DC Comics reviews for the week of 7/4/18

Catwoman #1

Hopefully the somewhat surprising fan backlash from Batman #50 won’t prevent readers from giving Catwoman’s solo series a fair shake.

Following the events of the Bat/Cat wedding, Selina is taking some time for herself. Of course that won’t last long as Catwoman is wanted for the murder of two police officers. But how can that be possible when Selina’s been in casinos and bars for weeks?

There was no artist remotely close to being a better option to draw Catwoman than Joelle Jones.

Jones is quietly one of DC’s best artists and arguably the best at drawing realistic female characters. She’s filling the void Nicola Scott left nicely. It doesn’t take long in the issue to fully appreciate Jones’ artwork and her understanding of Selina’s movements. There’s some really terrific action sequences that show off her acrobatic fighting style.

But the bigger surprise is Jones’ skills as a writer. She has Selina’s voice down while letting her walls down. Too often Selina is the model of unaffected composure. Jones goes beyond the never fazed facade to show a vulnerable side of Selina.

This first issue also introduces a villain who’s not all that she appears as well as a capable opponent for Selina on the streets and rooftops.

Catwoman gets off to a strong start in Jones’ hands. While this solo series seems long overdue its in the right creative hands making it truly worth the wait.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10