Writer: Matthew Rosenberg
Art: Stephen Segovia
Colors: Elmer Santos
Letters: Ferran Delgado
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 14th, 2023
Last issue, Grifter, Zealot, Fairchild and Voodoo were dropped into a small war-torn country on a secret mission to rescue an Ambassador’s son. The kid was rescued but Grifter got left behind! In WildC.A.T.s #4, Zealot and Fairchild desperately try to find Grifter and help him. Meanwhile, Grifter gets proactive and fights through an army of mercenaries and assassins as he tries to escape the country, and you won’t believe who’s commanding them!
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The Story
After reading WildC.A.T.s #4 and seeing Grifter stab, shoot and punch his way throughout the book, giving as good as he gets, Batman seems like Tinker Bell by comparison. Few books this week are as violently bloody and bone-crunching as this issue, and we really feel Grifter’s desperation as he’s trying to get out of the country (which is locked in a bloody civil war) but has to go through an army to do it. But unlike Batman or Deathstroke, Grifter doesn’t have an advanced armor or an arsenal of gadgets and weapons at his disposal, he only has his wits, a knife and a pistol. It makes things so much more visceral and thrilling when you know Grifter’s not going to pull out an explosive Grifterrang or call in a Griftermobile to get him out of danger. As Grifter fought for his life, it felt like the first “Die Hard” film, where John McClane was just a human being who could be badly scarred and injured, before the later films when he became an invulnerable wise-cracking bore.
The book alternates between Grifter’s battle and Star City, where Zealot and Fairchild are determined to go back to rescue Grifter after being teleported out of the battle zone last issue. It’s fun watching Zealot trying to achieve a goal without chopping her way to it with her sword. She has to reason and use diplomacy with the HALO Corporation CEO Marlowe, and Marlowe is as stubborn as Zealot is. It’s always interesting seeing characters in situations they aren’t accustomed to and it’s doubly so here. Seeing her interact with people at a cocktail party was especially hilarious, and Fairchild seems to be there just to egg her on. The person leading the armies besieging Grifter is revealed, and it’s someone who has ties to the Batman Family. It’s a character I love and I’m looking forward to seeing them take on Grifter directly next issue.
The Art
Stephen Segovia and Elmer Santos’s art on WildC.A.T.s #4 shines in all the battle scenes and you really feel the impact of every punch, explosion and stabbing. Most of the battle takes place at night, and there’s a dark gray backdrop on every panel that’s a great contrast to the blood-spurting action. The quieter scenes in Star City are drawn with great detail and I love how Zealot is almost always drawn as towering over everyone else.
Final Thoughts
WildC.A.T.s #4 has Grifter fighting for his life and it’s a thrilling ride. Zealot also gets some great character moments and there are a couple startling reveals. Another great issue and I look forward to seeing what happens next.