CAT-MAN AND KITTEN (ONE-SHOT), from Dynamite Comics on November 30th, 2022, tells a rollicking tale of adventure when David Merryweather, aka Cat-Man, heads to the jungle to solve the mystery of a murdered explorer and a missing artifact.
The Details
- Written by: Jeff Parker
- Art by: Joseph Cooper
- Colors by: Arancia Studio
- Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover art by: Jung-Geun Yoon (cover A)
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: November 30, 2022
Is It Good?
CAT-MAN AND KITTEN (ONE-SHOT) is another step in the right direction for Dynamite Comics’ strategy of leveraging the wealth of Public Domain heroes from the Golden Age. This time, readers are treated to a fun, nostalgic, wholesome adventure starring the Golden Age’s feline dynamic duo, and this issue is the cat’s pajamas.
Jeff Parker gets it. Parker gets the tone, language, style, and atmosphere of classic pulp adventures right down to every “Gee Whiz!” and “Golly Gee Willikers!” Yes, the dialog feels dated, corny, and old-fashioned, but that’s the point. This story feels appropriate for the period, and it feels like you’re reading a time capsule story from a period when the world of superhero comics was fresh and new.
Parker’s script spins a yarn about an archaeologist who returns to the US with a mysterious artifact containing inscriptions that could unlock the secrets of a lost Mayan tribe. When the archaeologist is murdered, and the artifact is stolen, Cat-Man call on his trusty sidekick, Kitten, and a few other Golden Age heroes to help him track the killer down.
Again, this story feels dated because it’s supposed to, and it works.
Part of this comic’s success is due to Jeff Cooper’s pitch-perfect art style. The heroes are impossibly heroic while stopping just short of campy or cheesy. Cooper walks the line between silly, cartoonish, camp, and taking the material too seriously, and the balance is maintained beautifully. In short, the art, just like the story, is fun.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with David Merryweather, aka Cat-Man, attending a Dinner party in honor of recently-returned archaeologist and explorer Captain Barnard. At the party, Barnard showcases his latest discovery, an ancient relic called the Eye of the Queen.
Suddenly, the party is attacked by a group of armed thieves nicknamed the Lavender Mob. Cat-Man silently signals the house cat to turn off the lights so he can don his fighting costume and knock out the mob. The plan works, but in the ruckus Captain Barnard is stabbed, and the artifact is stolen. Cat-Man picks up the scent of the killer and gives chase into the nearby woods.
When Cat-Man catches up to the killer, he’s zapped by someone wielding a powerful ray gun. We conclude the issue with help from a series of Golden Age allies, a peak at Cat-Man’s destiny, and an otherworldy answer to the mystery.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
CAT-MAN AND KITTEN (ONE-SHOT) is pure, wholesome, Golden Age fun. Jeff Parker’s script nails the tone and the aesthetic of the time period, and Cooper’s art expertly balances modern comic quality with dated designs for an adventure that’s all about fun.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.