Catwoman #48

Issue Details

Synopsis

THE ONE YOU LOVE PART 5 Hugo Strange is holding a meeting with Angle Man, Captain Cold, Hammer and Sickle, and "Mr. Bailey". Their hold on the East End is secure. Other villains have tried to nose in on their territory, but none have been successful. Strange notes that they're missing a few members.   Cheetah is currently chained to a lamppost, kicking out at the police officers trying to arrest her. Detective Carl Worth and Detective Jim Lenahan find Batman's card, and they know Commissioner Akins isn't going to be happy that Batman is in the East End. They leave to meet Sam Bradley for his report.  Professor Strange, Captain Cold, Angle Man, and Hammer and Sickle wonder what happened to Catwoman, causing Smart Bomb to panic. Catwoman will recognize Sam Bradley.   Catwoman meets Batman in the Batcave. He is worried. The East End is a war zone now, and whichever side she's on now, Catwoman has allied herself with dangerous people. He profiles her new allies for her, and when he's done, Catwoman says that's the most she's heard him say since... Well, ever. She reminds him that ever since what happened to Stephanie, Batman has handled Gotham on his own, leaving the East End to Catwoman. She couldn't turn to him when things got bad, and the police were out of the question.   Lenahan and Worth wait for Smart Bomb on a roof. Sam gives them a short report about how Strange is keeping them the only baddies in the East End. He is trying to save as many people as he can, but Lenahan tells him not to strain himself. Some of these people they'd be better off without. Sam leaves after reminding Lenahan just how heavily armed the Smart Bomb armor is.   Back in the Batcave, Bruce tells Selina that he doesn't think her plan (whatever it is) will work. Selina is a world-class fighter, one of the smartest people he's ever met, resourceful, brave, and tougher than hell... but that won't be enough. It's her against all of them. It will only take one well-timed shot to kill her. Which is why she has to make them too scared to even try.   Selina isn't convinced. She isn't Bruce, and she doesn't have Batman's ability to make his opponents terrified. But she is going to stop them now, so if he'll sit down, she'll tell Bruce what she has in mind.   Smart Bomb lands on a roof to find Angle Man lying in wait for him. Angle Man doubts that "Bailey" is Smart Bomb's real name, to which he replies, "I could say the same thing about you... Angelo Bend." Angle Man wants to know why he was meeting cops on another rooftop, and Smart Bomb tells him cops want to make a buck as much as anyone else.   Batman drops Catwoman off in the East End. Catwoman muses on Bruce's uniquely driven and brooding personality, and she thinks that's why he admired her plan. She sees Smart Bomb again, but she continues on her way to meet the man from last issue. She tells him that she's putting a lot of trust in him, but if this plan works, neither she nor Batman will bother him again.   Angle Man is nearby, listening into their conversation.   Catwoman goes to Holly and Karon's apartment where she wakes up Holly and tells her they need to talk. Holly calls her out for their argument, and Catwoman assures her that she's going to take out the supervillains in the East End soon. And no matter how bad things look, she doesn't want Holly to worry. Holly says she won't, and Catwoman leaves.   She immediately runs into Angle Man, who was spying on her conversation with Holly too. Catwoman doubts that anyone will believe him if he goes to their group with what he's seen, but he recorded her conversations. Catwoman is shocked. Angle Man goes off on how little respect he receives from the others. He pulls out a gun, and Catwoman says he doesn't have the guts... Except he does, and she narrowly dodges the gunshot. He shoots again, and this time he shoots her in the abdomen.   Strange, Captain Cold, Smart Bomb, and Hammer and Sickle arrive on the scene and demand to know what Angle Man is doing. He plays the recording for them, and Strange asks him to please continue. He drives one of his angles into her forehead, apparently killing her.   Smart Bomb is shocked, but Strange tells him this is common in their line of work. He should consider it an occupational hazard.