Knight Terrors: Catwoman #2 perhaps bites off more than it can chew, but Tini Howard’s script does a good job of balancing its examination of Selina’s relationships with both Maggie and Bruce. Leila Leiz’s art is once again a major selling point, but for readers who don’t mind a two-part elseworlds story there is more than enough here to recommend.
This issue initially focuses more on Selina training Bruce to become a better Batman as he is early in his career. It’s an interesting way to pair the duo without solely relying on their romantic relationship to define them. The issue opens with them investigating a fire set by Joker at a serpentarium and quickly apprehending him. If there’s a misstep in the art, it is that I don’t particularly like how young Joker is drawn to look here. While it makes sense on a literal timeline, Joker to me has always felt more suitable to exist as an almost ageless villain so this Joker looking so fresh and baby-faced is a little jarring. Nonetheless, there is a vibrancy to the art throughout and the uncanny nature of Joker’s rendition only adds to its unique atmosphere. Marissa Louise’s colors are also really fantastic as they cast this entire opening sequence in different shades of green to match both the Joker’s presence along with an overabundance of loose snakes that slither in and out of each scene. I appreciate the foreshadowing and symbolism of the snakes integrated throughout the issue, but sometimes it’s a little overdone, particularly when they appear randomly on the floor while Selina and Maggie serve lunch.
Selina and Maggie’s dynamic isn’t quite as satisfying this time around mostly because Maggie has given up fighting crime as Sister Zero, removing that interesting contradiction to her character. Instead, Maggie in many ways has regressed and now plans to, as Selina puts it, “love the devil right out of [Joker]” rather than suit up and fight him. Selina then tries to appease Maggie by confessing to the local priest, who once again ends up being Joker in disguise. This whole middle section scrapes by, but is filled with those moments of manufactured drama that frustrate rather than enthrall. Selina takes Joker down once again, but the resulting destruction results in Maggie kicking Selina out despite it not really being her fault. It doesn’t take long for Selina and Maggie to realize Joker has poisoned the entire church with snake venom while he was still disguised as the priest, thankfully getting the sisters back on the same side of the conflict. What saves the middle part of the issue is Leiz’s fantastic art and compositions. I love the page layouts that are inventive even in conversational scenes with slanted panels and characters who spill out over them. Some pages also forgo panels entirely in the action beats, letting the figure work lead the reader’s eye across the page instead. Almost every page has something interesting going on with the art whether it be an inventive panel layout or impressive facial “acting” carrying a scene.
The finale is a little rushed, but ultimately satisfying as Howard’s script attempts to tie everything up. Maggie’s return to being Sister Zero is wisely portrayed as troublesome as she is in tears while interrogating Joker to figure out what anti-venom Selina and Bruce need to develop. While I wanted Maggie to snap into action, it’s smart for Howard’s script to not fully indulge the power fantasy, making Maggie’s heroic return to action feel equal parts triumphant and tragic. Slightly less effective is Selina and Bruce’s final showdown with two new Joker henchwomen dressed up as nuns. While the actual fight is thrilling, the ultimate conclusion feels just a tad rushed as Selina’s journey in this nightmare world comes to an abrupt end.
In other news, I want to say goodbye to everyone reading this as this is my last week reviewing comics for Batman News. Leaving the review team wasn’t an easy decision but I have some personal projects I’m working on in the coming months. It’s been a joy to be a part of this community and I’ve truly loved reading the comments each week. I anticipate popping in from time to time, but this is farewell for the time being. I hope you’ve enjoyed checking in with me each month as much as I’ve enjoyed writing these reviews!
Recommended if…
- Last month’s issue worked for you as this won’t read well on its own.
- Leila Leiz’s art appeals to you as it is a highlight of the book.
- You want to see how Selina’s attempt to control the Gotham Underworld plays out now that she’s seen a version of it gone wrong.
Overall
Knight Terrors: Catwoman #2 is a pleasant surprise as it nearly equals the highs of last month’s great issue. I’ve had my problems with Tini Howard’s run overall, but this spin-off story did a great job of summarizing Selina’s fears in the current narrative while still delivering an entertaining tie-in to the Knight Terrors event. Leila Leiz is an artist to keep an eye on and while this storyline may not convert people wary of Howard’s run, it is a solid way to catch up with Selina’s current mental state heading into her next story arc.
Score: 8/10
Disclaimer: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.
