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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
So, DC's New 52 came out last year, and so I transitioned into the process of becoming a full-time comics reader. One of my monthlies was Catwoman, although, I'm a little surprised I even picked it up and still read it, considering how Guillem March has chosen to draw it. However, it mostly stems out of a desire to read the famous Catwoman, because she still has a powerful draw because she's a fantastic character.
Sidebar: I would indeed drop the current Catwoman if it weren't for the fact that all of the industries producing fictional products (aside from the traditional book publishers, and really that's only happened in the last 5-10 years) seem hell-bent on believing that if people don't like something with a woman as the hero/protagonist/ it's because she's a woman, and guys don't want to consume products with women as the leads. Heaven forbid it's because of the quality (I will say that the writing isn't bad, kudos to Judd Winick).
That aside, I really wanted to read a classic Catwoman tale, and I've heard nothing but good things for Trail of the Catwoman. So, 9 months later, I bought it.
And it was indeed a damn fine piece of story-telling. Even though I could tell that it was playing off some big event piece, I didn't feel lost. Each arc was a solid crime noir mystery. My favorite in particular was the one where the bloodied bodies of streetwalkers were appearing. There was an aspect of Selina Kyle, and really, writing in general, that touched on humanity in a way I haven't seen before. All the rest of the arcs were excellent, I just think I enjoyed that one the most.
I look forward to reading Volume 2, and I hope to see more appearances of Batman.
Sidebar: I would indeed drop the current Catwoman if it weren't for the fact that all of the industries producing fictional products (aside from the traditional book publishers, and really that's only happened in the last 5-10 years) seem hell-bent on believing that if people don't like something with a woman as the hero/protagonist/ it's because she's a woman, and guys don't want to consume products with women as the leads. Heaven forbid it's because of the quality (I will say that the writing isn't bad, kudos to Judd Winick).
That aside, I really wanted to read a classic Catwoman tale, and I've heard nothing but good things for Trail of the Catwoman. So, 9 months later, I bought it.
And it was indeed a damn fine piece of story-telling. Even though I could tell that it was playing off some big event piece, I didn't feel lost. Each arc was a solid crime noir mystery. My favorite in particular was the one where the bloodied bodies of streetwalkers were appearing. There was an aspect of Selina Kyle, and really, writing in general, that touched on humanity in a way I haven't seen before. All the rest of the arcs were excellent, I just think I enjoyed that one the most.
I look forward to reading Volume 2, and I hope to see more appearances of Batman.
A comic about Selina but 2/3 of it not narrated from her point of view? Not here for it.
It was still okay, but I think Ed Brubaker's [b:Catwoman|12680555|Catwoman, Volume 1 Trail of the Catwoman|Ed Brubaker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1329168491l/12680555._SY75_.jpg|17796341] series is way stronger. This could be a good prelude to it though. (Which is why it's a good idea to read things in publication order, especially when you have 2 comics about a character, published in the same year but whatever).
It was still okay, but I think Ed Brubaker's [b:Catwoman|12680555|Catwoman, Volume 1 Trail of the Catwoman|Ed Brubaker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1329168491l/12680555._SY75_.jpg|17796341] series is way stronger. This could be a good prelude to it though. (Which is why it's a good idea to read things in publication order, especially when you have 2 comics about a character, published in the same year but whatever).
Catwoman is a good reminder of how indifferent some groups in comics can be towards consistency in art and writing on a given series. Sometimes you get teams that stay together for years (Sara, Squirrel Girl), but more often you get the patchwork approach of Catwoman.
I bought this book after reading New Frontier, mostly because I wanted more Darwyn Cooke. But only the first arc is actually written by Darwyn Cooke, and the rest shifts straight over to Ed Brubaker.
I have nothing against Ed Brubaker, but he feels like such a safe choice for a crime book of any sort. And after Cooke's story, which is a pretty fun heist, the rest of the volume is just the standard sort of crime tale that anyone whose read Brubaker would probably expect.
