationship Willow has with her friends, but that may be for later parts of the series. This is definitely Whistle's origin story. In any case, if they keep being this good, they'll definitely be worth picking up.

Recommended for readers of young adult fiction who want the complications of a good superhero story with the optimism of a classic superhero story.

Willow is desperate to find a way to help her mother who is suffering from cancer and unable to pay the bills treatment would incur. One of her mother's former friends, E Nigma, offers Willow a chance to do just that! Her work isn't really on the up and up, but it isn't too nefarious...
While she takes on the job with E Nigma, Willow also witnesses several "greenings" in her part of the city- someone is growing enough plants in a flash to choke out entire buildings! Willow doesn't agree with the destructive tactic, but isn't sure what she can do other than protest along with her friends.
In a twist of fate, Willow and her hound companion, Lebowitz, get some of their wires crossed and can communicate with one another. Willow is also granted the ability to whistle in a way that bring dogs running from blocks away.

This book was a bit disappointing to me. It feels like DC is trying to stretch down to middle grade ages but hasn't done it fluidly. Willow and Lebowitz are a likeable pair, but her transformation into a hero- one who works for a villain- is not all that inviting to the reader. I would certainly read another installment to see if she grows into a more appealing hero, but am not antsy for more the way I normally am with DC stories.

4.5 Stars. This was a super-fun exciting superhero adventure introducing a well-developed and sympathetic new hero.. I loved how it built on existing villains and settings.

Whistle is a completely new and different type of hero from any that I have ever seen. First of all, she is a Jewish female main character in a comic in the DC world so, I love the representation!
As for the story itself – it’s definitely predictable in the sense you can pick up on who the characters are, but it doesn’t spoil the story. It almost makes it funnier when they’re revealed as who you thought they were.
I did find the pacing a little abrupt. Some of the scenes end and then an entirely new dialogue/moment/scene starts without a break and that can be a little confusing. It felt unfinished at times. Like, more conversations were supposed to be longer than they were. I also felt the overall pacing of the novel was quick. I think Willow could have been developed as a social activist more and her friendships could have been deeper, but Willow is still a great character. I love her flaws and pull to want to be good and doing what she can to help those she loves.
The novel had a solid shot at talking about injustices, and at the beginning, it did touch on those (when Willow is marching and fighting for more education funding rather than having more policing). I wish that had developed more rather than going the route of the normal DC comics of power, greed, and money. That part felt a little stagnant when the novel could have talked about injustices and used that as the cause Willow continues to fight for.
Willow’s superpowers are quirky but honestly so fun. This novel had me laughing quite a bit at her powers. I also laughed at the scene where she got the powers. That scene was a letdown because it was just so simple. I wish there were a little more to it to show what happened.
Overall, the book is funny, quirky, silly, and a fun read. It makes you think about what an everyday hero would look and act like, what everyday powers might be like, and how someone would use powers to fight for what they believe in.

Think you’ve met every hero that Gotham City has? Well, now is the time to meet Willow. She’s a teenager with a good heart who volunteers at a dog shelter and takes care of her sick mother. In need of money, she reconnects with E. Nigma, an estranged family friend. Something that can only happen in Gotham.

After an attack from Killer Croc leaves her with the ability to talk to dogs, Willow soon finds herself stuck between two worlds: One with Dr. Ivy and E. Nigma and a world of gambling. Another that includes her in a mask fighting for her community against Poison Ivy and the Riddler.

Fun, new interesting hero from Gotham City.

Takes waaaaay too long to get into the superhero of it all, but this is a fun little debut for a street level hero. The main drama of the story hinges on Willow Zimmerman dealing with the fact that she knows her job working for The Riddler is a crime, but the money she’s making from the job is paying for her mom’s radiation. Somewhere along the way she gains dog related super powers. There is very little superhero action going on, but E. Lockhart creates a realistic little YA world for Willow and the brevity of the story leaves you wanting more. This will definitely connect with young female readers that are inundated with male superheroes. DC’s push for teenage girl heroes in recent years has definitely turned my eye toward the company more.

I really loved this - great story and illustrations! It took me a while to get into it, but I loved it by the end. Great world building and characters. My only complaint is that the colors are a weird mix. The colors of the people are especially strange and distracting. Willow’s skin looks just like a pink crayon and Garfield looks like a dark red. But I also read an advanced copy so maybe the colors will change.

<i>Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>