SYNOPSIS: Selina Kyle does not know why the attempt on her life was made, nor does she know who ordered it. As she desperately searches for clues as to who has suddenly orchestrated this lethal manhunt against her, one thing becomes abundantly clear: the answers don’t lie in her life as the Catwoman of Gotham City. To save her own life, Selina Kyle must re-enter the world of a sinister international syndicate that years ago helped to transform her into the world’s foremost thief. A tale of identity, broken alliances, and pulse-pounding action begins here!
You guessed it! A new era begins right here for Catwoman! Will I be ALL IN?
Right from the jump, artist Fabiana Mascolo and colorist Patricio Delpeche give you their neon-drenched vision of the city canyons of Gotham. Deep purples and pinks saturate the landscape and are further brought to life by the hard-boiled stylings of writer Torunn Grønbekk. Selena wears Gotham like an expensive gown and by page one, I’m already feeling in capable hands.
Fortunately, this feeling doesn’t let up as we witness Selena caught up in a web of international intrigue and assassination, one in which she is the target but also ahead of some of her pursuers. The chase leaves her feeling isolated from the family she has been building over the last several arcs, providing a different vibe for the unfolding story. In short, without her support system, Selena’s world feels more dangerous and thrilling.
The way Grønbekk structures the story not only makes for an interesting read but adds to the excitement, giving a taste of the outcome and then revealing how we got there. The omniscient narration, not by Selena, gives a film noir feel, keeping an emotional distance from her compared to past stories, allowing the art to carry the load when it comes to her feelings.
And what art it is! I’m already in love with this team! Selena looks very sultry in a high-society setting and the action is staged dramatically. The splash page revealing Catwoman’s new costume is a work of art, giving readers an excellent look at her new attire, with colors recalling the work of Rico Renzi on the marvelous competitor’s Spider-Gwen book. It’s a perfect encapsulation of Gotham nightlife!
I would be all in on the visuals alone, but fortunately, Grønbekk crafts a compelling story to match, with Selena on the run from various forces from her past that are out to get her for unknown reasons as of now. Selena is capable and clever, but she may be over her head. This could have been a jumping-off point, but instead, I am eagerly awaiting the next installment! – Javier E. Trujillo
GRADE: A
