REVIEW: Knight Terrors: Catwoman #2

The Cat (and the Bat) are on the hunt to stop the man who would become their greatest foe in the trippy conclusion of Knight Terrors: Catwoman #2. Can the bad girl gone good find the redemption she’s so desperately looking for before it’s too late?

At the beginning of this tale, Catwoman and her sister Maggie aka Sister Zero are on the trail of a mysterious figure she knows is the Joker. Or at least he will become the Joker. This is a nightmare so things just aren’t right. They are eventually joined by a Batman so green and new to the game, he isn’t even using the name Batman yet. As things pick up, Catwoman and Batman find the Joker who warns them that he’s coming for Selina’s sister, to become the devil to her God. Like the first issue, this one is steeped in religious talk and imagery. The issue is a good mix of action and theology thanks to writer Tini Howard. The Joker is the true standout in this issue. This a young and hungry version of the character who cracks wise but has some dark undertones behind his sick smile.

The art style retains its throwback vibe from the first issue. It’s a Golden Age and modern art mashup that brings a lot of life to the issue. The 1960’s vibes extend to Selina’s haircut, Bruce Wayne’s suit, and Sister Zero’s unique superhero costume. The young Joker styled like an evil hippie is also a standout. And Batman’s suit is more Adam West than Robert Patterson inspired. A couple of surprise characters enter that look like they could fit right in with Gotham’s infamous rouge’s gallery. There’s also something about the coloring that screams “flower power” and takes one to a dark Austin Powers timeline. Leila Leiz (art) and Marissa Louise (coloring) put some serious style into this comic.

The struggle for Catwoman is taking place in both her nightmare and her real life as well. Being a reformed criminal with a literal nun for a sister and the Batman as her lover creates issues. She knows she can’t (and doesn’t want to) completely change. Her true fear is dragging her loved ones into the dangers she’s created. The story is touching and shows both sides of the complicated character. The only problem is the with only two issues to work with, things get rushed. The action heats up in this issue and the ending is explosive but a lot is thrown at the reader with minimal set-up and/or exploration. And in the end Knight Terrors: Catwoman #2 does more to set up Catwoman’s future adventures than progress the Knight Terrors storyline. All that said though, the issue is a great character study and highly recommended for Catwoman fans.

Writing – 3.5 Stars
Art – 4 Stars
Coloring – 4.5 Stars

Overall – 4 Stars

Written by; Tini Howard
Art by; Leila Leiz
Colors by; Marissa Louise
Letters by; Becca Carey
Published by; DC Comics

Author Profile

Christopher R. Ford

Writer, author, and blogger. Published author of three children's books and also writes for the boy Creators For The Culture. Part-time sneaker head, full time nerd.