Absolute Catwoman #3
Writer: Che Grayson
Artist: Bengal
Colorist: Giovanna Niro
Letterer: Lucas Gattoni
Publisher: DC Comics
Absolute Catwoman #3 keeps the throttle pinned to the floor, delivering a fast-paced chapter that seamlessly weaves high-tech heist action with crucial origin reveals. Che Grayson structures this chapter with an expert sense of balance, really leaning into Selina Kyle's sheer desperation to start anew and leave her criminal shadow behind. That desire for a fresh start makes the dynamic between Selina, Victoria, and Helena an absolute highlight, turning a rescue mission into an uneasy walk down memory lane. With Bengal’s vibrant visuals firing on all cylinders, this issue proves that no matter how much tech you build to protect your peace, the ghosts of your past will always find a way inside.
SPOILERS FOR ABSOLUTE CATWOMAN #3!
Curiosity (ALMOST) Killed the Calicos
The issue takes a quick step back seven years to an innocent, sunlit era when the Calicos were dreaming about what their adult lives would look like. Victoria planned to run the Gotham Gazette, Selina dreamed of traveling the globe as a photographer, and Helena wanted to fly high as a fighter pilot. That idyllic optimism was shattered when Holly burst in with a proposition from a shadowy stranger, offering five million dollars for one final score to set them up for life. Moving like a well-oiled machine, the teenage crew infiltrated a secure residence, killed the lights, and secured a high-priority list of names. Just as they were set to leave, they discovered a silent young girl sitting alone in an office chair. An instantaneous, massive explosion tore through the building, causing the girl to vanish into the smoke and forcing the Calicos to scatter in terror. That silent child was a young Cassandra Cain, grounding her modern vendetta in the collateral damage of that fateful night.
The Cat Cave & Reluctant Reunion
Back in the present, the surviving Calicos are ambushed by the same high-tech shadow operatives from the glacier auction. Selina manages to take down an attacker, ripping off his camouflage mask to trace their origin before leading Victoria and Helena to her underground staging ground, The Cat Cave. Surrounding herself with high-tech espionage gadgets and experimental vehicles, Selina visibly bristles when Helena suggests they team up to finish the mission.
The idea of getting the band back together makes Selina deeply uncomfortable, as reforming the crew forces her to confront the very lifestyle she has spent years trying to escape. She stubbornly insists she is a solo act now and intends to rescue Holly completely alone, refusing to let old habits drag her backward.
Tangling with The Yarn
Victoria Sage steps in to break the deadlock, laying out the terrifying reality of what they are up against with The Yarn. This advanced artificial intelligence possesses the godlike power to literally rewrite the past, effectively handing the user the keys to shape the future. The concept heavily mirrors the Clean Slate tech from The Dark Knight Rises, presenting an irresistible shortcut to erase past mistakes at the cost of global safety.
Selina initially resists the call to action, but Victoria's sharp detective skills uncover the kidnapper’s coordinates embedded directly within the tracking data of the stolen mask. Realizing she cannot dismantle an army alone, Selina relents, outfitting Victoria and Helena in matching tactical suits for a reluctant, full-scale Calico reunion.
Pouncing into Candia
The team boards a private jet bound for the remote landscapes of Candia, preparing for a dangerous aerial insertion. In a stunning, synchronized sequence, the trio executes a high-altitude dive straight toward the hostile compound. Mid-drop, Selina’s tactical helmet tags a familiar insignia on the fortress below, triggering an immediate memory of a mark she saw years ago inside David Cain’s apartment.
The scene cuts inside the fortress walls, where Cassandra Cain keeps a restrained Holly Robinson surrounded by an army of faceless ninjas. Standing at her side is none other than Lady Shiva, establishing that the Calicos have jumped directly into an ambush designed to settle a seven-year-old score.
Claws, Colors, and Cuban Curls
Bengal’s artwork remains the heartbeat of this entire series, and this issue gives him plenty of room to show off character range. The new suits for the Calico reunion are really cool, and Selina’s Cat Cave is sleek and stylish mirror to Bruce’s famously dark and brooding headquarters. While the action sequences are sleek and fluid, the art truly shines in the way it handles the girls when they are unmasked. Bengal renders their facial acting with an energetic, animated charm that brings an immediate relatability to their banter.
You can feel the history, the playful teenage eye rolls, and the quiet tension just from the way they look at each other across a room. Giovanna Niro’s vibrant color palette complements this expressive line work effortlessly, contrasting the cozy warmth of the past with the cold, neon-tinged shadows of modern-day Candia. That Halo drop is also something to behold and is my favorite image in this issue.
Conclusion & Verdict
Absolute Catwoman #3 is a thrilling continuation that delivers fantastic world-building alongside deeply personal emotional stakes. Che Grayson does an incredible job connecting Cassandra Cain’s vendetta directly to the Calicos' youthful mistakes, turning a classic comic rivalry into an emotionally resonant confrontation. The reluctant reunion of the crew gives the narrative a fantastic spark, and the stage is set for a massive clash with Lady Shiva.
Verdict: 8/10.
A razor-sharp, stylish chapter that proves you can build a new life, but you can never truly bury the past.