Catwoman #40 Review

Written by: Genevieve Valentine
Art by: Garry Brown
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 25, 2015

Secrets and Lies

I don't know how many times I can push this book to anyone who will listen, but I will at least one more time.  Genevieve Valentine has quietly turned this book from a bit of a joke to a must read crime drama and Selina Kyle into the strongest, smartest, kick ass female character in all of comics.  I say "quietly" because while other books get the headlines because of new outfits or questionable variant covers, Valentine and Garry Brown just keep giving fans what's important...a great book. This issue continues the story of tough choices, double crosses and the Family Business.  Is it up to par with the rest of the run?  Let's find out...

Gotham is at war and Selina Kyle is in the middle of it all.  Black Mask wants her dead and the rest of Gotham's Crime Families are watching her every move.  Luckily, she is the smartest person in the room and has a few tricks still up her sleeve.  I love this book!

Genevieve Valentine is giving readers a slow burn, hard boiled noir story that has me on the edge of my seat.  Nobody is safe and Selina has been forced to make some pretty tough decisions.  That continues this month.  She orders Antonia to disappear, tells Eiko to go back to her father and meets with The Penguin.  I love each move, but the meeting with Oswald was my favorite.

I am a big Penguin fan and Valentine nails the character.  This isn't the over-the-top villain that some writers give us, but a calculating, conniving crime boss who is out for whatever he can get.  He's smart enough to go with the winner of the fight and right now, that looks to be Selina.  With his help, she certainly looks like the lead dog.  This isn't lost on Black Mask and he let's Mason go after her. Whether or not Mason is really Selina's brother, after what he does, he is dead to her.

This story has been about secrets and betrayal, but it ends with Selina deciding to come clean with those closest to her.  Could this mean she tells them her Catwoman secret?  It sure looks like it.  The best part of this whole bit is that the issue ends with Selina putting the Catwoman suit back on and going for a little spin.  People who have complained about the lack of the real Catwoman in this book can now shut their mouths.  Those of us who love Eiko in the role can now get officially worried. Either way, I can't wait for June.

This issue was exactly what I expected...another great issue of Catwoman.  If you want to jump in, go back to the beginning of the arc because while this issue isn't new reader friendly, the whole run is worth reading.

I've read that Garry Brown's art is an acquired taste.  I guess I've acquired it because I've liked each issue more than the last.  This is my favorite so far and his gritty style not only fits the story to a T, but has won me over completely.

Bits and Pieces:

Catwoman has been more of a Selina Kyle book and I'm not complaining.  Genevieve Valentine is giving readers a smart and violent crime story that can't be found anywhere else in the DC Universe. Garry Brown's art fits it like a glove and if you are not reading it, shame on you.  This is one of the best books on the shelf nowadays.

9.3/10