Catwoman #84 – Torunn Gronbekk, Writer; Patricio Delpeche, Artist
Ray – 9/10
Ray: Catwoman’s European adventure has taken up the entirety of Gronbekk’s run so far, sending Selina deep undercover and against old enemies – and even some friends – before eventually winding up in a high-stakes heist at a global mafia confab with deeply personal stakes. And now that Selina is back in possession of her mother’s old jewelry, she’s ready to head back to Gotham and start anew – but not before resolving some unfinished business. One of the most important parts of Selina’s life for years now has been Holly Robinson, the troubled younger woman who even filled in as Catwoman for a while in the One Year Later era. But last time we saw Holly, she had slipped back into dark habits and committed a horrible crime that Selina was blamed for. Despite this, Selina hasn’t given up on Holly – but to save her old friend, she’ll have to find her first.
The narration and flashbacks in this issue are a real highlight, delving into the early days of Selina and Holly’s bond, and the way Holly’s increasing dependence on drugs not only tested that bond, but nearly got them both killed. It’s a pretty realistic and stark depiction of the impact of drug abuse on a relationship, and Holly actually got a look at it from the other side as Selina tries to contact her. There isn’t a smooth resolution here, but it seems like Holly’s likely to be an important part of this run going forward. And despite Selina outfoxing him, so is Carmine Falcone. Those who read Batman: Eternal know that he and Selina are more closely linked than either of them would like to admit, and that’s given Selina a second lease on life after her risky heist. But it also means she won’t be rid of him any time soon, and that’s an intriguing hook for this run going forward as it heads back to Gotham.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
