ABSOLUTE CATWOMAN #2 – Blast from the Past

Selena doesn’t have time to lick her wounds as she must find out who the mystery person is that came after her. Using a mysterious object she has come into possession of, one of her previous nine lives may come back into her life sooner than she ever anticipated.

This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Megan and Matt!!

Creative Team

Scott Snyder, Che Grayson, Bengal, Giovanna Niro, and Lucas Gattoni.

Writing

Matt: I love how Che blends together the past showcasing how Selena had a crew and ties it all together with the present mystery. There are familiar names that Che drops Easter eggs of as the Absolute Universe continues to grow. Too often we expect a Catwoman story to be married to Batman however, 2 issues in and we haven’t had any mention which allows this story to breathe and grow into its own. I continue to love how Che makes Selena tech smart and futuristic rather than simplistic. It gives her an edge in this lifestyle and I’m really enjoying this new story.

Megan: We’re only on the second issue, and it feels like so much has happened with this story. Scott Snyder and Che Grayson brought a second issue that matches the energy and quality of the first. Selina has been taken down a road that involves a blast from her past, Holly. Holly has been taken by a mysterious figure that seems to be one step ahead of Selina. In this new issue, Holly isn’t the only one from Selina’s past to come back into the light. Selina’s former group, the Calicos, are somehow all involved with Holly’s secret plan and this mysterious orb. Reuniting with her former teammates doesn’t go as smoothly as a Hallmark movie would make it, especially when they find themselves in the middle of a mystery that they can’t make heads or tails of.

Art

Matt: Bengal plays with various costume designs for the characters in this issue which is something I love. Selena can blend in whether she is fighting in the streets or robbing the rich. The flashback sequences make great use of the coloring by Giovanna who delivers a blue shading on the night heist sequences. It’s a vibrant issue and perhaps my favorite panel is how the duo combine to show Selena transitioning into her battle suit so seamlessly.

Megan: With an excellent storyline, you have to have artwork that matches that energy, and that’s what Bengal, Giovanna Niro, and Lucas Gattoni has given us. The design of the characters bring equal parts beauty and stealth, truly capturing the cat-like qualities. Along with that, the action scenes of the story were wonderfully handled, with more plain backgrounds that make the characters and their action the focal points. The colors of the comic have a great juxtaposition happening with warm and cool colors, that contrast to the darker tones of the characters. The lettering work is top notch, as you can feel the calm and ominios tone of Selina’s monologue that contrasts the chaos happening in real time.

Final Thoughts

Matt: 9/10 Absolute Catwoman #2 takes us into Selena’s past tying it all together as the mystery begins to unfold. I’m enjoying what Che, Bengal, Giovanna, Scott, and Lucas are putting together which is letting Selena have her time to shine. I’ll continue to pick this book up for sure.

Megan: 10/10 Absolute Catwoman #2 proves that the first issue was much more than a strong start, but a great example of the high quality to expect from this run moving forward.

Overall Grade: 9.5/10

How are you liking Absolute Catwoman? Let us know in the comments