Batman / Catwoman #5

Batman/Catwoman #5 is another great chapter of this damn fine series. King's telling a masterful tale, and Clay Mann's art is gorgeous. In my opinion, this is the best Batman book DC currently has in their lineup. Read Full Review

This series is only getting better and I look forward to where we are headed! Read Full Review

BATMAN/CATWOMAN #5 shows the cracks that are forming beneath the surface. From its first issue, this story has been about the scars a life of crimefighting can bring about. Now we're actually beginning to see where those scars came from. King, Mann, Morey, and Cowles continue to do some of their best work. Read Full Review

This title somehow delivers both more and less than it was promised. Read Full Review

Clay Mann deliver some beautiful art throughout this issue. Everything from the characters to the backgrounds is filled with beautiful details. Read Full Review

Overall, the way that Batman/Catwoman #5 focuses on interpersonal tension may or may not have a ton of mileage, depending on the readers' taste. Read Full Review

For those readers expecting an action packed series, then I am afraid you will probably be disappointed. Kings run on Batman and Heroes in Crisis are examples of how action scenes break the pattern of the ongoing diatribe of conversation and emotion. Whilst this may work on other characters, maybe not so much with Batman; but what the hey, Bats barely appears in this anyway. Five issues in and I am not sure that anyone is wholly happy with the pace and at this point, does anyone care what happened to Andrew? Read Full Review

Batman/Catwoman has been one of the more frustrating reading experiences because of how the story is battling itself. Batman/Catwoman #5 is no different as the biggest thing holding it back is the three time period structure Tom King has chosen to go with for the narrative. Even when two-thirds of this issue grab your interest as a reader the other third is there to stop all that momentum. Now that we are getting into the second-half of this series hopefully King can find a way to resolve the narrative structure problems that are becoming more noticeable with each passing issue. Read Full Review

Batman Catwoman #5 is yet another beautiful issue where not a lot happens. We dive deeper into who Catwoman is as this story reaches Hamlet levels of psychoanalyzing. Read Full Review

While the majority of this issue felt like filler with strange characterizations, the present-day story added some intrigue to the comic overall, and the art remained being the thing I look forward most to out of this series. Hopefully, with the Phantasm bit of our story here, this will lead to more interesting things for her as the rest of the series progresses..... and maybe it will lead to Batman actually doing something in this book.  Read Full Review

The three headed monster of a narrative actively hurts the book at this point, keeping themes simplistic and the narrative stale. However, on an aesthetic level, the series is strong as ever, even if it does lack the usual amount of truly impressive compositions. Read Full Review

So at best I can call Batman/Catwoman #5a mixed bag. While its art continues to deliver many gorgeous panels, the story continues to confound me. Read Full Review

Batwoman/Catwoman hasn't been living up to the hype that preceeded the series for a while now, but Batwoman/Catwoman #5 might be the weakest issue yet. Read Full Review

UxasIs

Jun 17, 2021

Absolutely phenomenal. I love King's writing and the time jumps, and the artwork is beautiful.

deen

Jun 03, 2021

I've been enjoying this series, as I have enjoyed the Tom King run of Batman, even the parts that clanged for me. There are some things as presented by Tom King I find tough to accept, but I appreciate the challenge nonetheless. The art is fantastic with moody colors and good facial expressions that convey inner emotions really well. I generally enjoy this comic's vibe, and I don't really give much importance to other elements others have lambasted in their reviews. We finally get to see more of Andrea/Phantasm, with her proclamation of doom, "Your angel of death awaits", which sent a genuine chill down my spine. Good creepy somber vibe conveyed very well by writer and artist alike. I've found that the key to enjoying King's Bat books - if it's more of a general vibe you're looking for, then this run offers it in abundance. It's a different approach for the most mainstream superhero of all time, and I appreciate the hell out of it. more

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Weird Science Jim - Jun 5, 2021

I agree that King is more about vibe, but I hate that the only way he can elevate a character is to make them awful first, so that when he gets them back to "normal" it's praised as progress. He also seems to have no grasp of any characters he writes (again, going with vibe over substance) and it perplexes me that this is the way he wants to portray selina

RKS - Jun 6, 2021

It's crap.