And the artwork is all over the place. The issues where Cooke is involved at least have a consistent sort of retro style, but past a certain point it just seems to use whichever artist happened to not be busy at the time.
If the artist who made a series popular is busy, or going slow, I am totally cool with the issue just being delayed. It's fine, there are many comics to read, I'll be fine. Just wait. I get that sometimes publishers lose an artist, but it happens so often that it has to be done for speed at times.
Also, there's a weird issue in the early books that's not a problem I encounter much: the lettering is kind of hard to read. I'm not a fan of weird fonts in general when it comes to lettering, but the style in the first few issues actually gave me a headache trying to get through.
Catwoman is a fun character in this solo series, it would just be nice if there was greater consistency.
I bought this book after reading New Frontier, mostly because I wanted more Darwyn Cooke. But only the first arc is actually written by Darwyn Cooke, and the rest shifts straight over to Ed Brubaker.
I have nothing against Ed Brubaker, but he feels like such a safe choice for a crime book of any sort. And after Cooke's story, which is a pretty fun heist, the rest of the volume is just the standard sort of crime tale that anyone whose read Brubaker would probably expect.
And the artwork is all over the place. The issues where Cooke is involved at least have a consistent sort of retro style, but past a certain point it just seems to use whichever artist happened to not be busy at the time.
If the artist who made a series popular is busy, or going slow, I am totally cool with the issue just being delayed. It's fine, there are many comics to read, I'll be fine. Just wait. I get that sometimes publishers lose an artist, but it happens so often that it has to be done for speed at times.
Also, there's a weird issue in the early books that's not a problem I encounter much: the lettering is kind of hard to read. I'm not a fan of weird fonts in general when it comes to lettering, but the style in the first few issues actually gave me a headache trying to get through.
Catwoman is a fun character in this solo series, it would just be nice if there was greater consistency.
Catwoman Volume one: Trail of the Catwoman is a 2012 DC Comics publication. (Originally published in 2008)
Because I named my new kitten, Selina, after Catwoman, it was only fitting that I catch up on a few Catwoman comics for fun. There are SO many to choose from, I had a hard time deciding where to begin. This one was on Hoopla and it seemed to be well received- so I thought this might be a good place to dive in.
This volume is hefty. Selina’s Big score, plus detective comics 759-762 = Three hundred + pages.
Why I am drawn to the Catwoman character is her complexity. She’s got a painful past, has not always walked on good side of the law, but is a character who wants to be a good person-at least in this volume of stories.
In this collection, Selina has faked her own death. She returns to Gotham City, has a little bit of a makeover, and then begins doing some detective work, hoping to find a serial killer targeting sex -workers.
The action takes place in the East End where the people need an equalizer of Catwoman’s caliber.
The first part of the novel is part heist, part noir, and sets the stage Selina/Catwoman’s new outlook on life.
I enjoyed the graphics, dialogue and stories included in this collection. I have even more angles of Catwoman to ponder on and found this volume to be entertaining and a nice diversion for me. Now on to Volume 2.
Because I named my new kitten, Selina, after Catwoman, it was only fitting that I catch up on a few Catwoman comics for fun. There are SO many to choose from, I had a hard time deciding where to begin. This one was on Hoopla and it seemed to be well received- so I thought this might be a good place to dive in.
This volume is hefty. Selina’s Big score, plus detective comics 759-762 = Three hundred + pages.
Why I am drawn to the Catwoman character is her complexity. She’s got a painful past, has not always walked on good side of the law, but is a character who wants to be a good person-at least in this volume of stories.
In this collection, Selina has faked her own death. She returns to Gotham City, has a little bit of a makeover, and then begins doing some detective work, hoping to find a serial killer targeting sex -workers.
The action takes place in the East End where the people need an equalizer of Catwoman’s caliber.
The first part of the novel is part heist, part noir, and sets the stage Selina/Catwoman’s new outlook on life.
