The trade paperback for Justice League: Cheetah & Cheshire Rob the Watchtower drops this week and is easily our most anticipated trade paperback (MATP) of week 21. If you loved the single issues, this is the perfect excuse to read them all over again. Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott bring that same brilliant Wonder Woman energy to a massive cosmic heist. It’s fast, incredibly smart, and bypasses all the usual predictable tropes to show a totally different side of the DC universe.
A Tragic Motive for a Cosmic Safe Crack
The premise hooks you right away. Cheetah convinces Cheshire to help her break into the Justice League’s orbital Watchtower. The target? The Power Bank: a controversial vault built after the chaotic Absolute Power event to back up all the heroes’ abilities. Cheetah wants to use the device to control the feral god trapped inside her body, which gives the entire mission a heavy emotional anchor. Rucka gives her the tragic depth from his classic Wonder Woman runs while turning Cheshire into a sharp, playful partner who commands the room. The whole operation kicks off at a safehouse near Casablanca, Morocco, immediately establishing a sleek espionage vibe.
To pull off a job this insane, they assemble a fantastic, bizarre crew of rogues that readers will love watching interact. The lineup features the probability-altering Hazard, the magical chaos of Klarion the Witch Boy alongside his familiar Teekl, and Featherweight, a massive powerhouse who surprisingly loves felines. Cheshire’s daughter, Lian Harper, is also in the mix, alongside a stellar, unexpected appearance by the dimension-hopping teenager Sideways. By the time the heist actually starts, you’ll be totally hooked, rooting for this messy crew of villains to somehow pull off the impossible.
Nicola Scott’s Visual Masterclass
While Rucka’s script is incredibly sharp, Nicola Scott is the absolute heartbeat of this book. Her pencils elevate the entire story, giving every rogue a distinct silhouette, unique posture, and highly expressive body language. You can feel the coiled anguish in Cheetah’s shoulders, just as much as the slight danger and cat-like playfulness of Cheshire’s smirks. Scott effortlessly balances intimate character acting with jaw-dropping blockbuster scale, turning quiet moments into a masterclass in pacing where facial expressions make the dialogue almost optional.
When the heist kicks into high gear, Scott seamlessly pivots to massive cosmic set pieces, including a stunning, weightless zero-gravity sequence in orbit, and an entire catalog of Justice League members. Annette Kwok’s colors work in perfect harmony with this linework, shifting from the warm earth tones of Morocco to the sterile, high-tech blues and alarming reds of the Watchtower. Letterer Troy Peteri rounds out the stellar visual presentation, giving Sideways punchy, kinetic sound effects that practically burst off the screen. Frankly, it is one of the most gorgeous books you will look at all year.
Justice League: Cheetah & Cheshire Rob the Watchtower TP (Get the Trade)
Honorary Mentions for Week 21
While Justice League: Cheetah & Cheshire Rob the Watchtower TP is the main event, these other books are definitely worth a slot on your digital shelf:
Marvel Zombies: Red Band – Death Story TP (Get the Trade): If you like your superhero horror completely unrated and drenched in gore, this volume pushes Marvel’s undead lore to its absolute limits. It’s a brutal, action-heavy ride specifically designed for mature readers who want to see these icons fully unleashed.
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra – Chaos Agent TP (Get the Trade): Everyone’s favorite rogue archaeologist is back to causing absolute havoc across the galaxy while hunting ancient secrets. This is a fast-paced, witty sci-fi adventure that shows exactly why Aphra remains one of the best modern additions to the Star Wars mythos.
DC Finest: Sgt. Rock – The Rock of Easy Co. TP (Get the Trade): This massive collection brings together the legendary, gritty World War II adventures of Sgt. Frank Rock and Easy Company. It is an essential piece of comic history and the perfect entry point into the classic war stories that defined an entire era for DC.