Weird Science Jim - Jun 6, 2021

lol- that too!

WhistleBlower

Jun 01, 2021

I wonder if that terminally online "professional" reviewer is going to get butthurt at everyone who disagrees with him again.

Toonstrack

Jun 09, 2021

This is a solid issue with incredible artwork. Clay mann is so good.

TSMack

Aug 21, 2021

Should I feel guilty for liking this? I liked Selina's interaction with the other characters in this issue. Selina showed that she still has it when she kicks Harley's butt. Andrea doesn't say it directly, but Sal might have been the one who lead her son to the Joker, and he ended up being a test subject for the Joker gas. Her son may have wanted to be part of the Joker cult, which is why he came to Gotham. I am guessing that Selina is the one who thinks she "got it right" since she didn't let Bruce consume her & walked away. She didn't interfere in Sal's execution which is something Bruce would have stopped. We'll have to see if Andrea pays any price for all the killing she has done. Mann's artwork is just gravy on top of a good sto ry. more

Comics instrucciones de uso

Jun 01, 2021

I'am a fan of most of King's work, but this serie is not working at all. Crearly he's triying some new narrative style but that made everything confusing and it ruins any drama o suspense. Clay Mann's art, however, is awesome.

JBL Reviews

Jun 03, 2021

In and of itself, it wasn’t bad, but I’m tired of issues that, if you skipped them, the next issue would seem like you missed nothing.

Tempra16v2.0Turbo

Jan 30, 2022

Eu acho que estou perdido.

bestlucas

Nov 09, 2021

I feel like a whole lot of nothing is going on in this series so far. Issue 5 and what has happened? Things that could have been covered in a single or two issues.

Psycamorean

Jun 06, 2021

Man, I wish I liked this. I just don't find it compelling. Even the art is starting to get worse; there are pages here that feel unfinished.

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Psycamorean - Aug 17, 2021

Give it a look yourself, but yeah, him taking three issues off makes a lot of sense.

Quinn

Jun 01, 2021

We are almost halfway through this story and nothing has really happened. Harley is mad that Selina killed the Joker in the future, when that was something Harley wanted to do. Andrea is torturing Joker goons while Selina watched in the past. That's it. King goes back to his bad habit of letting other writers, through their poems or song lyrics, do the heavy lifting. Yet again, there is a page filled with the words of other writers. But the real downfall is characterization. There is none. King has told us nothing about Andrea, or why her son was in Gotham. All we know is what we remember from a cartoon movie that's almost 30 years old. We have Catwoman saying that Batman doesn't believe he's a good man, but that he is. We certainly d on't see any proof of either side of the argument. I certainly don't buy the Joker hiding in a retirement trailer park in Florida, talking about having a family like he's some sort of normal man. That's just not the Joker. When the plot of five issues of a comic book can be described in a couple of sentences, there's something wrong. I like Bat/Cat, but this mini-series doesn't show me why I do. It certainly doesn't show us much Catwoman, despite the fact that she has the most screentime. Don't tell me that the explanations and reveals of her character comes later. It's been five issues and something like $20 bucks spent. That entitles me to some basic competent story telling. The art was nice, but man this guy likes his women skinny. Or I could be wrong. more

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Mingthemerciless - Jun 1, 2021

I'm sure King has some edgekord character Death planned within the next 85 issues of this drek DC let him write. Cant wait.

Comics Code Authorities

Jun 08, 2021

The Decent art and the fact this is only 2/3 as bad as City of Bane are the only positive things I can give this series. If King would get to the point and spare us the pointless 3 different points in time B.S. he could've got this series wrapped up by issue #3. What is he trying to prove? That he can write a 12 issue series that's 92% pointless and confusing hodgepodge? I guess what keeps me going is that I dislike getting half a story and passing on the rest, no matter how poorly made. I should learn to be patient as I'm sure in coming years issues of this series will more likely be in the $1 bins of comic stores than with the more sought after stuff.

