Catwoman #26 Review

Written by: Ann Nocenti
Art by: Rafa Sandoval
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 31, 2013

Don't Buy This Book

Ok, lets play the Good, the Bad and the Ugly..  The good?  Last month's Zero Year tie in issue was the best Catwoman issue in over a year.  The bad?  It was a one shot story written by John Layman.  The Ugly? Ann Nocenti is back and so is the Gotham Underground story.  

It's a new year and one of my resolutions was not to bash Ann Nocenti so much.  I thought it would be easy. Then I read Catwoman #26.  I can't help it.  Some writers are known for writing in "layers" that the reader must peel away to fully understand the book.  Ann writes in "piles" that need a shovel.

The main problem is that underneath her awful dialogue and overly verbal style is an awful story.  Gotham Underground is just a horrible steaming pile of crap.  At least I think it is.  Half the time I'm not even sure what the hell is going on.  Nocenti throws so many characters at the reader that you end up confused at best and pissed off at worse.  I don't care about Joker's Daughter, Tinderbox, Warhog, Doctor Phosphorous and unfortunately I no longer care about Catwoman. I actually was rooting for everyone to die. Well, at least the story is over and we can move onto Gothtopia next Month.

All is not awful, though.  Rafa Sandoval's art is pretty good.  Since Nocenti explains everything ad nauseum, Sandoval is a bit handcuffed, but what he gets to do looks nice. My favorite part of the issue is the colors by Sonia Oback.  She does a really good job making Sandoval's art pop.

Bits and Pieces:

Catwoman #26 ends the Gotham Underground story and it's about time.  It is a horrible issue to finish an awful arc.  It isn't new reader friendly, old reader friendly or any reader friendly.  If you see anyone picking it up at your local comic shop, do the right thing and stop them immediately.  They will thank you later.

3.0/10