Catwoman #66 – Tini Howard, Writer; Ivan Shavrin, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Artists; Veronica Gandini, Colorist
Ray – 8/10
Ray: We’re getting to the end of the “Nine Lives” arc, as Selina is running low on her bonus continues and has teamed up with old frenemy Scandal Savage to pull off one last con—on some of the larger-scale villains of the arc. After facing off against nuclear radiation and the vacuum of space, the scale here isn’t quite on the same level, with Flamingo and Santa Espada making intriguing foes but feeling more like pawns, but Selina and Scandal have an amusing scam going—essentially trying to sell Selina to the villains while planning a double-cross. Things turn out to be a little more complicated, though, as the presence of a major villain means an uneasy detente, and we get a little closer to answers about exactly how Selina got her extra lives. This issue feels like a heist thriller, but also like a breather before the big showdown to wrap up this era of the title.
John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead In America #5 – Simon Spurrier, Writer; Aaron Campbell, Artist; Jordie Bellaire, Colorist
Ray – 9/10
Ray: After last issue’s fascinating, multi-pronged tale of the American border, Constantine and his allies board a bus with a strange old man—who turns out to be much more than he appeared. He’s a metamancer, a supernatural being who can bring stories to life—and he worked for decades as a comic book writer whose most odd creations never found the light of day. Now embittered, he fills the American woods with strange supernatural beings that entered the realm of myth. It’s a great look at the stories that built the United Stated, through the eyes of someone who was never appreciated in their time. This story goes in a much darker direction than I was expecting at the outset, with the cliffhanger throwing the entire concept of the series for a loop. Given Constantine’s complex creator, I can see some metacommentary being worked in here as this series continues to push the storytelling boundaries.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
