“No Further Bets” – Part One
Writer: Torunn Grønbekk
Artists: Fabiana Mascolo
Color Artist: Patricio Delpeche
Letterer: Steve Wands
Review by Adam Ray
The new creative team has taken over in Catwoman #69. We can expect to see this new direction in both art style and story beats from here on, and while we’ve just come from one of Catwoman’s strongest runs, we can expect to see it continue and dazzle us from here on.
After the apocalyptic battle and dramatic conclusion of the previous storyline, we get to see Catwoman go to a more pensive and thoughtful place in her story. After taking some dramatic defeats, DC’s greatest anti-hero is now setting herself up for an international adventure. The stakes of what she’s in forces her to find such a natural allegiance that shows the scope of the DC Universe in a subtle and satisfying way.
What stands out to me most about this issue is how beautiful it is to look at. The color palettes are so muted and noir. The swirling blues and purples that Delpeche employs is so stunning and makes the issue feel incredibly retro to me. It’s contrasted well by the rushing golds and yellows of the parties, and the whites to make the outdoor travel scenes seem vast and open. The exact same colors show violent clashes between good and bad in a dynamic but silent way. It grips us readers when we can imagine all manner of movement through very staccato, minimal panels.
Conclusion
Catwoman #69 is a refreshing start to a new story line. We can see a sinister force angling to mess with our hero, whilst the enchanting artwork captures reader’s attention every single time. This creative team has come out swinging on their first run with Catwoman, and I am eager to see where the story will go from here!
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment