SYNOPSIS: “Nine Lives” enters its sixth chapter! Selina has carried out almost every lethal heist on the face of the Earth, so now it’s time to head to space! In a universe full of interplanetary heroes and villains, secrets get left behind in strange places, and one in particular has caught the Catwoman’s eye. As she approaches a familiar, yet abandoned station, she might want to watch her back—for she’s not the only one walking among the stars!
Cats…in…SPACE!
No, the cover does not deceive you. Selena Kyle does indeed go into orbit in this issue in a harrowing mission that sets the stage for what will be her most dangerous gamble yet!
With a cabal conspiring to avenge themselves against her, Selen steals an experimental spaceplane built by Ferris Air for the government and takes it into orbit to destroy a satellite, which will allow her to operate unseen back on Earth so she can take out the Viceroy and the White Glove.
Things get complicated further by the fact that she brought along stowaways in the form of the Demolition Team, mercenaries who are providing security for this operation. That’s where the real danger kicks into overdrive!
Is Tini Howard having fun with this? I sure hope so. She gets to throw Catwoman in some pretty crazy and far-out situations and test the character’s mettle, which is proving to be a blast for the audience. While yes, you can argue something similar has happened in Zdarsky’s Batman run, let’s just say Selena’s reentry is a lot more perilous…and plausible? I’ll leave that for your tastes to decide.
My love fest for Carmine Di Giandomenico’s art continues this issue, aided with stunning colors by Veronica Gandini. Check out how she makes Vegas glitter in the opening or the velvety blanket of space later on. She brings Di Giandomenico’s art to life. For his part, Carmine makes it feel like you’re looking at storyboards for “Catwoman: The Movie” with every page. Most importantly, the action is clear and exciting, with the climax lending itself to be slightly horrific. They continue to be a fantastic team on this book.
Putting any earth-bound character in space can be silly or schlocky (or both-Jason X, anyone?) but somehow, in the context of this arc, Howard makes it work. I loved seeing the nod to what’s going on in the Green Lantern titles, a quick reference that if you don’t get it, well, it doesn’t detract from the story as not even Selena is fully sure what is going on, but hints once again at the bigger DCU. I don’t have much familiarity with the Demolition Team, seemingly DC’s answer to Marvel’s Wrecking Crew, but as they have ties to the GL corner of the DCU, I can appreciate their usage here, making it a hat trick of GL references.
Despite the “out” of nine lives, Howard creates a sense of tension for Selena, there is spectacle aplenty, and the visuals are out of this world. This is shaping up to be my favorite arc of Catwoman so far. Don’t miss it! – Javier E. Trujillo
GRADE: A
