REVIEW: ‘Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League’ Issue 1

Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League Issue 1 is published by DC Comics, written by Greg Rucka, art by Nicola Scott, colors by Annette Kwok, and letters by Troy Peteri.

Two vicious ladies team up for one of the most dangerous heists in history.

An intriguing selection of characters to begin with, the early parts of this series start slower than expected. It immerses us in the characters calmly. Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League Issue 1 starts by gently jumping between the two protagonists. It’s instantly bloody and grizzly, highlighting the middle world both ladies operate in.

There are explosions of blood and the consuming of human flesh within the opening pages of Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League Issue 1. Then Rucka brings the characters together in the most action-packed part of the comic, again shining in violence. Much of this first issue is just setting up the idea of a heist. There’s no preparation; instead, it’s a catch-up for the ladies. After such a violent and bloody battle, there’s a quiet period where the enormity of what is being brought to the table starts to sink in.

The choice of characters to headline this series is fascinating. Both Cheshire and Cheetah are significant figures in the DC Universe, but aren’t known for headlining books. Cheshire is an assassin known for being the mother of Roy Harper’s (Arsenal) daughter, while Cheetah is an enemy of Wonder Woman after being transformed and cursed by a god. What Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League Issue 1 does do is solidify them as villains once again.

Both have worked alongside the heroes in Green Arrow and Wonder Woman. But Cheetah still craves flesh, and Cheshire murders a lot of people in brutal ways in Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League Issue 1, showing that they still operate in dark corners. But they’re friendly with each other, and both make for characters to get invested in. This is an incredibly mature book that features brilliant dark humor. Cheshire is flirtatious in a scary way, and the casual conversations around all the gore ground the issue.

The art is fantastic, relishing the violent world these women live in. Both characters are designed superbly by Scott. Cheetah always looks uncomfortable, constantly suffering from the effects of her curse. She had discomfort with what she looks like, but she’s also in pain and continually hungry. Scott conveys her anger and agitation through her facial expressions and body language, often hiding her face behind a hood.

In contrast, Cheshire is confident and aware of her awesomeness. She uses her attractiveness to get what she wants. She’s the centre of the action in Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League Issue 1. She moves fluidly, slicing up enemies with each and sending blood flying everywhere. The level of detail on her costume is incredible, as are the spots on Cheetah’s body.

The ease with which the duo kill, and the glee, is both enjoyable and glaring. There is also a decent amount of time when the two women are casual, and that is also fantastic. It shows other sides to being a costumed individual, such as eating and socializing. Cheetah can’t change her outfit, but Cheshire can, and the other set of clothes is fitting for the character.

The colors reveal a dark atmosphere in Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League Issue 1. The villainy takes place in really gloomy rooms, with little light. Yet, the green of Cheshire and the yellow fur of Cheetah do stand out somewhat without being intensely vibrant. A stunning detail on Cheshire is the very delicate green makeup on her face. It’s so slight, tiny flickers of emerald around her eyes and on her nose. It’s small but adds so much to her design. The lettering is very comfortable and easy to read.

Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League Issue 1 gives a gory limelight to underappreciated villains. Rucka recognizes how fantastic both Cheetah and Cheshire are, and yet they get so little attention on a larger scale. This series highlights their interesting qualities, capabilities, and aspirations. The dark tone allows them to be as violent and vicious as they like, while still giving us someone to root for. The combination makes the book fresh, showcasing the strength and depth of DC’s character pool, which makes such a series even possible.

Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League Issue 1 is available now wherever comics are sold.