[Editor’s note: This review may contain spoilers.]
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artists: Bilquis Evely & Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Summary
This is an interlude retelling the origin story for Cheetah.
Positives
The cover by Bilquis Evely is amazing. It has a very retro look to it. It could easily fit in among classic Wonder Woman covers from the 1980s. Everything about it is wonderful. I love the cracked shield and the tagline especially. It’s a wonderful style for the cover.
The interior art is drawn by Evely with colors by Romulo Fajardo, Jr. It’s wonderful as well with that same retro style. I am not familiar with Evely’s work but I am already in love with her style because this art is dynamite. Fajardo Jr.’s colors are great as well.
Cheetah is not a character that I am overly familiar with. I know who she is and some other basics but that is pretty much it. So I appreciate getting this backstory and I like it a lot. I love the idea that she is captivated by the stories of the Amazons considering what happens later. I also like the idea that her obsession comes from people constantly putting her down about it. Her father disapproved of her love of the Amazons and told her to stop living in a fantasy world. So Minerva has spent the rest of her life trying to prove that the Amazons exist and are not simply fantasy. Minerva is a sympathetic character and I appreciate that. Cheetah is sometimes two-dimensional in what little I’ve read with her so I like all of this characterization.
Negatives
It ends rather abruptly for me. Maybe we will get more of the story in the next part of “The Lies” or “Year One” but the issue just sort of ends. I wasn’t quite satisfied by it.
Verdict
This is a really strong issue. The art is fantastic and Greg Rucka does a great job of characterizing a villain people may not know much about. If you want to know more about Cheetah, definitely check this out. I recommend the issue; it’s good fun.
