The Cat has been busy while the Bat has been asleep. Catwoman has been assembling and training a small force of criminals to enact her version of justice, and now that Batman is awake, it’s time to have a meeting. DC Comics’ Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War begins here.
Batman and Catwoman have had their ups and downs over the last few years. Their relationship was the centerpiece of Tom King’s run before the two were largely separate when James Tynion IV took over. They haven’t really been “together” much since, but they haven’t been apart either. Since Chip Zdarsky took over Batman duties, Selina has been a background character, often populating Bruce’s long internal dialogues. Similarly, Batman’s presence can be felt in Tini Howard’s Catwoman run, though he isn’t a constant character.
DC Comics
So now, for better or for worse, the two characters and series come face-to-face for The Gotham War as Battle Lines kicks things off. The best way to describe the opening issue of the story is “solid”. There are no weak links. The writing from Howard and Zdarsky is solid, with some funny moments thrown in, and strong characterization of the hired thugs. The issue does its job by clearly illustrating the two sides, why the people on those sides have their opinions, and teasing future spies and secrets.
The art from Mike Hawthorne and Adriano Di Benedetto gets the job done. Hawthorne creates some lovely layouts and strong hero shots, plus I love to see a Batman rocking the briefs more than the trunks. Di Benedetto on inks brings some natural darkness to the shadows of Gotham. Plus, colorist Romulo Fajardo Jr. gets to have some fun giving Catwoman some deep purple tones and pairing Batman with his traditional red skies.
DC Comics
As a regular Batman and Catwoman reader, and a big fan of both Howard and Zdarsky and their runs on the respective series, I am excited about The Gotham War and what changes it may bring to the Bat books. But the big thing with Battle Lines is that it only gives readers a little to get excited about.
Batman and Catwoman fall back into their roles of opposition that we’ve seen them in plenty of times before. There are light barbs about past events and ever-present references to Batman’s mission. The characterization is the stuff we’ve seen plenty of times before. If you’re already invested in the relationship of Bruce and Selina, there is something here for you, but otherwise, you may find the issue a bit slow.
Overall, while there may not be anything groundbreaking happening in this opening The Gotham War, it is a solid first chapter in an intriguing arc. Hopefully, Howard and Zdarsky have some tricks up their sleeves for readers as the battle for Gotham rages across titles for the next few weeks.
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