Absolute Catwoman #2 – Scott Snyder, Che Grayson, Writers; Bengal, Artist; Giovanna Niro, Colorist
Ray – 9.5/10
Ray: Of all the Absolute characters, Selina Kyle is probably the one who feels the closest to her mainstream counterpart so far. Sure, she has a vastly different life – it’s a clever twist that she and Bruce have essentially been swapped, with Selina having the high-tech gear and hidden penthouses that allow her to operate around the world. But at her core, her modus operandi and allies are fairly similar, and that’s why this comic feels just a little less electric than the rest of the line. But that doesn’t mean it’s a damn good story – it’s probably the best Catwoman solo run since the heyday of Brubaker and Cooke, putting Selina up against the wall as a mysterious alliance picks apart her life and targets her former allies – starting with Holly Robinson, who was just kidnapped by the mysterious assassin known as Cassandra Cain in the cliffhanger to the fast-paced first issue.
The Calicos, the gang that Selina used to run with, are the heart of this issue – and now, one of them has been taken. The other members are slowly revealed as the issue goes on, with the first being Helena Bertinelli, the daughter of an infamous mobster who brings her family’s assets to the table as she tries to take them down from within. The other, Victoria Sage, seems to be an original character – but between her tech-savvy skills and her unusual personality, I’m thinking she might be this universe’s version of The Question. The two of them reunite with Selina as the search for Holly begins, and this issue starts to get into just how deep Selina’s network goes and where she has bases. There are some great visuals by Bengal here, with a base Selina keeps in the mountains being especially impressive. The pace only speeds up this issue, and the characters added to this story continue to pull you in.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
