Review by Frank Plowright

Run Like Hell follows Inheritance in the Catwoman continuity, but as long as there’s a basic understanding of Catwoman as a thrill-seeking thief, there’s no need to reference any previous graphic novels for the title story.

Frank Tieri sets up the one last impossible heist scenario, except it’s too good to be true, and it leaves Selina Kyle having to deduce who’s behind multiple problems for multiple people when she steals a massive diamond. Tieri involves several other Gotham residents in a gradually unfolding mystery featuring good staging points, and teams Catwoman with a very technically able friend.

What lifts it above mere competency, though, is the immaculate art of Inaki Miranda. While the plot works, he adds the richness. His versions of numerous characters range from eye-catching to show-stopping, and as per the sample art, circular panels to tell a story are a continuing visual theme. There’s a lot of work put into backgrounds, and when the script calls for a crowd, a crowd is provided. The attention to detail extends to the creases on clothing worn by people in those crowds. He also amuses himself along the way. That sure looks like the modified DeLorean from Back to the Future driving through Gotham in one panel.

The other credited artists contribute far fewer pages, either on short stories, or in Elia Bonneti and Pop Mhan’s case the flashback scenes for the final inclusion. Tieri supplies the history of the Faceless Mask for Dan Panosian and Alex Konat, but how much point is there to a story only featuring Catwoman in the final panel and seemingly without any great relevance to her otherwise? It’s actually a prelude to the two-parter that closes the collection. Steve Pugh’s tale looks nice, but is even shorter, involving the Justice League.

The four part mystery plays out well to a pleasing solution, but previous continuity plays a greater role in the closer involving Black Mask. Tieri sets up an enmity between Selina and the Sionis family, but this is a weaker story hinging on a continuity implant and a never greatly convincing unmasking. One imagines the surprise was Tieri’s starting point and he plotted around it, but the emotional beats never hit home.

Accept you’re getting a really good title story and the remainder is a bonus, and Run Like Hell provides value.