Spinning out of Tom King’s Batman, specifically #50, the wedding issue, is this new Catwoman series - and, if she’s going solo now, you can probably guess how well the wedding went!
Joelle Jones, the artist of some of King’s best Batman issues, writes and draws this new run, which I was initially pleased about as Jones is a very capable writer (I highly recommend her excellent Dark Horse series Lady Killer) and an always fantastic artist. Unfortunately though, while a good-looking book, this first Catwoman volume is no great shakes.
Selina’s fled to Villa Hermosa (Gotham Lite) to lick her emotional wounds but trouble has a way of finding her as she becomes involved in the ruling family’s bits and bobs and is soon fighting gangsters, etc.
No part of the contrived setup works. To get Selina’s attention, the baddies have numerous women dress up as Catwoman which just seems absurdly complicated and was done purely for the subtitle “Copycats”. Pointless too as the copycats are only used once, briefly. Selina’s not really interested in doing anything but gamble, drink, and mope about but the villains decide to make it their business to poke the sleeping cat until she does get involved in stopping them - again, for no reason other than to give the character something to do!
It’s not like Selina’s ever in any real trouble. Whatever the obstacle, she easily overcomes it. She has no stake in anything that’s going on - does she really shiv a git about this town she’s just moved into?? - and she doesn’t seem to have anything to gain from fighting anyone. I guess to clear her name of the “copycat” crimes but it’s not like the cops come close to catching her anyway. Her catatonic sister Maggie is safe for the most part.
There’s just not much of a story and not much point to anything - it’s all so very dull and unimaginative. The villain is a one-dimensionally evil cartoon as ugly on the inside as she is on the outside. Ho hum. And if you’re wondering how Selina’s coping with the aftermath of the wedding, she’s sad in a few scenes - and that’s it. Real insightful stuff!
Like I said, Jones always brings it with the art and Selina’s never looked better than in her hands. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the villain who looks wonderfully grotesque. I wondered why I was being reminded of Mike Allred’s art and checked to credits to see his wife Laura was the colourist on this book, lending her poppy style to Jones’ art - certainly no bad thing as I love Mike Allred’s art!
Catwoman is a tough character to make interesting as she’s just one of many DC characters who work better in a supporting role. It’s no different with Catwoman, Volume 1: Copycats which is all over the place and never once anywhere remotely compelling.
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