“Long Time, No Time” – Part One
Writer: Torunn Grønbekk
Artists: Marianna Ignazzi
Color Artist: Patricio Delpeche
Letterer: Steve Wands
Review by Adam Ray
Catwoman #73 sees the crime intrigue and the international jet setting take Selina to new heights. She finds herself in a new location but with the same problems of the past creeping up to catch her. The issue masterfully builds tension, and dramatically pressures our hero as she navigates everything from her past as it builds into her facing off against a dark part of her past. She had a narrow escape in the last issue, and now she’s wandering off to places of safety.
Delpeche perfectly handles the tension, and the difference between the past and the present all with shading and colouring. The grim nature of keeping a victim as a prisoner matches up perfectly between the beginning and end of the issue. We feel the claustrophobia in it. The pressure of the situation is also well shown by the tight angles of the action. It does make me wonder why a mobster with a gun decided to swing at Catwoman with it, rather than simply shooting. Maybe not to harm the prisoner?
There are elements to the story that feel rich with detail that have somewhat gone over the head of this reviewer. The longer the title goes, the more meandering it feels. We’re told so much of Catwoman’s past in this criminal cabal and how she was given guises and aliases that showed her so much of how things were, but now the story is showing us other antagonists with relations that match but are still out there. It also makes me wonder what fear Catwoman could possibly have, and why it’s all mattering now.
Conclusion
Catwoman #73 is definitely on the engaging side with the masterful artwork and well handled characterisation. At the same time, we have to wonder where the stakes are and what the connection is to the story they’re building up. Going from the cosmic and deeply trippy storyline of Tini Howard’s run to this tale of criminal mistaken identities leaves somewhat to be desired.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment
