Graphic Novel Reviews: Justice League of America 004

The Story
The JLA tracks down Catwoman and the Secret Society's location and break in. Meanwhile Catwoman breaks free from her restraints but is recaptured. The leader of the society, a very Joker-esque looking fellow, puts a gun to her head and shoots her. In the backup Martian Manhunter remembers the event that lead to the death of his whole people.

The Review
It's been said before, but it needs to be said again. If you're a fan of Catwoman you need to be reading this book. I won't say this is the best she's ever been written, but considering her own series right now I will say it's the best she's been written in a long time. Though I do find that her constantly name-dropping Batman is a bit odd. It's almost like the readers need to be reminded that she was a supporting character of Batman's. Which I suppose works for new readers, but for literally everyone else we don't particularly need the reminder. Though I did enjoy seeing how in this issue trying to use Batman's name backfired on her.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Li'l Gotham 002

The Story

In the first story Batman and Nightwing stop Mr Freeze from kidnapping a children's choir. In the second story Catwoman vows to turn over a new leaf for the new year. But a surprise visit from Harley and Ivy test her resolution.

The Review
The first thing that strikes me about this print version of the digital first Li'l Gotham is how well the pages are put together. In the digital release half a page of the printed edition is a full page in the digital chapters. I was afraid it wouldn't go well together when put into a full page, that there would be a clear line through the middle of each page. Fortunately the folks at DC are in fact professional picture people and know how to make this book look good.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Catwoman 020

Warning: The reviewer was driven momentarily insane by the contents of this book. What follows is the sum of all his vitriol. Take it with a grain of salt, since he has some bias of his own, but yes, the book was just about that bad.

The Story
I'm not even going to try to and summarize what happens in this book. Does it fit in with what is happening in Justice League of America? Absolutely not, but why bother complaining about it, clearly nobody actually creating these books cares about continuity.

The Review
I've been hanging onto this series for a while. At first it was because I wanted to have all the issues. I was waiting for things to get better. But clearly that's not going to happen. Instead we'll continue to get this mess of terrible characterization, awful continuity, shoddy art work, and just plain worthlessness. I was hoping that things would get better. I continued to review this series because bad reviews are entertaining. But enough is enough. This is the book that caused me to drop this series. It's not worth my money, and the reviews for this series just don't get enough views to make it worth the three bucks I spend on this series. Apparently Justice League of America is the only series I can count on for characterization of Catwoman that isn't awful. And if what I've been hearing about the future of that series is true then I'm going to be sorely tempted to drop it too.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Justice League of America 003

The Plot

The JLA fight against the robot duplicates of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Vibe is able to disable the machines with his vibrations. Later it is decided that Catwoman will infiltrate the secret society by making a lot of noise about knowing about their existence, with the hope that they will come to her. Their hopes are answered as Catwoman is accosted by two members of the society and kidnapped.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Catwoman 019

The Story
Catwoman is inserted into Arkham Asylum to go undercover with the society. Once there she breaks out, threatens Dr. Arkham, and sneaks into an underground of some kind.

The Review
Back when the New 52 was young, there were a lot of complaints about the Catwoman title. Be it from the gratuitous costumed sex between her and Batman, to the ludicrously sexualized covers. And for good reason, because Catwoman is one of my favorite characters, I hate seeing her reduced to mere sexualization in a leather outfit. But you know what, I would prefer one of those terrible, not sexy at all, covers over this one. Just...what is wrong with her face!? That is without the worst expression I have ever seen a character make on a comic book cover. Is that supposed to be her angry face? I had no idea Selina was related to Cletus the Slack Jawed Yokel.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Batgirl Annual 1

The Story

Catwoman is hired to rescue the Talon that was captured during the events shown in Batgirl during the Night of Owls. Batgirl tracks Catwoman and the escaped Talon down, which leads all three to the member of the Court that hired Catwoman in the first place. When he double crosses Catwoman, she sides with Batgirl, against him. They, and eventually the Talon, fight the other remaining Talons, and just barely manage to win.

