The Not-So-Gospel Truth — Reviewing ‘Knight Terrors: Catwoman’ #1

Dreams and nightmares are often very strange or convoluted things to try and understand. Other times they’re pretty darn clear. The conclusion of Catwoman’s Insomnia/Knight Terrors inspired nightmare is more the former than the latter.

A story where Catwoman has knowledge and trains Batman is a very solid story hook. Too bad that isn’t the story we really get in this second issue. I’m not saying that what we got is inherently lesser or bad in any way. It’s just a whole lot to take in.

There is chiefly the ‘Batman and Catwoman’ stuff dealing with the Joker’s emergence. Then there is tons of religious stuff with snakes, redemption vs sin, devils, sibling drama, death, and more. Essentially Tini Howard apparently had a glut of ideas that needed to be addressed ahead of the next Bat/Cat event. Being a dream sequence issue gives things a bit of leeway as I alluded to at the start. Since that format allows for things to be somewhat nonsensical.

That doesn’t make this an easier read, especially for those that are not religious, but it works within the format. So, there is that at least. I think the first issue was stronger than the second and more of that would have worked. It wasn’t very nightmarish, but it was at least easy to follow. This is a bit more nightmarish but in a very specific to religious people kind of way. There is nothing wrong with that, it’s just unexpected.

This dark alternate universe of nightmares at least feels the part. That’s because Leila Leiz has a moderately rough art style that fits the tone, which is paired with the heavy darker color palette pulled out by Marissa Louise.

We’re shown a version of Gotham that is very dark and fits into the noir zone we expect. It’s heavy and dark with rough edges, but also stark almost neon-like aesthetics running through it. All the characters move so fluidly through this world thanks to Leiz’s very kinetic style. Even with everything that is being thrown at us, the imagery works, sufficiently coming off creepy, bizarre, or even out of nowhere. Some of the framing/point-of-view choices made also really make the story elements fit better.

With the colors in play, there is almost an overwhelming power to them, as Louise taps into the weight/darkness so well. We feel the world coming down on Catwoman and the others, much like the characters would be feeling. Just a few color choices help effectively put us in their shoes which is a pretty big thing.

Becca Carey continues the vibe check as the captions and overall lettering very much fit the nightmare/noir theme. It’s all rife with the right personality and voice for the characters, chiefly Selina since she’s the only ‘true’ version in play. Carey is one of those with fun energy put into all the lettering, no matter the series, really taking advantage of what the medium allows.

Overall, the story is effective for what it’s trying to be. It still feels like too much and the event overall somewhat feels a bit too stretched as a concept. Perhaps it would have been better served as a mini without tie-ins.

Knight Terrors: Catwoman #2 is now available.