CATWOMAN #29: Curiosity Will Kill the Cat

Detective Hadley seems to keep trying to get Selina involved in helping stop this new designer drug that’s currently plaguing Gotham, despite her every attempt to not. Meanwhile we see more of the enigmatic meta assassin, the Wight Witch, and see how formidable of an adversary she’ll be.

Ram and Fernando keep building up to a major showdown between Selina and the WW, and the impending war she and the Riddler will have to join in order to save Ivy. It’s fast paced, but still pumps out lots of little things that add to Alleytown, and Catwoman’s world shes built there.

Ram V and Fernando Blanco has consistently made this one of the must reads of the current Batman line of books, weaving a tapestry of themes, and conspiracies into this book.  With new additions to her supporting cast, like Detective Hadley, and brand new villains, like WW and Father Valley, it’s a very enjoyable ride.

We’re five issues in, and I’m already feeling the magic like I did with Greg Rucka’s first Detective run, post No Man’s Land, or the beginning of Brubaker’s run on Daredevil. Very pulp, very noir, and something that just bleeds an epic, character defining run in the making.
Ram continues to shine, and show why he’s a rising star amongst the ranks of DC’s current writers, and not a panel seems wasted. It’s rich, and atmospheric, aided by the amazing art by Fernando Blanco and Jordie’s colors really make it a delight. I will admit, I wasn’t really a fan of Blanco when he was first announced, because his style is so muted, and much more subtle when compared to Joelle Jones’s, but it works. It works really well.

This book is good. Really good, but unfortunately it’s not long enough. It’s a shame because we barely see the kids from Selina’s neighborhood, which have become almost a form of surveillance for her, to Magdalene, Det. Hadley, or the Riddler.

I understand why DC has lowered the page count to keep costs down, but it’s really a disservice to Ram and Fernando’s incredible work on this book, and it’s a disservice to Selina, and the world she lives in. I hope to see the comic industry rebound post Covid, because this series deserves to be a hit.