Written by Devin K. Grayson
Art by Jim Balent; John Stanisci; Buzz Setzer; & Albert DeGuzman
Cover Art by Jim Balent; Sherilyn Van Valkenburgh; & Tasty Fried Color
SUMMARY:
Entitled “Shared Mentality,” DC Comics released this issue for March 1998. Selina Kyle is mortified that her privacy is under siege by creepy millionaire Warner Samson, who is a high-profile security systems tycoon. Seeking vengeance against her taunting stalker, Selina goes undercover to swipe Samson’s covert access codes for some well-deserved looting payback. Still, Selina must decide what she is willing to lose to halt Samson’s incessant degradation of women.
REVIEW:
Though the art squad delivers consistently terrific visuals, Devin Grayson’s routine plotting is disappointingly hollow. Though Selina is presumably an equal master-of-disguise to Bruce Wayne, her resourceful adversary is depicted as too much of a misogynistic moron to be believed.
The first few pages are promising, in terms of Selina’s slimeball stalker clearly having the upper hand. Yet, Grayson makes revenge look far too easy for Selina flipping the advantage against the sleazy Warner Samson, without better exploring his motive for harassing her (beyond presumably clichéd macho arrogance).
Case in point: Selina’s current nemesis evidently knows more than where she lives and where she shops, let alone has illegal access to Selina’s unlisted phone number. Especially after confirming his identity to Selina, wouldn’t Samson logically anticipate potential retaliation, i.e. be on the lookout for her potential disguises? In other words, shouldn’t her tech-savvy stalker have already have researched her notorious modus operandi/reputation and anticipate Catwoman’s effort at retribution? Hence, his idiotic lack of suspicion amidst Selina’s undercover work is less-than-credible.
Though the issue’s intriguing premise falls far short, Grayson partially delivers on Selina’s conscience surpassing her innate greed. Yet, one is left wondering why doesn’t Catwoman earlier take greater offense upon spying Samson’s battered spouse? Making a defiant stance against spousal abuse would have made this plot seem far less flimsy.
Though it’s an okay read, excellent artwork can’t overcome an abundance of plot holes in Catwoman # 55.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There’s a two-page “Copy Cats” letters-and-answers column, including hype from editor Denny O’Neil for the next major Bat-event: “Cataclysm.”
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars
