Selina Kyle might think everything is going purrfectly…but riddle us this, Catwoman!
Catwoman knows there’s only one person she can turn to for help solving the most curious of riddles, no matter how much she hates the idea. Will the Riddler actually help Selina find Ivy or just get her lost in endless riddles?
And things only get more complicated with the target Penguin put on Catwoman’s back…
Find out if Catwoman can keep all her nine lives in Catwoman Vol. 5: Valley of the Shadow of Death.
Ram V (Ramnarayan Venkatesan) is an author and comic book writer from Mumbai, India. His comics career began in 2012 with the award-nominated Indian comic series, Aghori. A graduate of the City University of London’s Creative Writing MA, he has since created the critically acclaimed Black Mumba and the fantasy adventure series, Brigands.
Gangsters is using Poison Ivy to make drugs somehow - Catwoman to the rescue! Meanwhile, her rule of Alleytown has made her a target and two new assassins are after her: Wight Witch, who has a honeycomb mask for no reason, and Valley, a steampunk dude whose name is in the title.
Ram V takes over from Joelle Jones as the new main Catwoman writer but isn’t much better unfortunately. The Ivy storyline is only ever dull - Catwoman effortlessly heists away in unremarkable fashion - as are the assassins going after Selina, who effortlessly bats them away in unremarkable fashion.
Wight Witch (an arbitrary name and design) seemed derivative of that Ghost character from the second Ant-Man movie, with her phasing ability, while Valley (again, name arbitrarily linked to Jean-Paul Valley, aka Azrael, and again, arbitrary steampunk design) seems derivative of the villain in The Da Vinci Code, quoting scripture and lashing himself in supplication. I’m sure it won’t be that noticeable as hardly anyone read that novel…
However this book does boast a gaggle of super-talented artists. Fernando Blanco is the main artist and has an uncannily similar style to Joelle Jones’, which is both appealing and gives the book a continued “look” for the audience following the series. I was also pleased to see Kyle Hotz and Juan Ferreyra contributing pages as their work is always excellent, and it was again here, and Evan Cagle’s artwork was good too.
Still, the art doesn’t make the book worth reading. Ram V’s uninspired and forgettable writing, combined with the art team’s work, turns Catwoman, Volume 5: Valley of the Shadow of Death, into a very boring, albeit pretty, book.
Simon Saint is making his name known all over Gotham. Catwoman gets wind that Poison Ivy is being experimented on by Saint and makes headway to save her while being pursued by two new assassins, Wight Witch and Father Valley. Any of you who know your Batman history can guess from the name that Father Valley has some ties to another Bat-Family character.
Ram V. capably takes over the writing from Joelle Jones full time while Fernando Blanco remains as the main artist. All of the artwork within is quite good except for Jordie Bellaire's dull, lifeless color pallette.
Catwoman's attempt to bring order to Alleytown continues, but the arrival of the Riddler, (part of) Poison Ivy, and the ever-present Father Valley make her life even more difficult than usual.
I'm not entirely sure which issues of Catwoman this collects, since the solicitation doesn't make too much sense. I hope it includes the Father Valley origin annual as well as the issues stated, which is exceptionally good, and possibly issue #34 as well since it's the last one before Fear State.
Either way, Ram V's Catwoman run has been extremely impressive. Joelle Jones had some good ideas for hers, but it was never really presented in a way that made it easy to follow, whereas V knits loads of plot threads together and lays the seeds for later storylines (including wider ranging things like Fear State) without making them seem unnecessary or tacked on. It's very well balanced, and compelling as hell.
Fernando Blanco remains on art duties, which is great news, and if the annual is included then there's some Kyle Hotz to be enjoyed as well.
Catwoman's flying high. It's a shame that there's likely only one more volume left before yet another creative team change.
Catwoman: Valley of the Shadow of Death picks up where the previous trade paperback left off collecting five issues (Catwoman #29–33) of the 2018 on-going series.
The trade paperback has Selina Kyle as Catwoman ruling her part of Gotham City – Alleytown, when a specialized drug comes into her part of town with ties to Poison Ivy. Needing help with a conundrum, she goes to the Riddler to point her in the right direction. Apparently, Simon Saint had kidnapped Poison Ivy and use her body for the making of the drug. Meanwhile, Oswald Cobblepot has hired someone called Father Valley to kill of Catwoman.
Ram V. penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written rather well, it is tangentially connected to the Fear State event as it is Simon Saint's company who kidnapped Poison Ivy and sent out an assassin to take care of any and all loose ends. Father Valley is an interesting assassin – a little too dogmatic for my taste, but interesting nevertheless.
With the exception of one issue (Catwoman #32), which was penciled by Evan Cagle, Fernando Blanco penciled the entire trade paperback. Since he was the only penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. Cagle complemented Blanco's penciling rather well that it is almost seamless – almost.
