So after you've put your characters through hell and given them a grueling story arc to deal with the fallout, what's next? ROAD TRIP! It's not as jarring as you'd expect, and in fact it will probably draw a few readers back who might have been put off by the overwhelming darkness of the prior couple of stories. Me, I was happy with the dark, I'm happy with this lighter tone, and I can't wait to see Selina and Holly tour the DC Universe, whether it's to stop off and see other characters (such as this issue's guest-starring Wildcat) or to hit some cities where they won't fit in quite as easily as they do in Gotham (as with next issue's Keystone, or the one after that which takes them to Opal.) Catwoman is a great example of how to have your cake and eat it too: It's accessible and fun for the super-hero fans who just want to see Catwoman, but it's got smarts and style for those who want a character-driven crime/drama book.
I love the characters that Brubaker has created, but I have to say that my favorite part of this issue was the return of Cameron Stewart (and colorist Matt Hollingsworth) to the art. I really didn't think anyone would ever replace Darwyn Cooke as my artist of choice on this book, but Stewart is simply amazing. He gives the book a bright, distinctive look that is influenced by the "animated" style that kicked off the book but stands out as all his own. He makes use of the many small panel storytelling style that I love, but he also has versatility, using a montage to show off the training with Holly and Ted or giving a great close-up camera, Thelma & Louise shot as Holly and Selina nab themselves a car early on. He's got great compositional skills (that cover is to die for) and can draw sexy women, big bruisers, fluid action and powerful emotion as well. He is, to my mind, the definitive artist for this book, and I'm glad to see him back.
Leaving aside that the book is a visual treat, it's also just a joy to read. Brubaker has put together a few things from Selina's past and made her a more consistent character than she's generally been, bouncing from new direction to new direction, from antagonist to protagonist, from criminal to anti-hero. Her "take what you need" attitude, evidenced by the opening scene, makes her instantly likable and rebellious, and her affection for older men gives the reader a hint about her character as well. She also maintains that thrillseeker style that has always made her an attractive foil for the methodical and straight-laced Batman, even when Batman isn't around to serve as a counterpoint.
Selina is the star of this book, and gets to have some fun this issue, but Brubaker doesn't skimp on the supporting characters either. Ted's role as both trainer to Holly and old boyfriend of Selina gives him plenty of time for interesting dialogue, which sheds light not only on him (for the new readers) but on the characters he's interacting with. Meanwhile, Holly, who had it pretty bad in the last couple of arcs, gets to start to take back her life, and it's nice to get a reminder that she's still young and still has energy to come back from a life of drugs and prostitution.
If you haven't been reading Catwoman, this is a perfect jumping-on point, a story that concludes in one issue but is also a lead-in to what I suspect will be a series of similar one-offs. If you have been reading Catwoman, but found the previous stories too dark, this one lightens things a bit without dumbing the story down as a result. And if you've been reading and loving Catwoman all along, as I have... well, you already know you're in for another great read this issue.