Afre

Jun 01, 2021

Clay's art is still good. The only good thing about this series. I know it's very common to dislike King's work these days. But this? It really isn't worth it. It's too bland. Too bland to be bad, too bland to be good, too confusing to be bland. I really hate this 3-stories-at-once -structure. It just doesn't work. It ruins the pacing, as each story moves so slow because you have to keep track on what happens in other two. This is what, part 5? And Phantasm hasn't done anything? Like seriously. There is a reason why people don't usually watch three different seasons of one show at the same time by changing the season every 5 minutes. Because it is confusing, stupid and doesn't work. And what a coincidence, that is how I summa rize this series. more

Merlyn

Jun 01, 2021

I congratulate DC for cancelling King's run, even knowing Tynion's mediocrity came after him, this is the cringest of the cringe.

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Mingthemerciless - Jun 1, 2021

What if DC had a bat title and nobody cared? Imagine no more....Tom King is writing that title.

SenpaifenixJäger - Jun 1, 2021

This is so bad that it left me speechless. King couldn't dedicate himself better, I don't know maybe like a DJ, I think he would be happy and it would make many happy.

SenpaifenixJäger - Jun 1, 2021

Silence Mingthemerciless don't summon the devil, I've had enough of your city of Bane.

daspidaboy - Jun 1, 2021

I'm sorry for writing that mean comment, and I promise I wont try to personally attack you. That being said, I dont think Tom King is fit for Batman but he's much better suited for Superman comics

Mingthemerciless - Jun 1, 2021

Lol...don't get me started on city of bane.

Merlyn - Jun 1, 2021

@daspidaboy: Honestly, it annoyed me even more the part were you concluded that I don't like DC Comics (I'm more of a DC guy than Marvel) because I didn't like one issue and I expressed my view on some stuff I find disturbing and divisive. Keep your promise and we're cool, I don't have a problem with people liking stuff I don't like but I'm not going to shut up if I disagree about something, regardless of the insults that'll come my way, that's just who I am.

JBL Reviews - Jun 3, 2021

Serious question, @Merlyn: you rate all of King’s comics very low. I have no problem with you not liking King’s writings, but why on earth would you continue to read his work if you know he’s not a writer you enjoy?

Merlyn - Jun 3, 2021

First of all, I'm not rating all his comics very low, if you check Rorschach you'll find that I rated some numbers pretty good. Second, I read Batman regardless of who's writing it, this book in particular because it was supposed to be the end of his run and DC cut him off because he was destroying the main book. Again, good call. Third, why do you have an issue with me reading his work, why is that your problem?

Merlyn - Jun 3, 2021

And I still read his books because in the past he has managed to write stories that I really, really liked and I was hoping that he could do that again, but I guess those days are long behind him now.

Mingthemerciless - Jun 3, 2021

I cant stand Kings writing on any title. He uses th to the same devices over and over and is a very lazy writer whos writing approaches fan fiction in my view. Having said that I'm a batman fan so for one reason or another I will pick up an arc if something in it grabs me. I got I am bane for the art and the doomsday clock tie ins. I can still not prefer king was writing my favorite title while still grabbing a run or two. In Merltns defense hes far more forgiving with writers than I ever am.

Mingthemerciless - Jun 3, 2021

I would have loved to pick up this series if king lifted his game. Especially since Tynion is just garbage on the main title. But king is still leaning on the same crutches he used on batman and its just not working fine me. As a fan I want to like it but hes quite awful writing anything batman.

JBL Reviews - Jun 4, 2021

@Merlyn - where did I say I “have a problem”? I asked why you would you rated Strange Adventures and this a 1. That’s the lowest score. That means it is the worst book possible and no redeeming qualities. Seems like a waste of time and money to continue to read something that receives the worst score possible.

fearUhavemeisenough

Jun 02, 2021

A beautiful art in a comic without a good script, it's like a horrible movie, with a terrible performance where the protagonist is beautiful. It is still bad. Like this comic, incredible art and a less than mediocre sad narrative. The poor wretches who tend to attack people because their mental capacity does not give him to attack ideas since they have no basis, can continue to crying.

KFuqua

Jun 04, 2021

King continues to show that he cannot write a decent book. I've tried to stay with this, as I love the Batman character, but I'm done with this one.

RKS

Jun 06, 2021

Insufferable Drek. It doesn't deserve more than that for a review.