Catwoman #89 Review

 

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.