DCU Comic Book Reviews

CATWOMAN #61

It's Only A Movie, tk. 3

January 2007

Written by Will Pfeifer

Pencils by David Lopez

Inks by Alvaro Lopez

Cover by Adam Hughes

Synopsis

Edison (aka the Film freak) appears on camera to tell the audience that he is nearing the end of his “film” and he wants to give it a really big ending.  Selina Kyle is watching the broadcast and realizes that she needs to stop him.  After leaving the new station, Film Freak visits an astronaut in possession of a nuclear bomb.  He then goes to a theater to set off the bomb.  Its there Catwoman finds him and then knocks him unconscious.  She then disables the bomb.  When she returns home, she finds Slam Bradley holding her baby, his granddaughter.  He wants to talk.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

And thus ends one of the most enjoyable storylines in a long time.  Yes, I may be biased because many of the movies referenced in this issue (as well previous issues) I have seen.  Regardless, the overall storyline has been such a joy.  The Film Freak is such an original, different villain, that even if I wasn’t a movie fan, I would have liked this.  Having said that, however, I really think that the Film Freak is a character that could easily fail in the hands of a writer that does not understand him.  He is not someone who adores movies and wants to emulate them.  No, the Film Freak probably as a disdain for most movies.  What makes him such a great character is his intense admiration for the great, classic films.  He recognizes genius.  Not only does he recognize the classic, landmark films, but he also recognizes why they are great and why they are remembered fondly after so much time.   That is what drives the Film Freak and why he is so unique.

On the flip side, what gets lost in the great madness of the Film Freak and the trek through the history of the cinema is the fact that Selina has once more donned the Catwoman costume.  Yes, Holly is in costume this issue, but she really does not do much.  The One Year Later leap was supposed to have a new Catwoman.  It looks more and more like that will disappear and it will be Selina rather than Holly.  I still hold out hop Holly will remain Catwoman; I think there are plenty of stories with Selina acting as a mentor, but we will have to see what happens. 

I can only speculate, but the marquee of the theater is probably advertising a Val Lewton (producer of Cat People) retrospective of some kind.  The title on the right, however, does not match any of Lewton’s films, so it is tough to say for certain.

Movie Mania

Network (1976) is a scathing satire on the television and the news.  It won the Academy Award for best picture as well as Oscars for Peter Finch (actor), Faye Dunaway (actress), Beatrice Straight (supporting actress), and Paddy Chayefsky (screenplay). 

Both Bullitt (1968), starring Steve McQueen, and The French Connection (1971), starring Gene Hackman, are considered to contain some of the most thrilling chases in the history of film.  The French Connection won the Oscar for best picture.

As stated in comic Killers From Space (1954), starring Peter Graves, Dr. Strangelove (1964), starring Peter Sellers, and Return of the Living Dead (1985) contain scenes of a nuclear explosion just before the final credits. 

Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), directed by George Clooney, is about television news anchor Edward R. Murrow and his investigation into Senator McCarthy.  The title comes from Murrow’s sign-off at the end of the news. 

Although I can find the film Viva Knievel! (1977), I can’t seem to find the second film about him.  He did appear in a tv movie in 1974, but as the host. 

Quotables

“Mother of Mercy!  Is this the end of Rico?” is from Little Caesar (1931) starring Edward G. Robinson.

“Made it, Ma!  Top of the World!” is from White Heat (1949) starring James Cagney.

“That’s All Folks!” is spoken by Porky Pig at the end of Merrie Melodie cartoon. 

 

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