With every issue of Secret Six that comes out, I'm reminded of why it's my favorite book that DC Comics is publishing. Gail Simone delivers such twisted, humorous and compelling consistency with the tone and characters that it leaves you pining for more. It seems like at the end of every story arc in Secret Six I'm fingering through my long boxes digging out my well-traversed copies of Villains United and the 2006 Secret Six mini-series just to whet my appetite until the next issue.
Secret Six #22 wraps up the "Cats in the Cradle" storyline, which focused (obviously) primarily on Catman and his quest for revenge against those that murdered his infant son. It's a well known fact that Simone has not only brought Catman out of obscurity, but also made him one of the most renowned badasses in the entire DCU. In the last two issues of Secret Six, she's built up some semblance of a secret origin for Catman, taking us back to his tragic, abusive childhood and showcasing some truly grotesque moments that can only be taken with a grimace. It plays into Catman's character perfectly and underscores his newfound intensity of recent years.
The beauty of Simone's writing isn't just in clever one-liners and and awesome displays of macho feats; she's a pro at creating a certain aura around a character through the actions and dialog of other characters. It seems like a relatively simply idea, but seeing Catman's reputation precede him in issue #22 adds a depth to his character that will surely stick for years.
For all of the intensity of issue #22 and "Cats in the Cradle" in general, Simone never loses the sense of fun or immorality that has been coupled with this series since its debut. I recall at New York Comic-Con a few years ago, before issue #1 came out, Simone had called it "ballsiest" book at DC, and I'd say that has proved true and then some. Secret Six is the last stop for a superhero book before it's too graphic to be a part of the main DCU and has to be moved to Vertigo or WildStorm, and issue #22 feels like a new boundary has been drawn for how far a DCU book can go. It's a testament to Simone's writing that she can walk that fine line so well and add a new level to the DCU's library.
Secret Six #22 is one of the most brutal issues of the series yet, but it remains every bit as entertaining as issue #1 was, if not more so. With the conclusion of "Cats in the Cradle", there is little doubt in my mind that this is the book Gail Simone was born to write.
