WildC.A.T.s #3 Review

Writer: Matthew Rosenberg
Art: Stephen Segovia
Colors: Elmer Santos
Letters: Ferran Delgado
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 10^th, 2023

The Halo Corporation has introduced their version of The Seven Soldiers of Victory, but Grifter, Zealot, Deathblow and Maxine are still on the front lines in WildC.A.T.s #3, coming into conflict with The Court of Owls while in the midst of a mission to protect a child who, if killed, would trigger a “Crisis”-level event. It’s an action-packed issue filled with swordplay, bullets and intrigue.

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The Story

Ever since the WildC.A.T.s first debuted way back in 1992, I was more a fan of team member Zealot than the team as a whole. But this latest iteration of the team, primarily here in WildC.A.T.s #3, have made the other characters endearing in their own ways. Grifter’s grown on me, even though I’m still not a fan of his character design. But I love his no-nonsense approach to things. If Grifter can kick, punch or shoot his way into getting results, he’ll do it. He has no airtight code forbidding him to kill others, like Batman and Superman carry like an anchor on their backs. If Grifter has to toss a couple people off a skyrise to get what he needs, he’ll do it.

He has a run-in with a member of The Court of Owls this issue. Combined with appearances by Nightwing and Green Arrow in past issues, the WildC.A.T.s are quickly becoming entrenched in DC Universe’s Earth-Prime. It deepens the mystery of the main over-arching plot, and it’s a great fight scene between Grifter and the Cout of Owls soldier. Despite the occasional appearance of existing DC characters, the series still occupies its own wonderful microcosm of characters and situations. I love the various aspects of the team that set it apart from other DC teams, including their use of The Void to teleport to missions, the cyberpunk tech expert Maxine, and the Halo Foundation itself, led by Mr. Marlowe, who’s part Perry White, part Maxwell Lord.

Halo’s Seven Soldiers of Victory are shown in more detail this issue. We get to see their names and what they can do, and just about every one of them seem to be more shady versions of the WildC.A.T.s. It’ll be interesting seeing them in action. They could potentially be like Marvel’s original Thunderbolts, evil characters who are deceiving the public by doing good deeds in front of the cameras, and that would generate some great stories, especially if they come into conflict with Grifter, Zealot and the other WildC.A.T.s Zealot is still my favorite character in the book, and though nothing this issue compares to last issue’s battle between her (wearing a slinky dress) and a group of thugs, we still get more great scenes with her here, and the issue ends on a harrowing cliffhanger.

The Art

Stephen Segovia’s art on WildC.A.T.s #3 reminded me a bit of Neal Adams’ work in spots. His characters are drawn in a very detailed fashion and his action scenes are dynamic. Reading this issue felt like watching a Bruce Willis or Schwarzenegger film from the 1980’s with lots of acrobatics, gunplay and aerial battles.

Final Thoughts

WildC.A.T.s #3 deepens the mystery involving the Court of Owls, gives us some deeper looks at Halo’s Seven Soldiers of Victory, and has some great action throughout. It’s an issue that moves at a great pace and left me looking forward to seeing what happens next issue.