I enjoyed the graphics, dialogue and stories included in this collection. I have even more angles of Catwoman to ponder on and found this volume to be entertaining and a nice diversion for me. Now on to Volume 2.
This is an excellent noir version of the catwoman story by writer Ed Brubaker and the later great artist Darwyn Cooke. Catwoman is opposed to Batman in that he sees right and wrong while Selina sees the shades of grey. The book also deals with carving your identity apart from your past. And
The conflict between moral responsibility to individual, yourself or larger society. Not up to Brubaker’s best work in the Criminal series. But Cooke’s graphics give the enterprise a stylish retro, cinematic look that adds different textures from the standard crime noir fair.
The conflict between moral responsibility to individual, yourself or larger society. Not up to Brubaker’s best work in the Criminal series. But Cooke’s graphics give the enterprise a stylish retro, cinematic look that adds different textures from the standard crime noir fair.
Mostly liked the art and noir mood but it was stupid how much random male narrators dominated the first half of the book. Like let catwoman be her own heroine cmon
This is my first time reading a Catwoman comic and I really enjoyed it. I was surprisingly really into the big score. We see that right at the beginning of this volume. Selina plans a heist with some people from her past involved. I enjoyed it a lot. I like seeing the mafia crime element of Gotham. It's interesting to follow.
The saga of Slam Bradley was way more enticing and intriguing than I feel like it should have been. I was reading it after complaining about how much the info before focused on Stark's perspective instead of Selina but I'm glad they included Slam Bradley.
When the story gets to Selina taking on crime in Gotham and helping the people the cops won't. I loved every minute of it. Selina goes through some self-discovery and finds what she needs to do to move forward. I love the new Catwoman suit. Love all the action sequences and the way they are drawn. I was all about this. Can't wait to read more.
The saga of Slam Bradley was way more enticing and intriguing than I feel like it should have been. I was reading it after complaining about how much the info before focused on Stark's perspective instead of Selina but I'm glad they included Slam Bradley.
When the story gets to Selina taking on crime in Gotham and helping the people the cops won't. I loved every minute of it. Selina goes through some self-discovery and finds what she needs to do to move forward. I love the new Catwoman suit. Love all the action sequences and the way they are drawn. I was all about this. Can't wait to read more.
I adored this completely. This is the Catwoman I've always wanted: one focused on protecting her friends and community, one who fights on the side of the angels who'd condemn her for not doing things their way, who'll tell Batman off, who has her own life, wearing a costume that's more functional than titillating, drawn in a way that emphasises wiry dexterity without giving her a rubber spine.
The first arc in this volume, "Selina's Big Score," is written and drawn by Darwyn Cook, and reads as the catalyst for everything described above. But the narrative really sparks when Ed Brubaker starts writing it, and giving other characters' perspective on Selina. Holly, in particular, is one of my favourites, and her relationships with all the other cast members are gold.
Seriously, this blew me away, and I can't recommend it and the second volume enough.
The first arc in this volume, "Selina's Big Score," is written and drawn by Darwyn Cook, and reads as the catalyst for everything described above. But the narrative really sparks when Ed Brubaker starts writing it, and giving other characters' perspective on Selina. Holly, in particular, is one of my favourites, and her relationships with all the other cast members are gold.
Seriously, this blew me away, and I can't recommend it and the second volume enough.
The first part didn't quite grab me, but when the book got going it got good, so four stars. By this I mean that I liked the intro with Selina and the plan getting set in motion, but then...Stark happened. He was just a big cliché. I mean, he could have worked if there had been some character development, but in this story there was none to be had for him. That made be think the flashbacks to him "saving" Selina was a quick reference to backstory established in some earlier comic where Catwoman's made an appearance.
