“Nine Lives” – Part Ten
Writer: Tini Howard
Artists: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Color Artist: Veronica Gandini
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Review by Adam Ray
The tension is high in so many different theaters of battle in Catwoman #68. We see the satisfying and nuanced end to the Nine Lives storyline done perfectly. The mystical implications are on show alongside the pitched battle between the forces Catwoman has aligned herself with, all the while mixing well with the emotional struggles of having severe magical brain damage. The last issue left us reeling, and with a month’s wait thanks to Gotham City Sirens, we now finally find Selina’s fate!
There are multiple story lines happening all at once in Catwoman #68. The medical jargon and invasive x-rays of Hush in surgery leaves the reader feeling invaded and unsure. The high octane battles on the docks, and the sudden appearance of a key character makes the fighting all the more engaging. Lastly we get the emotionally wrought journey of Selina facing her past and her actions from the end of the last story arc in the blessed fields of the ancient Egyptian afterlife.
The art team’s tight panels are some of their most effective. It makes for very claustrophobic reading that we can’t help but be drawn into. The level of detail in such smaller panels literally pulls us into the action, while the quick cuts feel very staccato and bring us into the action as it happens.
Conclusion
Catwoman #68 ends the story line in more ways than one. The cosmic nature of the Egyptian goddess, but the intensity of the battles. All mixed with the open-ended-ness of some of those details. Truly anything can happen to Catwoman which is why she stays such a personal favorite of this reviewer.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment