Catwoman #20 Review

Writer: Joelle Jones

Artist: Fernando Blanco
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 12, 2020

I can't believe we are still dealing with Raina Creel!  She was hardly worth six issues, and it just points to the sad fact that nothing much has happened in this series since it began.  It seems this is the penultimate issue of Raina's story, if not Joelle Jones' time on this book, and I can only hope that somehow, she has a hail mary play to make it all tie together and make it all worthwhile.  Does this issue point to that maybe being the case?  Let's find out...


The issue begins with an overlong scene of Raina's little monster, Adam, being subdued and sent off to spend some time with the other zombies at the Creel Mansion.  I thought we dealt with this last issue?  Also, when and why did Raina suddenly stop caring for her precious little boy, and why does it seem like we are supposed to think he is the same as these other zombies when that shouldn't be the case? 

While this is going on, the Creel Mansion has protesters to the left of us, zombies to the right, and here Raina is, stuck in the middle with... well, her men.  There is little setup to what is going on here, even though it seems like we are supposed to recognize that Raina has a plan of sorts going on. 

We cut to Selina who is hanging with Maggie, hoping Linda is okay and wishing she could do more to help her.  She fiddles with the idea of using Raina's Lazarus Water, bit decides she can't leave Maggie by herself.  What about the actual Lazarus Pit?   As if on cue, a bunch of stray cats arrives to save the day...or at least bring Selina's lucky rabbit's foot.  They also act as fashion police to get Selina back in her current costume.  Seriously!  Selina then leaves Maggie with the cats since a bunch of stray cats can easily protect Maggie if the horde of zombies returns!  

Back at the Creel Mansion, we get a convoluted and ambiguous explanation of what Raina might be doing and how she has made her zombie army.  The answer boils down to, "How I managed to achieve such magic...will have to remain a secret to you..."  Oh goody!  The issue ends with the socialites of Villa Hermosa about to turn, and Selina ready to finish her fight with Raina.  Can't we call it quits here?  Please!!!

How can a story that went on at least ten issues too long suddenly feel like it's rushing to an ending?!?!  It is clear after reading this that there was never a story worth reading here, and while I have enjoyed the art throughout the series, there hasn't been much else. There are no clear motivations for most of what is going on, and things changed drastically without explanation.  It's a shame as I was a big supporter of what Jones was doing at first, but I will be so glad when this story ends next month.

Bits and Pieces:

This Catwoman series has struggled to pick up any momentum for a while now and tries to make up for it with a forced and hurried penultimate issue to the Raina Creel story.  Without proper setup, the plot twists and turns, and it winds up being a confusing mess by the time the cliffhanger arrives.  I will be back next month to finish out the story, but I am not looking forward to it.

3.5/10