Catwoman #86 Review

 

Catwoman #86 Review

Writer: Torunn Grønbekk

Artist: Davide Gianfelice

Colorist: Patricio Delpeche

Letterer: Steve Wands

Cover Artists: Seba Fiumara, Frank Cho, Michael Walsh & W Scott Forbes

Things To Come Variant Cover Artist: Manny Vincent Carbonilla

April Drools Variant Cover Artist: Saowee

Editors: James Reid, Arianna Turturro & Rob Levin

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: April 15, 2026

 

Selina Kyle may not have life all figured out. Still, she knows how to have fun. Sadly, her return to Gotham hasn't been smooth sailing. Selina's landlord evicted her from her apartment. Her friend Holly needs her help. Then there's Carmine Falcone, who's still unsure what to do about the Venice affair.

 

While Selina and the mob boss dance around the Italian job, her first mission for him puts GCPD Commissioner Vandal Savage at odds with the Feds. But if Carmine Falcone doesn't know what to do with Selina, others know exactly how they'd like to treat her. And they're determined to make her homecoming worse before it gets better. How will Black Mask attack Selina next? And will former Catwoman, Holly Robinson, end up in his crosshairs? Let’s leap into Catwoman #86 and see!

 

Story

She found him at his lowest ebb. With his empire crumbling around him, not even torture could restore Black Mask's spirit. But Katarina Belov's resilience inspired him. Selina Kyle had destroyed her world, too. Yet Katarina had arisen with the money Black Mask needed to get back on his feet. All she asked was that he torment Selina Kyle. So, Black Mask begins at the end. Or at least the end of George’s life. With her homeless friend lying dead in the apartment, Selina Kyle hears his voice from a satellite phone. Instead of the eviction notice, she finds a note taped to her door. And she hears the Gotham Police climbing the stairs.

 

After beginning two weeks ago, when Selina returned to Gotham, Catwoman #86 launches Selina Kyle on a hunt. Just as Selina changes identities to tell passersby a story, Black Mask constructs a narrative for her. But while Selina pursues Black Mask's clues, his story recalls Katarina Belov’s hunt for Selina. Once more, the police want Selina after attending a charity gala. Again, the GCPD seek her in the apartment that anchors Selina’s cherished life in Gotham. Yet this time, Selina's safehouse doesn't offer her the same freedom she once found in an alias.

 

In Torunn Grønbekk’s story, Gotham once again becomes too hot for Selina Kyle. Instead of traveling around the world and pursuing clues to Evie Hall's death, Selina Kyle follows Black Mask's breadcrumbs through Gotham. And instead of Katarina Belov burning down Selina's life as Evie Hall, Black Mask seeks to destroy Selina Kyle's life as thoroughly as she helped bring down Katarina's empire in Catwoman #86.

 

Art

While he gives her a wooden chair, Black Mask cannot sit still before her golden mask. So, he rises as she speaks with him. As she removes her mask, Katarina remembers wandering through the flames Selina unleashed in her mansion. Recalling a nurse who showed her kindness, Katarina Belov touches his mask. When she cradles his chin in her bandaged fingers, Black Mask rises to cover her ravaged features.

 

As Davide Gianfelice propels Selina Kyle on a race against time, Patricio Delpeche adorns Catwoman #86 with a roving palette of limited colors. Black, gray, and tan surround Black Mask as he speaks with Katarina. Her light-blue and red clothes link with memories of her reduced state before Black Mask uplifts her. A red chair links with her red eye, and red marks of deception amid a green-tinged battle that recalls Selina's invasion of Vandal Savage's domain. Yet like the Corvette parked outside the pub where she met Holly, another red vehicle warns of imminent danger.

 

Steve Wands locates readers in time and space with white lowercase letters. While the narrator employs black lowercase letters in yellow boxes, Katarina's off-camera dialogue fills yellow balloons. White starbursts showcase phone calls as Selena's thoughts inhabit lavender boxes. Black letters in dialogue balloons grow bold for intonation and enlarge for increased volume. Yet as small, faint letters force Selina Kyle to think like her tormentor, a siren erupts in the night. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Carmine Falcone unleashed a wave of death around the world to demonstrate that he was untouchable. Yet Selina Kyle proved that he wasn’t. After working for him to rebuild her life in Gotham and help people like George and Holly, Black Mask uses Katarina Belov's money to send a wave of death crashing upon everyone Selina cares about. But while Black Mask reveres her as a swan in Catwoman #86, he has brought a lioness into his den. Alongside her late husband, Katarina built an empire upon drugs and secrets. And she’s written books on Carmine Falcone and Black Mask.

 

Rating 9.4/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Catwoman #86.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Catwoman #85.