ABSOLUTE CATWOMAN #3 – Back at it Again

Creative Team – Scott Snyder, Che Grayson, Bengal, Giovanna Niro, and Lucas Gattoni

Published by DC Comics

Catch up with Absolute Catwoman #2!

The Story

Just when I think there’s no possible way for this comic run to get even better, I’m left eating my words after the third issue. Absolute Catwoman is one of those comic runs that can fit SO much into three issues while having a perfectly even flow of events that you’re left stunned. Scott Snyder and Che Grayson continue the story of Selina Kyle in the Absolute Universe in a huge way that gives us an excellent look at her past while simultaneously building her future. Selena is back with her old crew, the Calicos, to find their fellow former teammate and figure out what in the world is going on here. What did Holly get herself into? Is this truly a world-ending disaster waiting to happen? Are the Calicos now heroes?!

Helena, Victoria, and Selina are still on the hunt for Holly, but things are getting more and more confusing. The deeper they search for answers, the more questions they’re left with. Fortunately for them, the Calicos come with quite a few tricks up their sleeves. Thanks to their past, their present, and their willingness to work on the future together, the Calicos are back at it again, working as a team to look after one of their own.

What I love so much about this run is the constant inner dialogue of Selina. We get to know her on a personal level, baggage and all, while seeing how she handles herself in the face of others. She puts on a brave face and pushes people away, but we can see that she still struggles with her past. She’s shaped into this woman by her trauma, but she longs for a life that’s wildly different than the one she has. It’s been so fascinating to see this juxtaposition between her public persona and the woman who’s still struggling. Phenomenal work by the writers for this because it shows how many layers Selina Kyle has as a character, which is something that usually doesn’t get talked about enough.

The Art

The artwork is just as fabulous as the story, and I think the artists played off the story extremely well. Bengal, Giovanna Niro, and Lucas Gattoni brought a lot to the table, and the readers will absolutely love it. Bengal brings a lot of great linework that showers each page in just the right details. Seeing the women morph into their Calico personas was no easy feat with their quick reflexes and their cat-like movements. Giovanna Niro thrives with using the darker tones contrasting the vibrancy that makes each page nothing short of stunning. Personally, I loved the small uses of the purples and pinks as they were beautiful and really worked well off of the blues. Lucas Gattoni always delivers high-quality work when they work on the lettering, and this is no exception. Perfectly capturing the huge difference in tones between Selina’s inner dialogue and the outside conversations, you get a feel for how different she is versus what the world sees. Along with some excellently used sound effects, I’d say Gattoni wrapped this issue in a perfect bow. The artists all deserve their flowers because this issue was gorgeous from beginning to end.

Final Thoughts

Another excellent issue! The writers really captured the different personas of Selina Kyle in a flawless way. Seeing Selina work through her past trauma while fighting her current battles was a balancing act that absolutely delivered. Excellent work all around!

If you haven’t dived into Absolute Catwoman, there’s no time like the present! Make sure to preorder your copy of the next issue!

Overall Grade – 10/10

Let me know what you thought of Absolute Catwoman #3 in the comments below!

This review was written by Megan from the Vigilante Vibes Podcast. If you liked my review, be sure to check out my other reviews! Let me know what you think of Absolute Catwoman #3, or tell me what comics you’d recommend me trying out! Find me on my socials, and check out my Marvel podcast, Vigilante Vibes, by clicking here!