SYNOPSIS: As Catwoman’s life hangs in the balance, Selina’s mind drifts back to her final days as Evie Hall and the deadly events that led her to discard that identity and return to Gotham City.
Part Two of “Never Let Them Smell Blood” opens with Selina in trouble across multiple periods.
I’ve got to confess, I’m feeling a bit lost in all this. Who knows what, who’s friends with whom, what the conflict is ultimately all about?
The issue picks up with Selena under attack 27 hours ago in Tokyo, then cuts to “now” with her recuperating on a boat, then cuts again to Saint Tropez a decade ago, bringing us back to the end of the prior issue. It’s a lot. Fortunately, we spent some time in the past to see the resolution before returning to the present.
Secrets are revealed between Selina and Shola. For me, someone who reads multiple books a month, I’ve been having a hard time getting back into this title and remembering all the pieces. This isn’t Gronbekk’s fault. He’s trying to tell the story in an interesting way. I’m just not connecting with anyone outside of Selina or finding a reason to care. When a character gets disposed of, it leaves no impact, and I feel nothing regarding Selina’s relationship with Shola.
I am enjoying the visuals, however. Patricio Delpeche provides both art and colors, providing a noirish sensibility when applicable. The changing sky as Selina wakes up and talks the day away with Shola helps distinguish the passage of time, and the night setting in the flashback gets assisted by neon hues. Delpeche’s slightly cartoonish style doesn’t negate any drama or tension.
So, here we are. I am enjoying the art and the dialogue, but the overarching plot has escaped me now. I want to love this comic, but the best I can muster is that I like aspects of it. The tone is intriguing, but I’m finding it harder and harder to get excited about opening the stellar cover and delving into the contents underneath. – Javier E. Trujillo
