Review – Catwoman: Election Night #1 (DC Comics)

Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Meredith Finch
Artist: Shane Davis
Release Date: 2nd November 2016

It’s election time and the public are gearing up for a political heavyweight debate. In the blue corner we have an infamous businessman with, shall we say, a less than honest moral code and in the red corner we have a fierce, politically savvy woman with a murky past.

Any of this sounding familiar?

Well this is Gotham not Washington and the election is for City Mayor and not POTUS. The battle between Oswald Cobblepott aka the Penguin and the tenacious Constance Hill has little interest to our feline femme fatale. However, when the candidates cross into her protected realm of Gotham, this cat’s curiosity is piqued and when this kitty’s hackles get raised it usually means someone is going to get clawed.

I have to admit, Catwoman is one of the characters in the DC universe I have really loved the evolution of. From her earliest incarnation as Bat-villain she has evolved to the ultimate bad girl gone good…or at least trying to go good. Stories such as The Long Halloween and Hush firmly established this anti-heroine as a fan favourite, as well as a great foil for both Bruce Wayne and Batman.

Now if I’m honest this story doesn’t quite hit the heights of the aforementioned Jeph Loeb stories, however, Meredith Finch is definitely no slouch as a writer. Her work on Wonder Woman recently for DC has been a revelation to read and it this skill which she has brought to Catwoman, keeping the character edgy and feminine but in no way compromising her credentials as a bonafide super(anti)heroine.

Shane Davis is no stranger to the DC Universe having already worked on the exceptional Superman: Earth One. His familiarity with the subject universe can be seen in every panel and he brings just the right amount of darkness to a story set within the ‘Bat family’.

As a fan of Catwoman I enjoyed all aspects of this book, including the bonus Prez story by Mark Russell. I can’t help but wonder though if life is imitating art with this tale or vice versa, given what is happening in the US Presidential elections. And hey, you never know, if Obama reads this story he might be inspired to pull on the cape and cowl and – hopefully – save us all?

Rating: 4/5.

PREVIEW ARTWORK
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