Written by Doug Moench
Art by Jim Balent; Ray McCarthy; Buzz Setzer; & Albert De Guzman
Cover Art by Jim Balent; Sheri Van Valkenburgh; & Tasty Fried Color
SUMMARY:
Entitled “Stolen Yesterdays,” DC Comics released this issue for January 1997. Selina “Catwoman” Kyle is bored during some much-needed downtime. Irked by a federal wiping of Selina’s criminal record, Commissioner Gordon assigns GCPD Detective Moreland McShane to track down Catwoman for outstanding local crimes. Perpetually recording his ongoing analysis of Selina’s known history and criminal habits, McShane tries baiting her through the press.
Realizing a favorite piece of loot with her incriminating fingerprints on it was left in an old hideout, Selina races McShane to the site. The hideout’s contents is now buried beneath a demolished building’s rubble in a ravaged neighborhood dubbed ‘The City of the Dead.’ Both Selina and McFarland encounter rival scavenging gangs: the masked Zombies and, reminiscent of the Star Wars Tusken Raiders, the Reapers.
Even if Selina beats McFarland to the prized golden relic, he may well stumble upon something even more invaluable.
REVIEW:
Though Commissioner Gordon’s vendetta against Selina is intriguing, Doug Moench’s script is otherwise plagued by contrived twists. For instance, though implied as an ex-U.S. Marine, the hunky McShane doesn’t come off as a believable cop – he resembles a generic action movie star playing a macho cop. Had Moench chosen either Harvey Bullock or Renee Montoya to pursue Selina, that would have been a much better read.
Later, between McFarland digging through a building’s rubble with a mere shovel and two preposterous street gangs, Selina’s reliable presence only disguises such eye-rolling scenes so much. While the art squad’s visuals are generally excellent (i.e. the cover image), the plotting of Catwoman # 41 is forgettable.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There’s a single-page “Copy Cats” letters-and-answers column.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 4½ Stars
