Catwoman #89 Review
Writer: Torunn Grønbekk
Artist: Davide Gianfelice
Colorist: Patricio Delpeche
Letterer: Steve Wands
Cover Artist: Seba Fiumara
Variant Cover Artists: Frank Cho, Jeehyung Lee & W Scott
Forbes
Swimsuit Variant Cover Artist: Homare
Editors: James Reid, Arianna Turturro & Rob Levin
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock
Release Date: July 15, 2026
Carmine Falcone lost the Palermo Pearl in Venice. Yet, he
returned to Gotham with greater control over his organization. And whether she
likes it or not, Catwoman is indebted to him. Unlike Falcone, Roman Sionis,
when he lost everything, looked for people to blame. Katarina Belov bailed him
out. But she had one prerequisite: he must make Catwoman suffer.
So far, Black Mask has stripped Holly Robinson of her
sobriety. He forced Selina's sister to relive the way he tortured her and
killed her husband. Now, one of his lookalikes has implicated Selina as a
terrorist. Can Selina prevent the bomb her double planted in Burnley Station
from exploding her life in Gotham? And can she help Samuel "Slam"
Bradley avoid her friend, George's fate? Let's leap into Catwoman #89 and see!
Story
After Selina rescued Holly from her air-tight room in the
shuttered Seagate Home for Troubled Teens, Holly drove her back to town before
the two women went their separate ways. But when Holly decides to ditch the
stolen car, she discovers that she is still part of Black Mask’s plans.
While Holly struggles to escape Roman Sionis’ control,
Selina also realizes she is still caught in his web. Seeing Katarina Belov
explained why and how Roman had turned her life into a nightmare. Yet as she
plays the message on the tablet Katarina handed her, Selina realizes she has
another friend to save in Catwoman #89.
Just as Roman left clues that led her to the Seagate Home
for Troubled Teens, a clue he left there helps Selina deduce Sam “Slam”
Bradley’s whereabouts. Like a kidnapper demanding that a relative of his victim
jump through hoops to ensure they aren’t followed to the drop point, Selina
must race against time to save Slam’s life. But even as she does so, she knows
that neither Roman nor Katarina wants her money.
As Selina navigates the hurdles Roman has set in her way,
Torunn Grønbekk's story contrasts Roman Sionis and Carmine Falcone. Both crime
bosses have had their ups and downs. While Carmine differentiates between
disloyalty and business, Roman punishes anyone who fails or displeases him.
Black Mask is an astute businessman with an exceptional ability to orchestrate
and execute elaborate plans. Yet after Carmine Falcone orchestrates the heist
of the Gotham Police Department Headquarters quickly and quietly, he worries
about the repercussions of Black Mask’s current operation in Catwoman #89.
Art
As a road worker sets cones before halted automobiles, he
motions to the driver of a cement truck. Holly climbs from her appropriated
classic convertible to ask a fellow driver what’s happening. She shields her
face with her hand as a brace of motorcycle cops passes. Instead of watching
the bottleneck below, Selina stands before a water tank, studying the
skull-face on the tablet. Then, faceless servants of Black Mask, like the one
Katarina shot, follow her as Selina whips across the rooftops.
As Davide Gianfelice portrays the culmination of Black
Mask's plans, Selina's black-and-gray suit blends into the blue night sky. The
blue tablet turns red when Selina drops it and whips past blue and yellow
windows. While some of the blue evening enters through the tall windows,
sapphire and indigo fill Carmine Falcone's penthouse. Still, Patricio Delpeche
mixes gray with the colors, reminding us of the complicated relationship
between Carmine and Selina in Catwoman #89.
As the narrator employs black lowercase letters in yellow
boxes, Selina’s thoughts fill light indigo boxes. White starbursts relay voices
from TVs, phones, and tablets. Intonation emboldens words in white dialogue
balloons, and raised voices enlarge dialogue. Steve Wands uses smaller, gray
letters for lowered voices. Occasional colored dialogue balloons, or white
balloons with colored outlines, spice up scenes. While honking rewards Pip’s
efforts, the explosive climax will determine the brilliance of his master’s
plans. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.
Final Thoughts
Before she came to Gotham to ruin Selina Kyle's life,
Katarina Belov did her homework. Yet in her anger at Selina, she failed to
recognize the inadequacies of her working methods. So, as she repeats history
once again, Katarina is surprised when, like her sons, Roman also defies her
control in Catwoman #89.
Rating 9.5/10
To look inside see my preview of Catwoman #89.
For what happened last time, see my review of Catwoman #88.
For what happened before that, see my preview of Catwoman #87.
For what happened even before that, see my review of Catwoman #86.
For how this story began, see my review of Catwoman #85.
