The Bat and the Cat go on a date.
Tom King's Batman run is consistently one of the best things about DC Rebirth, and that run is never better than when King focuses squarely on the romance between Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle. That's all the justification DC needs for this annual issue, which steps back to explore the very first date between the Bat and the Cat. "Date" being a very loose term for these two oddballs.
King's take on the Cat and the Bat resonates so strongly because it taps into that shared sadness uniting the two characters. They're both basically lonely, lost orphans. This issue continues building on that theme even as it focuses on the sheer thrill of Catwoman putting Batman through his paces for the first time. It's certainly fun watching Batman confronted with some a crafty. wily foe, but even at this early stage, there's a profound bond uniting the two. King's script sprinkles in just enough humor and silliness to offset the otherwise moody, introspective tone of the story.
Apart from this always fruitful pairing, this issue's big selling point is that it reunites King with Batman/Elmer Fudd artist Lee Weeks. And as with that issue, the main takeaway here is that DC needs to do whatever is necessary to get Weeks on a full-time Batman assignment. This is some of the most gorgeous storytelling we've seen on a King-penned Batman comic, and there's been a lot of stuff competition over the past 18 months. Weeks' figures are lithe and dynamic, but it's really the textured, shadowy environments that make this issue sing. Weeks paints a haunting portrait of Gotham City that draws from the best of artists like David Mazzucchelli and Michael Lark. Colorist Bettie Breitwesier only further enriches those environments with her muted but still very evocative colors.
Speaking of Lark, he also stops by to illustrate a short epilogue story that jumps to a very different point in the Batman/Catwoman relationship. The impact of this story is diminished somewhat by its uncertain nature. Is King simply providing a hypothetical look at what might be, or is he building on the ominous hints sprinkled earlier in the series? That vagueness is unfortunate, but that doesn't stop the epilogue from wrapping this issue on a fitting emotional note.
The Verdict
Some of the best chapters of Tom King's Batman run have dealt with the Batman/Catwoman romance, and this issue continues that trend. It's often a very funny read, but one always anchored by the sad, desperate longing these two character share with one another. This issue also happens to be one of the prettiest additions to King's run, which is no small feat at this point. If you enjoy this particular superhero pairing, this issue is not to be missed.
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