All in all, Catwoman: Valley of the Shadow of Death is a good continuation to what would hopefully be an equally wonderful series.
Lots of moving pieces here and a complicated story, but it's done pretty well. Some neat new characters like the Wight Witch and Father Valley. The artwork is strong throughout.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to like Ram V taking over this title but it actually picked up in this volume and fit well as a Batman side story. I like the character of Father Valley, and seeing all of this volume after Fear State filled in a lot of gaps for me that I didn’t know were missing. The story and art are solid but not spectacular but Ram has done a good job of tossing in a few new villains to keep things interesting.
Basic Plot: Catwoman continues to run Alleytown, rescuing some unexpected strays and evading Father Valley.
There wasn't really an end to this arc in this volume. The last issue pretty clearly shows this story isn't finished just yet. There's a big cast, meaning the next volume ought to be interesting. There was a lot going on, and Selina is dealing with some pretty major setbacks. The art was reminiscent of the Joelle Jones style that I really like for Catwoman. Overall, a solid book.
There is a killer from the same sect as Jean-Paul Valley gunning for Catwoman, and she has some interesting interactions with Riddler & Ivy in this one, but it moves a lot slower than the previous volume, and while backwards heist storytelling can be interesting, it is starting to feel a bit tired here. Still no resolutions, and it seems that the narrative structure of these arcs is simply there to extend the suspense. I did like the "You don't know Catwoman" issue, but the jeopardy of one of the storytellers is distracting to the flow of the tale, IMHFO.
Really good. I was ambivalent about moving Selina back to Gotham, but this worked. The story plays to her strengths as a character while still seeming to set up a key part of the Fear State event. There's a fun heist, espionage, found family, and getting in way over her head, all of which I associate with a Catwoman solo book.
(Zero spoiler review) 3.5/5 I'm not sure how I haven't read this before, given that I've seen it at my local library a tonne of times. I'm guessing I thought I had already read it. I hadn't, but I have now. I would argue there are few characters who have suffered more as 'modern themes' have increasingly infiltrated comics. A strong female Selina Kyle has always been, but sexy and sultry she has been as well, and femininity and modern femininity don't seem to see eye to eye too often. So we get a slightly toned down Selina Kyle here. She is far from a moose, although her famous curves have been slimmed down considerably. The digital line work doesn't help much at times, especially in well lit areas with exposed skin, but given my deep, festering hatred for digital inking in particular, it certainly could have been worse. Blanco's art is great here, even if colourist Jordie Bellaire flatters him on occasion. I thought he was good until Evan Cagle came along for a fill in issue, and i can only hope the pair share art duties going forward. As good as this is (leaving aside the annual issue thrown in at the end which is about as unnecessary as almost all annual issues surely are), there are a few quibbles I could easily go to town on. With the 'modern' looking appearance of the Strays being top of the list. V could do a lot more in the writing department as well. His sparse narration and dialogue is a little too sparse at times, but overall, this is about as good as a modern Catwoman book is going to get. I know it sure as shit goes downhill after V leaves. Dial up the sexy a little bit more and you'd have a sure fire winner. 3.5/5
This Volume is definitely setting up a long storyline with new villain Father Valley. Nice to see some growth to the title and taking a chance on a new direction. Story summary: With Selina now firmly in control of Alleytown, she has begun to observe what is going on on her streets. Drugs is a big issue, as you would probably expect, and it is discovered (via a strung out Riddler) that the meds are coming from Poison Ivy, who is being held captive. The industrial drug lab where Ivy was, has packed up shop and cleared out. Turns out the head of the lab, a Mr. Roy, has taken Ivy to his home collection of art. So... Selina, masquerading as someone else, crashes the party and with the help of her gang (who had replaced the whole wait staff at the party), springs Ivy and takes her back to safety. New in town, called by Penguin for retribution (over the whole money thing at the end of Joker War), we meet Father Valley. Via backstory, we find out that he was raised alongside the original Azrael, and grew up in the Order of St Dumas. He is quite scary and seems to have the same determination and devotion to his cause, whatever that may be.
Really excited to see how this pans out for Selina. Looking forward to the next Volume. Recommend.
Catwoman finds out that the source of a new drug in the streets is none other than her friend... Poison Ivy!
But it's not what you think. Ivy isn't being nefarious this time. This time, she's being held prisoner, and being used to manufacture the new drug. So when Catwoman learns of this, she knows she has to infiltrate and find her friend and somehow escape with her. All at the same time, a new villain, Father Valley, is hunting her and seems to be a formidable foe all around.
Ram V took over writing duties for the title and man, it is a breath of fresh air. I think this is the highest rating I've given a Catwoman book... ever! Ram V just gets what is cool about Selina. Her smarts, her cunning, and of course, her ability to kick ass. Ram V is an exceptional storyteller and in his hands, the characterization of Selina Kyle is elevated to the level it should be. Add to that the fact that the artist, Fernando Blanco, provides some amazing visuals, and you have yourself a great book.
