Catwoman #74 // Review
Selina is in Tokyo. It’s a beautiful place. She has a nice view. She’s not sightseeing, though. She’s not on vacation She’s on business. She’s on the top of a roof, too. And it’s not like she’s any stranger to being on top of a roof, but she’s not exactly having a good time in Catwoman #74. Writer Torunn Grønbekk and artist Marianna Ignazzi continue an interesting story for Selina to engage in as she moves forward. Everyone’s searching Tokyo for Selina. She’s going to have to find some sort of safe place. So why is she breaking into a very hstile secure facility?
In the process of the break-in, Selina runs into someone who might be of some use to her. She’s asking him questions The guy doesn’t seem to know anything, but he IS under a lot of stress. She introduces herself as a voice at his back as she points a gun at the back of his neck. So it’s a bit of a challenge for everyone involved. They’re not starting off on the right foot and he’s got a hood over his head. She’s got the gun. He’s got his hands tied behind his back. Anyone would have difficulty eing of much use in a situation like that...
Grønbekk focusses the kinetic action of the issue on a single combat near issue’s end. Outside of that there is a lot of suspense and intrigue, which can be difficult to bring to the page in a way that is visually appealing. Grønbekk maintains a great deal of texture in the scripting that allows plenty of room for the artist to work through it all. And while it might be cool to have the setting filter a bit more into the run of the story, Grønbekk is wise to keep the narrative running on the central conflict, which isn’t real Japan-specific. It would be nice to have the setting fit a bit more into the narratie, but Grønbekk is doing a great job nonetheless.
Likewise Ignazzi isn’t able to allow the setting of Tokyo to figure-in all that much with what it is that’s going on in the foreground. If Catwoman is going to be in Tokyo, it should be much more intregrated with the visuals of the story than it has been in the current issue. ThTHere’s a great opportunity to do something distinctly appealing visual away from the usual iconography of Gotham City’s underworld.
Distant Tokyo background aside, Grønbekk and company are doing a good job of telling a solid story that feels like it holds some potential impact for Selina as things move forward for her. It’s been a fun exploration with Grønbekk so far. It’ll be interesting to see quite where she moves with the narrative as it progresses forward in a largely enjoyable series of conflicts. Selina is an interesting character. Nt many authors have been able to live-up to her potential. Grønbekk seems to understand what makes a good tumble through the pages with Selina.
