Another month down and “Nine Lives” just won’t die; apt I suppose. It started out as a strong story and bottomed out in the middle but, despite slight recovery, it has now just lost my interest. Maybe this month can pick it back up. Let’s find out!
The first thing I noticed was the change up in artists. Ivan Shavrin takes over for Di Giandomenico and colors this issue as well. I have to say I couldn’t be happier. Shavrin’s art has fantastic style and his coloring pops too. While it doesn’t have the same gritty aesthetic as the previous two artists on this arc , it taps into a more fun side of Catwoman and given the fact that this book is making a turn into a more over-the-top direction, I think that’s a good choice. Catwoman’s doing a lot of fighting these days so the smooth fluid look of Shavrin’s art is spot on. We also get more mythological scenes in this issue and he proves equally adept in rendering those.
All in all, I was very impressed with the art in this issue. However, I still have complaints.
While far from the worst issue of this arc, this isn’t one of the better ones either. The biggest problem is nothing really happens. This is very clearly set up for the following three issues, which will round out this, far too long, ten issue story. Howard is trying to build up to a bombastic finale but the action scenes here do not forward the plot and the rest of the issue is dull conversation meant to set up all the players. I didn’t need to be reminded of Gotham War or see Scandal Savage ever again. Of course, Howard seems to have some affinity for this character and I get the feeling she was not behind what went down in Gotham War because she spends this issue trying to walk it back as best she can.
It makes sense that Zdarsky had more control over that plot as the reigning Batman writer but Howard should really leave well enough alone now that that’s all in the past.
To me, the best part of this issue was Catwoman’s conversation with Bast. we get some answers regarding the most interesting element of this story, the nature of the nine lives, and it’s so well illustrated I was willing to overlook any deficiencies in the script. it’s just tiresome though to come out of that and see Catwoman sneaking around a military base trying to find her tights.
In the end, they’re isn’t much to say about this issue. It settles way too hard for being a forgotten middle chapter between the moments you remember and that especially bad as it is clear to me that “ Nine Lives ” should have only been six issues.
Recommended i f…
You’ve been dissatisfied with the art in the last few issues
If you’ve made it this far, you might as well keep going
You’re a fan of Scandal Savage
Overall
As a whole, I don’t hate this arc but it will not be something I’ll ever read again. It has had great moments however all too often we get issues like this that are more “ content ” than storytelling. Seven issues deep, there’s no way to save this arc but hopefully, there is still some fun to be had in the coming months.
Score: 5/10
DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.
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