Review: Catwoman #16

"Year Of The Villain... ?"

Writer and Artist: Joëlle Jones
Color Artist: Laura Allred
Letterer: Saida Temofonte

Review by Adam Ray

Catwoman #16 sees the return of the original creative team. Yes, Joëlle Jones is back, and she brings delicious symbolism, and a clear understanding for Selina Kyle with her. Ram V’s outing was welcome, however I feel that this title has been defined by Jones and Allred. They’ve returned with the previous storyline at the forefront of our attention. How could we forget that a way to find the Lazarus Pits has just become clear and that this could potentially lead to a dangerous scramble for power for all these characters?

This issue jumps around in time; as we go from a confrontation, to a dire defeat. We find Creel surrounded by her strange sons, then move through time to see just how Selina started on her path towards this clash. Catwoman is a particularly good investigator, and to compare an interrogation to a piñata party is unique. Jones balances the scene, the anguished faces of thugs and concentration of kids smashing the piñata. The result gives us the wry satisfaction of Selina and the screaming joy of the children. It’s a cinematic moment, which is something I love getting from comics.

It’s hard to get a firm read on this issue. I sung the praises of Ram V’s chapters for staying cohesive, but also for bringing something new to the title. Now that Jones has returned, we’re plunged back into a whirlwind of action. We see many jumps in time in one issue and who knows which way is up. It’s a jarring way to be dropped into the story.

Conclusion

Catwoman #16 has left me eager to find out just how Catwoman will get herself into this fight, because being thrust back into the chaos is a strange way to bring readers into the story. I’m not saying it’s a bad one, if anything, this has made me want answers for the burning questions of what brought Catwoman here. 

Images Courtesy Of DC Entertainment