kiLL tHe baTMan

As I started reading all of the issues of the Batman RIP crossover arc, I realized quickly that the “Heart of Hush” storyline being penned by the much-loved Paul Dini with beautiful pencils by Dustin Nguyen was going to be my favorite, and I have yet to be disappointed.

I’ll start with the art: I will make no attempt to hide my fanboy gushing over Nguyen’s artwork. His stuff is sharp and simple (without being too simple), and his backgrounds for the larger panels are always gorgeous. Artwise, the best parts of the book are always Nguyen’s covers, with nice composition and colored with watercolors for a very unique and interesting contrast from other books that are sure to draw a comic shop browser’s eye. My only complaint with Nguyen is the sawtooth-jaggies he uses in lieu of a more traditional hatching for some of his shadow work. But that’s just personal preference.

As for the story, you can tell that Dini is a talented writer when the most interesting scenes are the ones following a villain as historically lame and simplistic as Hush. He doesn’t take his time jumping into action with a conflict between Hush and Selina Kyle (sans catsuit), before moving on to Batman as he tracks down the Scarecrow and the child that Scarecrow kidnapped at the end of last issue. After Batman battles a ten-year-old, the Scarecrow reveals that he is simply a distraction, while Hush takes the next step in his plan. Inserted into the Batman scene is another flashback of Bruce Wayne and Thomas Elliot, that hints at a possible return to Peyton Riley, the new Ventriloquist (who is dead as of a few issues ago, but probably just comic book dead). Everything then leads into the final scene, the last page being the sort of cliffhanger that we read comics for.

Although Catwoman is one of my favorites, and I hate seeing her pegged as the victim or damsel-in-distress, this “Heart of Hush” arc is turning out to be a great storyline (thanks to Dini), and I’m really looking forward to the conclusion.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

During my return to reading comics after about fourteen years of not paying attention, I was looking for a good point to jump in. It didn’t take me long to settle on the Gotham City crowd. I read everything I could get my hands on, including the last few years of Catwoman, which I thoroughly enjoyed. And I was devastated to learn that issue #82 would be the last in the book’s run. So, I present to you my first and last review of Catwoman. (At least until DC wises up and brings her back.)

Catwoman #81 ended on the rooftops of Gotham City, as Batman warning Selina of her recent bad behavior, leading her to proclaim, “Tonight, one way or another, whatever it is you and I have, whatever we’ve built up over the years… I’m saying tonight… all that changes,” as she pulls Batman off the roof to plummet to the street. Readers seemed to be worried. After all, we’ve enjoyed watching the flirtation between Catwoman and Batman play out, and no one really wanted to see that change. No one wanted Selina to become a villian again. Thankfully, the final issue doesn’t make any drastic changes to their relationship. In fact, it’s just a whole lot of fun.

The story is simple: Catwoman toys with Batman, stealing his belt and leading him to chase her through the East End of Gotham–her territory–playfully taunting him until he traps her on the edge of a building. It is here where she reveals the struggles she has been facing. Her guilt over killing the Black Mask and regret from giving up her daughter is leading her to behave in a way even she doesn’t understand. Granted, Will Pfeifer doesn’t make the story too heavy and ends the book (and the series) as playfully as it starts.

Not that we’ve seen the last of Catwoman. In terms of continuity,  #82 is pretty clearly set before “The Heart of Hush” arc currently playing out in Detective, in which Catwoman is a major player. Even though her series has run its course, hopefully, we fans of Catwoman will still get to see plenty of her.

Rating: 3.5 / 5