But nope. This is the introduction of Stark and also his final bow. We're supposed to believe that Selina and him have this long, complicated relationship, but the flashbacks we get of them are vague and don't really show why they interact. I mean, why did Stark take an interest in Selina? Because she was hot? Because she'd been keeping her friends safe? What?! Had he been stalking her? Had he heard of her more than in passing? Flashback tells us nothing. He just shows up and starts talking about dignity without having any previous connection to Selina and bam, she goes with him and they get together.
...yeah. Why did Selina need some random dude to show up and say one word to make her turn her life around anyways? I much prefer the version where she slowly comes to terms with what she wants and doesn't want her life to be while learning martial arts. That has some build-up and it isn't just "hey girl, you need this man to show up and explain you a thing". Stark could have been done well and they could have worked as lovers, if there had been some basis for it. But the reader gets to know nothing about his motivations or Selina's for that matter, thus their relationship is just sort of stated more than told. We're just supposed to accept it as fact.
Maybe I need to read "Batman: Ego and Other Tails" to get Stark, but since that came out 5 years after his introduction, it's a little late.
And speaking of men who end up caring for Selina based on vague vagueness, what's up with Slam Bradley? They built up the tension for how Selina "turned him" to her side so well and then it ended in nothing. She basically just goes "could you not tell anyone I'm alive?" and he goes "sure". There is some mumbled exposition about how he for some reason comes to care for her during his investigation, but he never outright states why. We're just supposed to understand, somehow.
Well, I don't. Has Catwoman got secret mind control powers? Has she been crossed with Poison Ivy? I just don't know.
But other than that, I enjoyed this story once we got past the "here are some characters and they do things for reasons we won't bother to really explain to you". Slam Bradley is an interesting character once his introduction is over and done with, I loved all the scenes with Batman, I loved Selina's soul searching and finding a way to enjoy life again and I liked Holly (because she both has a long history with Selina, has a real good reason to trust and be loyal to Selina and gets backstory and relations outside of Selina, huzzah for that!)
All in all, worth a read.
But nope. This is the introduction of Stark and also his final bow. We're supposed to believe that Selina and him have this long, complicated relationship, but the flashbacks we get of them are vague and don't really show why they interact. I mean, why did Stark take an interest in Selina? Because she was hot? Because she'd been keeping her friends safe? What?! Had he been stalking her? Had he heard of her more than in passing? Flashback tells us nothing. He just shows up and starts talking about dignity without having any previous connection to Selina and bam, she goes with him and they get together.
...yeah. Why did Selina need some random dude to show up and say one word to make her turn her life around anyways? I much prefer the version where she slowly comes to terms with what she wants and doesn't want her life to be while learning martial arts. That has some build-up and it isn't just "hey girl, you need this man to show up and explain you a thing". Stark could have been done well and they could have worked as lovers, if there had been some basis for it. But the reader gets to know nothing about his motivations or Selina's for that matter, thus their relationship is just sort of stated more than told. We're just supposed to accept it as fact.
Maybe I need to read "Batman: Ego and Other Tails" to get Stark, but since that came out 5 years after his introduction, it's a little late.
And speaking of men who end up caring for Selina based on vague vagueness, what's up with Slam Bradley? They built up the tension for how Selina "turned him" to her side so well and then it ended in nothing. She basically just goes "could you not tell anyone I'm alive?" and he goes "sure". There is some mumbled exposition about how he for some reason comes to care for her during his investigation, but he never outright states why. We're just supposed to understand, somehow.
Well, I don't. Has Catwoman got secret mind control powers? Has she been crossed with Poison Ivy? I just don't know.
But other than that, I enjoyed this story once we got past the "here are some characters and they do things for reasons we won't bother to really explain to you". Slam Bradley is an interesting character once his introduction is over and done with, I loved all the scenes with Batman, I loved Selina's soul searching and finding a way to enjoy life again and I liked Holly (because she both has a long history with Selina, has a real good reason to trust and be loyal to Selina and gets backstory and relations outside of Selina, huzzah for that!)
All in all, worth a read.