For the first time in a while, I'm excited to see what comes next for Catwoman. If you like this character, you've got to check out this volume.
A wind-up volume that is gearing up for what seems to be the climax of Ram V's run on Catwoman. He does more character building and offers background on Father Valley, which was pretty intriguing. We get a glimpse at his motivations, perplexing as they may be. The background on Leo was even more intriguing, and allows you to feel like you can see behind the curtain of Selina Kyle, even if only for a moment. It also highlights the reverie some people in this world have for her, which is important in a solo run for a character who is often relegated to a supporting role for others. Poison Ivy's characterization feels...foreign, but hopefully she gets her wits about her next volume. Ram's provided a cohesion for the run that I thought it was missing, and while the background and development has added needed depth, I'm ready for the main course.
The set up at the end of the previous volume pays off here, as we get a longer story with Catwoman setting out to rescue Ivy from a drug cartel. It feels very much like a crime drama, set in grimy Gotham backstreets and mostly featuring typical gangsters, although a couple of costumed (and, in one case, superpowered) villains do make an appearance. This means that the section towards the end where we get the backstory of a Bible-quoting assassin feels somewhat at odds with the rest, being further removed from a real-world setting. But, even having said that, the writing is good, and the art is more consistent than is often the case, with a style that evokes the grey backstreets and splashes of occasional bloody violence.
Bad guys are using Poison Ivy's biochemistry as a source for a new drug. Catwoman finds out about it and sets out to save her. Meanwhile we have the beginning of two new plotlines, one involving a deranged avenger/assassin, Father Valley, and Simon Saint, a new crime-boss-in-a-suit. Ram V writes well but it feels a little unsatisfying — maybe because it's just an installment in a longer arc (unlike single issues, I always feel as if TPBs should have definite arcs)? Weirdness note: it's been years (or so it seems) since anyone used footnotes to reference past stories when dropping bits of history. It's a nice surprise to see them here.
Despite not wanting to work with the police Selina is pulled in to another situation wherein she has to do so.
What I liked - I really enjoy street level Selina/ Catwoman. The spy lite stuff is great and having her be the queen of the runaways is good stuff.
What I disliked - The stories not involving Selina let this collection down. The first three issues collected are great but the quality dive is too steep. The characters featured are not why I’m reading a Catwoman story.
Another quick, action and heist focused arc which is honestly kind of fun. It's like Selina knows she has seen some shit, so she just trying to stretch her legs and get her claws on some stuff for fun. And if she can save a friend or two along the way? All the better.
After a collection of Ram V flexing into a variety of crime stories, this middle section is mostly fleshing out Catwoman's role in Alley Town and major relationships with villains like The Riddler and Poison Ivy, but there's a nice menace in the background from Father Valley, an assassin with ties to anti-hero Azrael.
I liked parts of this a lot, but I don’t like the bad guy of this story so it was hard to care. The annual is all about him and Catwoman isn’t even in it! I look forward to less of that guy going forward.
Ram V's Catwoman book seemed like it was going in a different direction, and I think that DC forcing this Future State thing has caused this title to suffer.
Another solid Catwoman book that gives us a caper, continues her story, ties into Batman’s tales and yet sadly also moves us forward to Future State Gotham also.
The Riddler bits are forced so badly I found myself skipping right over his dialogue since it never advanced the plot, the rest of the tale isn't much better.
"Catwoman: Valley of the Shadow of Death" ties together a number of storylines to tell a fast paced action-noir story that will keep the reader 's attention to the last page. Once again Ram V's strong writing and Fernando Blanco's engaging artwork create a mood that is edgy but not dismal.
This story follows Selina's trials and tribulations as she establishes and tries to maintain a hold over Alleytown, engages in a rescue caper and dodges her would be assassin, Father Valley. There are also some interesting flashbacks to Selina's earlier days including a nod to the Ed Brubaker/ Darwyn Cooke era.
Catwoman Vol. 5 Valley of the Shadow of Death collects issues 29-32 and Catwoman 2021 Annual 1 written by Ram V with art by Fernando Blanco, Evan Cagle, Kyle Holtz, and Juan Ferreyra.
There is a new drug on the streets of Gotham and it’s being derived from Poison Ivy’s body who has been kidnapped. While she tries to locate her missing Gotham City Sirens partner, Catwoman will also have to deal with two assassins sent to take her out: Wight Witch and Father Valley.
I really enjoyed the Poison Ivy storyline but the Father Valley origin story took me out. I don’t care for Azrael, Jean-Paul Valley, the Order of Dumas, and anything that ties into that mythology and there was a lot of that here. The art has been pretty solid throughout this series.