Battle of the Rodent Hunters
The issue begins with a backstory look at the particular Talon being focused on this issue. Some elements of it really resemble the one from BAtwing, but the overall tone goes in a completely different direction. More importantly, it creates a strong tie into the current Catwoman storyline. By the end Catwoman's involvement in this 'event' is more tenuous than most, but in a way that works. It actually feels like this was the way things were meant to go, she feels more connected to the crossover than most. And yet she gets less directly involved. She never hears The Call, she doesn't know the backstory, she doesn't investigate the Owls or even see the tainted Batsignal. If you're reading Catwoman and none of the Batman series (which would honestly surprise the hell out of me) you could read this issue without completely needing the rest. It lets you know the conspiracy is bigger and deeper, but you likely know that the main tale is in Batman, and no freaking editor's notes are needed to remind you of any of that.
The return of Guillem March is EXTREMELY welcome. Adriana Melo's art wasn't exactly bad, but March's return makes it look bad. Melo tries a lot of the same things, but when I see March on this issue, suddenly I hate the art of the past two issues, that's how cool March's art is. Ok sure, he REALLY makes Catwoman's body a bit nuts, but it's all so smooth and stylistic that I honestly don't care. In fact, March plays to his hidden strengths A LOT in this issue. A lot of people are March fans because of his sexy women, but I fell in love with his art mostly on Azrael. He had mastered a style in which his trippy colors and bright tone created a hauntingly stark contrast with dark material. Granted, this isn't NEARLY as dark as the masterpiece Azrael was under David Hine, but the art is of a similar quality. The action has such insane energy to it, every moment packs an amazing wallop.
And yes, Judd Winick brings his trademarked 'most people miss it' Catwoman depth to this issue. This Talon is a perfect mirror to Catwoman's own troubled soul. For starters, they even stumble into each others storylines upon similar styled coincidences, and both pursuing the same artifact. Neither one is completely aware of the other's investments in the event, and that keeps things hectic. But more than that, both are villainous due to their backgrounds and dark troubled nature. They're both stuck in a cycle of evil that they can't break out of, despite an awareness of it. Again, neither one completely figures out the issues the other is having, but they realize a tenuous subconscious bond, not outwardly stated, but clearly present in the way they talk each other down.
I do have one complaint about the action scene, this Talon's mask comes off WAY too easily. I mean, one punch to the face and it flies off? The other Talons took WAY more damage and kept their haunting empty masks. One got run over by the freaking Batmobile and kept it on. Granted, his face was needed for the proper effect of the story, but they could've had a more convincing removal.
The end of this issue is a final clashing of an insane variety of moralities that finishes in a completely gray area in both moral compass and emotional mood. From The Penguin, less psychotic than most Batman villains but more pragmatic; Catwoman, a kleptomaniac and adrenaline addict with a nagging heart of good intentions; Spark, a more typical thief who follows Catwoman into whatever adventure, but has less genuine intentions behind it; and a Talon, brainwashed machine for an ancient conspiracy with a code of honor.
In Conclusion: 4.5/5
There were a few kinks, sure, but Guillem March was at the TOP of his game here, and Winick wrote to follow. Moralities collide in a frenzy of claws, guns, and lightning. The combat has amazing energy, and the emotional and moral depth behind it all makes this one of the better Night of the Owls tie-ins. Plus it puts some of the most effort into keeping this from being a simple one-shot tie-in and keeps it part of the high energy ongoing story without needing to stop and pick up the new passenger, they just let him jump in on the go and kick him right back out when they're done.
