Review: Catwoman #33
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[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Ram V.
Artist: Fernando Blanco
Letters: Tom Napolitano
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Reviewed by: Carl Bryan
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Summary
“I want you to ask yourself how many second chances you got because of what you mean to him? – Basil Karlo aka Clayface
Positives
Fernando Blanco returns to take over the reigns for the art in this issue and he gives us dirty cityscapes and a focus on a fight that we have been anticipating. Round One of Selina versus Father Valley.Â
Incidentally, if you did not catch up with the Catwoman 2021 Annual, shame on you. The origin of Father Valley is as enormous as when we found out about Bane in the 90’s. These issues with the first appearances of Father Valley, to the one you should have in your hands right now, will be spoken about for decades.
Blanco’s pens and Ram V’s writing have given us what we have been anticipating for some time. I’ll not spoil anything about this battle, but it is complete with knives, martial arts, and scripture quoting. Â
Hauntingly enough is the parallel story of Selina establishing the parameters in Alleytown and her attempts to make sure her “kids” are not sacrificial pawns in a turf war. But the dialogue between her and Clayface is deep….real deep! Joelle Jones poured herself into this book, but Ram V has taken it to unexpected levels making Selena so relevant in the DC landscape!Â
Positives 2.0
I am unsure of where we go from here. This fight is as epic as when we saw Batman broken by Bane. I know that Ram V plays the long game, so the positive here is that this particular issue will catapult things to a new level in the Catwoman saga.
Negatives
In my last review, I made the statement that “Ram V is too smart to let Batman swoop in and save Selina.” Sigh… maybe I was expecting too much, because after all, Bruce loves Selina and I should have picked up on some foreshadowing. It’s not the save you expect…or is it?
Verdict
Father Valley is everything you would expect and more. He is shaping up to be iconic, and Selina is obviously going to be an irritant to him for years to come IF she can get out of this. And truly…with DC killing off Alfred, and making iconic moves left and right…Selina dying at the hands of Valley would truly set Bruce to madness. You listening, Ram V?
