Welcome to an all-new edition of Parlay points, the comic book review blog to the ODPH Podcast!

For this entry, we are taking a look at a major event hitting Gotham City via DC Comics. Through the course of history, the relationship between Bruce Wayne (Batman) and Selina Kyle (Catwoman) can easily be defined as “Complicated”. Lovers, Allies, Enemies….they’ve been it all over decades. Recently, it has been strained stemming from a failed marriage attempt. Like I said … “complicated.”

Coming off the fallout from Knight Terrors, a new stat quo has been established for Gotham, which has major ramifications on the city’s family of protectors. Batman / Catwoman: The Gotham War - Battle Lines #1 by Chip Zdarsky, Tini Howard, Mike Hawthorne, Adriano Di Benedetto, and Romulo Fajardo Jr. lights the match for what is sure to be an explosive story. Let’s take a closer look and see how things kick off, shall we?

***Batman / Catwoman: The Gotham War - Battle Lines #1*** by ***Chip Zdarsky, Tini Howard, Mike Hawthorne, Adriano Di Benedetto, and*** ***Romulo Fajardo Jr.*** ***(credit: DC Comics -cover:*** ***Jorge Jiménez***)

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

The story begins as a nameless man returns home from his dangerous line of work. Readers see that the man worked for Professor Pyg, taking a beating for failing him. As he lays down to rest, a cat is at his window with a message tied to its’ collar. The message reads “If you risk your life … you deserve the rewards” with an address underneath.

Meanwhile, Batman is recapping his past few weeks, finishing with a visual of the “Knight Terrors” story. Exhausted, Batman finally collapses to sleep. In his dreamscape, he runs into an old friend: Zur-En-Arrh. if anyone doesn’t know, Batman has an emergency personality that takes over when he is too far broken down. Zur-En-Arrh leaves Bruce with parting words to rest up before disappearing in his subconscious.

Bruce Wayne wakes up in his home surroundings. Readers find out that he’s been asleep for EIGHT WEEKS (due to the toll his body took in “Knight Terrors"). Ready to pick up his fight of Justice, Batman senses something is different.

Scouring the streets of Gotham, he comes across a museum. Investigating, Batman comes across two low level henchmen trying to steal a diamond. In pursuit, they escape but someone else has stolen the jewelry. This looks very suspect from the normal criminal moves.

All the while, a criminal named Roland (possibly the same man from the beginning with newly dyed hair) appears to be training on how to steal. His mentor: Catwoman?! What has been going on in the streets of Gotham since Batman has been gone? Why is Catwoman training criminals?

Readers quickly find out that a new movement has been brought to the city and some will not be fans of this. Things escalate to a point where the lines of communication are severed. There is no turning back now after the final pages. There will be a war in the streets of Gotham. What side will you be on?

Zdarsky and Howard set wheels in motion for a defining moment in the relationship between the Bat and the Cat. With Batman recovering from the events of “Knight Terrors”, the writers test Batman as the city has moved on without him. The movement Catwoman is leading is a very unique concept. It challenges the ethics of Batman (without the “No Killing” standard), which plays against his greatest fear: losing Gotham. As dedicated as he is, the loss of the city he’s sworn to protect is one he will not let happen.

The writing team ties in the Bat-Family reactions very well as the message reaction is mixed. Pacing moves very briskly to get the major plot points time to shine. The strongest moment of the book is the meeting of the family, where Catwoman states her plan and how it is doing. The reactions of Batman play out as one would expect but Zdarsky and Howard mix in the personal shots to drive home the emotional impact of past events. The closing act leaves a great easter egg heading into the next chapter. The team lays a solid foundation to build from with this arc.

Hawthorne and Di Benedetto tie in the after effects of “Knight Terrors” as a strong start to the next phase of this story. The Zur-En-Arrh reveal keeps readers guessing as to what that persona plays into the current story. The art team also gives readers a vintage feel to the crimefighting panels of Batman that readers have come to expect. They have more of a “superhero” feel than grim and gritty but works superbly for the story at hand.

The “Family Meeting” scenes are the big visuals readers will be talking about here. Catwoman comes off defiant and seemingly victorious before Batman even says a say. The banter between them is reflected in the growing body language where business becomes more emotional. Selina’s facial expressions as she brings up past events makes a lasting impression. The closing pages cap off those emotions tying things back full circle while subtly dropping a hint at what may lie ahead.

FINAL POINT: 8 OUT OF 10

The battle between the first couple of Gotham challenges the status quo with an excellent kickoff story. Zdarsky and Howard craft a story grounded in multi-layered writing with the art team spotlighting this conflict is more personal than fighting the good fight. Don’t miss this at the local Comic Shops this week!

Hit me up on ODPH social media and let me know what you thought of Batman / Catwoman: The Gotham War - Battle Lines #1. Thanks for reading!