SYNOPSIS: Forgive me, sister, for I have sinned. I murdered Valmont, the man I love, in order to save the man I loved…Batman…who will never forgive me for breaking his one rule. But please forgive me, Sister Zero, for this Nightmare Realm you’ve put me in as penance-from which I can’t seem to wake up-is my Catholic guilt come to life in the form of your rotting disciples taking my soul. Sister Maggie, if you’re still somewhere in there, forgive me, and let me save us in the Nightmare Realm in order to save us in real life! That is…unless we should die before we wake.
We now interrupt your regularly scheduled comic for a crossover event…
In Knight Terrors, the new villain Insomnia is after the Nightmare Stone and has plunged all of the DCU into their worst dreams in the hope that one of the heroes or villains will lead him to it.
So, what does that mean for Catwoman?
It means nothing makes sense in the world, and yet it doesn’t cause Selina concern. She accepts this reality at face value, as one does for a dream.
Howard dives in feet-first with the narrative, somehow ascribing a logic to a world where there shouldn’t be any. There are enough familiar elements for a reader to grab onto and grasp the rules in this reality.
Joining Howard is artist Leila Leiz, who constructs a rain-drenched immersive environment, full of detail and striking angles to the visuals. There’s something about the art that reminds me of Paul Pope’s Batman: Year 100. It’s definitely not the same style, but it’s a vibe I kept getting the deeper I got into the story, especially when Batman shows up!
In this dream, Selina’s sister Maggie is a nun by day, but “Sister Zero” at night, the “Hand of God” on the Gotham streets. Selina and Maggie’s history feels ephemeral, but Selina knows how they differ and out of the two, she’s the sister that needs redemption for her sins. Howard makes Selina’s guilt completely compelling…and then Batman swoops in.
I’ve been eagerly awaiting the upcoming crossover with Batman and was a bit dismayed that we had to get through a summer crossover before we could finally read it. Well, Howard provides some great Bat/Cat scenes in this issue that scratch that itch I’ve been feeling to see these two together again. Bruce and Selina’s connection runs deep, even beyond their understanding, and Howard perfectly captures that essence here. Their chemistry is off the charts, even with Maggie disapproving.
I found myself totally engrossed in the characterizations in this issue, with the art perfectly complimenting the tone of the story. The dreamlike effect was conveyed well but still adhered to a sense of logic. I adored Leiz’s art and hope we see her work again. It’s hard to explain, but after months of not being satisfied with some of the leaps in the story, the story with the most leaps is the one that won me over…just like a dream. – Javier E. Trujillo
