Warning: the comments below contain spoilers.
This issue offers the title character a bit of a respite after recent events. (It also offers readers a respite from the “sexy” art of Paul Gulacy in the person of most excellent guest artist Sean Phillips.) After a losing battle with a dangerous psychopath and month of imprisonment with a hidden race of cat worshippers (don’t ask), Selina returns to Gotham.
It’s a “day in the life” issue, which is always welcome, especially when the cast is as well-written as this one. Ed Brubaker offers quiet insights into the lives of his characters. The conversations between Holly and Karon and Slam and his son ring true, providing some sense of what happened while Selina was away but also moving their individual emotional arcs forward.
And Brubaker doesn’t forget that the title has a lead. So often, books feature a strong lead and an underdeveloped supporting cast. Less often, there’s an engaging supporting cast that overshadows a bland lead. This book strikes a nice balance; what we learn about Selina’s friends and associates teaches us a lot about her, too. And she gets plenty of her own moments.
Ultimately, it’s a pretty good day for Selina, as she spends it with Batman… or Bruce Wayne… or whoever it is who lives in between those two personas. A combination of relief (that Selina’s alive) and surprise (that he’s so relieved) make the Dark Knight a lot more vulnerable than normal, and it’s a very attractive look for him, I must say. Selina agrees, and the Bat and the Cat let down their defenses to enjoy each other’s company.
Phillips is a perfect choice for this stand-alone issue, capturing both the gritty Gotham neighborhood and the sympathetic people who live there. If tits and torment drove you off this title, this would be a nice opportunity to pay a one-issue visit. (Gulacy is back next month.)