REVIEW: ‘Knight Terrors: Catwoman,’ Issue #1

Knight Terrors: Catwoman #1 is published by DC Comics, written by Tini Howard, art by Leila Leiz, colors by Marissa Louise and letters by Becca Carey. This is part of the Knight Terrors event. Catwoman is hunting the Joker and his goons but is constantly being prevented by her own sister. 

The Knight Terrors event is all about different possible nightmares, and this is a fascinating approach to the concept. Opening with what could easily be an ordinary night for Selina Kyle, what comes after details just how skewed this reality is within her own mind. Not only is her sister involved, but that inclusion brings a tsunami of trauma. It is strange and purposefully directionless. When Catwoman tries to work towards something or hatch a plan, her sister is there to move her away. And because of the dreamworld setting, the plot is allowed to be disjointed. Moments don’t make sense, or exist in a weird structure. Sudden changes or appearances from characters that weren’t there a panel ago are there to say more about a character’s psyche than the plot on a smaller scale.

The themes of religion, guilt and trauma are dominant. The final part of the comic flips one of DC’s most iconic relationships and concludes an idea that had been building from the beginning but was not clear until this revelation.

The heart and the drama of Knight Terrors: Catwoman #1 would not have existed if it weren’t for a character that hadn’t been seen in ages. Magdalene Kyle, or Sister Zero, is a nun that was part of an extremely disturbing yet important Catwoman stories, but her role in this book has altered slightly. She’s a sister in a church by day and a vigilante at night, but seems to only target her own sister. Her dialogue is extremely hard-hitting, and the techniques that Howard uses to cause that trauma is brutal. Magdalene, or Maggie, is constantly demonising Selina, blaming her for everything and anything. Then comes the biblical jargon, commenting on whether God is in control. When Selina is out on patrol or hunting the Joker, Maggie is in ear still, or extremely loud and being put in danger. The cycle keeps renewing, endlessly hitting the same beats. That repetition bears down on Catwoman, but she feels connected and almost longs for those moments to keep her sister with her. Even if the character actually changes, the dialogue isn’t much different. 

The art is unique and gorgeous. Leiz combines beauty with a subtle, uncomfortable fear. The pages are heavily detailed, presenting the personality and atmosphere of the location. And both Catwoman and Maggie have stunning designs, but with creepy additions that are there to unnerve. Selina has a shocking injury that is revealed some time into Knight Terrors: Catwoman #1. Maggie as a regular nun is innocent and unassuming. But as the vigilante, she has these long tear streaks down her cheeks that are haunting, like Bloody Mary. Her eyes are big, burrowing into the soul.  The Gothic architecture is achingly pretty, but Leiz is also very comfortable illustrating action and more bizarre locations, such as when the Joker gets involved. The artist’s style feels classic, fitting 90’s Batman or Catwoman comics. And that is absolutely welcome in a book that wants to lean on memories.

The colors are stunning, morphing with the setting. Out in Gotham at night, purple covers the buildings whilst the light from the street radiates upwards. Inside the church, the colors are brown but light, like a place of age but safety. Then when the Joker enters the fray, the shades get intense and vibrant, Intentionally out of place and overbearing. It energises the comic, raising the pace to frantic levels. Even though there is a lot of detail in the panels, I never once felt that the lettering became difficult to read or follow.

Knight Terrors: Catwoman #1 is a comic filled with intelligence. Everything about this book is thoughtful and layered. The repetition-induced trauma is extremely effective and relatable. Even with the heavy dialogue and themes, the book never feels cumbersome. It moves at a pace that means the sudden shifts of a nightmare can be as jarring as they need to be. And using Maggie, a character that hasn’t even existed in the New 52 universe, as the focal point of the nightmare is a stroke of genius.

Knight Terrors: Catwoman #1 is available where comics are sold.