Catman

• Title: Secret Six #27
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Gail Simone
• Artist: Jim Calafiore

The cover has Bane riding a miniature Tyrannosaurus Rex, do I really need to give you a reason to pick this issue up? Okay, how ’bout Catman as the new Warlord riding a giant freakin’ cat through the armies led by his former teammates? In three words: Oh Hell Yeah!

The story itself is a little messy. Bane’s recovery and Scandal Savage‘s guilt take up quite a few pages, as does the dance between Amanda Waller and Spy Smasher (which ends satisfactorily with Waller turning the tables). It’s also unclear what changes the minds of Catman’s squad from seemingly abandoning their mission to going right to the palace and joining the army.

By the end of issue #27 we’re still left with two separate squads and only one issue left to conclude this fun, but bizarre, story arc. It’s not the best issue of Secret Six, but it’s a hellova lot of fun. And, did I mention it has Catman riding a giant freakin’ cat and mauling an entire army. Yeah, that’s pretty cool.

[DC $2.99]

• Title: Secret Six #23
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: John Ostrander
• Artist: R. B. Silva

What can you say about a comic where Bane rips off a man’s arms and beats him to death with them, Catman goes back on the hunt, Rag Doll eats off a man’s face, and Deadshot shoots down a chopper with a single bullet?

Fun? Yeah, fun.

Guest writer John Ostrander’s tale of the Six being hunted on an island is an intriguing one, but it lacks some of nuance and twisted glee Gail Simone usually provides. And personally I wasn’t a fan of the (almost pretty) art by RB Silva & Alexandre Palamaro which didn’t seem to fit the scruffy and gruff nature of the story.

Even if it’s not quite as good as usual there’s plenty of mayhem and madcap action that makes this issue worth a look.

[DC $2.99]

• Title: Secret Six #22
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Gail Simone
• Artist: Jim Calafiore

“Cats in the Cradle Part Four” ends Catman‘s quest for revenge, and possibly his membership in the Secret Six? Say it ain’t so Gail Simone, say it ain’t so! All around another strong issue including a look into the pain of Black Alice, Ragdoll acting like a man, and a final flashback into the childhood of Thomas Blake. Oh, and Catman eats somebodies face off! You don’t want to miss that, do you?! CATMAN!!!!!! Must-read.

[DC $2.99]