Review: Catwoman #30
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Ram V.
Artist: Â Fernando Blanco
Letters:Â Tom Napolitano
Colors: Jordie Bellaire Â
Reviewed by: Carl Bryan
Summary
“Like all contracts with God, there is no turning back. The Catwoman shall die by my hand. But in the meantime, weather the storm.” – Father Valley.
Positives
First of all, praise to Joelle Jones and Laura Allred on the cover art they consistently provide to Catwoman. Jones is on her own level with Yara Flor, but she got the Catwoman book on the right tracks with spectacular art and a solid story line. The fact she is still associated with this book is wonderful as her art is very distinctive with lines and color!
Fernando Blanco continues to draw a beautiful and powerful Selina! Given the myriad of characters Blanco now gets to flex with, the reader gets to drink in his interpretations of older Rogue’s Gallery foes and new entries provided by the pen of Ram V.
Selina with mussed up hair and applying just enough pressure to The Riddler’s wound to make him squeal. You got it! Selina in head turning evening gown attending an art party…you got it? Oh, you want Selina dressing to do battle? It’s there and more.
Positives 2.0
Ram V’s pen is slaying it in the Catwoman universe. The updates he has given to The Riddler and The Penguin are perfect. The introduction of Father Valley is even more perfect. The more I know and am provided glimpses into his motivations, the more intrigued I become. Does he need more story time…yes. Does he need his own book? Yes! Is he becoming the equivalent of Batman’s Joker in Catwoman’s world. YES!
Who knows Selina and who is that hidden figure that is “a friend”. My guess is Batman…what’s yours? Ram V has continued to elevate Selina’s story month in and month out. He and Joelle Jones have given her the following she has always deserved.
Negatives
None here as Ram V is dripping in just the right amount of various characters to deliver what appears to be a very layered story! He is teasing us with Father Valley… this villain is as good as when Bane was introduced to the Batman universe or when we first got a glimpse of Doomsday in the Superman comics.
He has this book on the map.
Verdict
Ram V keeps delivering with a solid story line. Blanco and Bellaire are painting a world that is every bit as dark as the villains it holds. But that purple haze is Catwoman setting things right. I continue to be a Father Valley fan, but let us not forget that Poison Ivy is somewhere in this mix! Â
