Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Catwoman #34 Review

Written by: Ann Nocenti
Art by: Patrick Olliffe
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 27, 2014

WOW


Okay, the day I've been begging for has finally arrived.  Ann Nocenti's final Catwoman issue.  I know I've joked around through the (too) many issues of her Catwoman run that it may be the best/worst comic I've ever read.  It is always so unintentionally hilarious with it's awful characterizations, terrible dialogue and incomprehensible plots.  I know I'll miss the old gal in October when the new creative team takes over, but in my heart, I know it's the right thing.  At least us fans will always have this issue to remind us how god-awful this run was.  

Ann Nocenti uses her last issue of Catwoman to remind us how great the character is, right?  Nope.  Then she must give the new creative team a solid by setting up their first issue, right?  Of course not.  Then it must be an issue about Alice Tesla's online game addiction that leads to a mysterious date where she builds a mechanical fighting monster.  If you haven't been reading Catwoman, you might thinks this sounds ridiculous.  For Nocenti fans, it's just another day at the office.

Let me point something out quickly.  Ann Nocenti often writes things into her books that she obviously knows nothing about. Character dialogue often betrays her lack of real world knowledge on a subject.  That isn't the case this week.  I'm guessing she has played some MMOs in her day and she seems to get them.  That being said, the dialogue and situation is still awful.

Overall, this issue was so unnecessary, it's laughable.  Laughable and pure Nocenti.  Next stop, Klarion the Witch Boy.

Patrick Olliffe should get combat pay for working on this book.  He does as good a job as anyone under these situations and should be commended.  When Nocenti isn't over explaining things and handcuffing him, she makes no sense and contradicts herself leaving the Olliffe to pick up the pieces and make something of the mess.  If combat pay is too extreme, maybe we can get him a purple heart. I feel for you, brother.

Bits and Pieces:

It's no shock that Ann Nocenti's last Catwoman issue is a mess.  Only Ann would end her run with a ridiculous story starring Alice Tesla.  Yes, Catwoman is there, but she plays second fiddle in a symphony no one wants to hear.  I envy the new creative team since anything they do will be an improvement over this utter crap.

3.5/10

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