Catwoman #35 Review

DC might have been better off relaunching this series as "Selina Kyle #1" or something similar. Calling this comic "Catwoman" suggests a certain level of costumed adventuring that simply isn't present. The focus is squarely on Selina's new role as head of the Calabrese crime family. She's traded her spandex catsuit in for a pantsuit, and even Batman himself is a minimal presence. This is a crime drama, not a superhero book. The grounded setting and grittier, more noir-tinged art style actually make this issue the closest thing to Gotham Central we've seen from DC in some time. It fills a much-needed niche in the Batman franchise.

New writer Genevieve Valentine takes a clever approach to fleshing out Selina by drawing clear comparisons between Gotham's newest mob leader and Queen Elizabeth. These allusions to the iconic royal figure highlight the challenges Selina faces in her new role and give the story a scope that rises above the petty squabbles between mob families. The writing can be a bit heavy-handed and choked with dialogue at times, but hopefully these are problems that will smooth out as the new creative team settles in more.

Get the full review from IGN here.