Smitten Kitten
What is Love?
The romance comic is something that's all but disappeared from modern comic shoppe shelves. I would argue that this is because romance comics were terrible, misogynistic drivel, but that'd be beside the point. Modern comics have moved far beyond that to the point where two potentially lethal, vigilante loners can have a relationship that is both fun and realistic (well, as much as a relationship between two such people can be). Is there love in the air between Catman and Huntress?
Birds of Prey #11 has Huntress tracking the men behind a Gotham City jewelry heist, one of which whom has a hostage with a dangerous case of asthma. Who should she run into than Catman of the Secret Six, and the two's mutual attraction for one another takes off as they track the crooks down, and it becomes obvious that this night means more to the both of them than simply teaching some lowlifes a lesson, as both seem to be using each other as a form of redemption. Of course, when Catman and Huntress are involved, a happy ending may be a bit too much to ask for.
The Purrr-fect Match?
Since this book is penned by Gail Simone, writer of Secret Six (which has quickly become a favorite of mine), it'd be reasonable to assume that this story is going to be an excellent read. And, who would have thunk it, it is. Simone really understands these characters (as well she should, as Catman in particular has risen to prominence solely thanks to her), and there's a strange feeling throughout that this could almost be an entirely new series featuring these two. The dialog is sharp, and there's a hopeful tone throughout. Again, however, with the character's involved, it's not surprising when Simone takes the book into a darker place for the finale. It was genuinely heart-breaking.
The artwork by Pere Perez is similarly excellent. We're talking about the mean streets of Gotham here, but the art never becomes solely monochromatic like so many other "darker" stories become. This helps maintain that spark of hope that Simone keeps burning as events unfold, and Perez does a great job of also capturing the emotions of many scenes, using both characters and atmosphere alike. It also must be stated that I absolutely love the cover by Stanley Lau here. Honestly, I want this thing on a poster or something.
Too Good to be True
While this would be the part where I nitpick about something to justify this as a true "review", I'm not gonna do that. Sometimes, comics are just that great. Birds of Prey #11 is that great. It's a sweet, exciting, and heart-breaking stand issue that stands on its own. You don't need to have too much knowledge of either of Simone's series to enjoy it, just the slightest interest in the characters involved. At DC's new low price of $2.99, you really have no excuse not to pick it up.
Birds of Prey #11 steals 5 stars out of 5.