In the end the police surround the place, and rather than letting the police capture the Talon, Catwoman gives herself up, earning at least some respect from Batgirl.

The Review
I've said it before, I really like Catwoman. So any chance to read her is good, unless the story turns out to be lousy. Which in this case it does not, fortunately. I won't call it essential reading, because while it does cover events leading from the Court of Owls, nothing in this book is essential beyond just being a standalone story. It's entertaining enough, but without any gravity to the events I can't see it as more than an entertaining bit of fluff.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Justice League of America 002

The Story

The team is introduced to each other, and after being introduced publicly to the United States, they go on their first mission where they meet the Justice League impostors.

The Review
The first draft of this review was quite quite embarrassing. I had somewhat of a strong emotional reaction to certain...shall we say shenanigans...in this issue. Fortunately this is one of those rare cases where waiting a week to write the review served me well. Now I can calmly mention that I take issue with certain elements of this book, without coming across as a lunatic.

So what caused me to engage in fanboy rage? Well, let's just say that when I started reading this book I was worried we were going to get more of the kind of pointless romantic/sexual tension that far too many team books engage in. What worried me more is that one of my favorite characters, Catwoman, was now in the line of fire for such shenanigans.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Catwoman 018

The Story

Batman confronts Catwoman about the stolen paintings, which he apparently cares about. No reason why he should though. Selina steals them back at the end of the book. In the middle there's some stuff about sneaking into the police headquarters.

The Review
Confession time, I'm very invested in Batman and Catwoman's relationship. I dislike shipping, but sometimes I can't help myself, and I've liked these characters for quite some time. So any chance to have them actually interact is a lot of fun. But is it just me, or does it feel like Nocenti has been told, "You have to write Batman and Catwoman as a fated romance" but she doesn't actually believe in it? How else could we get clumsy moments like Trip commenting on how Catwoman has Batman, and doesn't need him (by the way, there goes by "Trip is Batman" theory)?

Graphic Novel Reviews: Justice League of America 001

The Story

Steve Trevor and Amanda Palmer decide that if the Justice League were ever to go rogue, the United States would need their own team specifically to counteract the Justice League. So they gather of group of heroes and not-quite-heroes to act as counterparts for certain members of the Justice League.

For Superman they have the Martian Manhunter; for Batman, Catwoman; for Wonder Woman, Katana; for Hal Jordan, Simon Baz; for Flash, Vibe; for Cyborg, Stargirl; for Aquaman, Hawkman.

While they are gathering those characters who have not yet had the invitation extended to them, Green Arrow is on the run from what looks to be the Justice League.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Catwoman 014-017

The Story
First, Catwoman is tormented by the Joker. He tries to use her to mess with Batman, in a variety of ways. But ultimately she turns him down, chases him off, and for some reason he lets her be after that.

Issues fifteen and sixteen involve Catwoman stealing a black diamond from A.R.G.U.S and unleashing a cacophony of magic and madness. Selina becomes possessed by the diamond, and only barely is able to fight off the demonic magic locked in the room.

Issue seventeen sees us back to the usual format for Catwoman, Selina breaks up a drug deal that has children involved. She and her partner go to steal some paintings, but the police start to get involved.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Catwoman 013

The Story

Catwoman is hired to move a giant chess piece to a designated location. After completing her job she realizes that a woman is trapped inside the chess piece, and that another piece, a pawn, has a child in it and is about to be sacrificed. She manages to save the child, but the woman in the Queen dies in the explosion.

The Review
I've been pretty positive about Catwoman overall, with the exception of the first issue and issue zero. But this...well this was just incomprehensible. The first half is understandable at least, but the moment the chess pieces come into play I lost the thread. Coming back to the story a second time allows it to make a little more sense, but my initial impression remains very confused.

First of all...giant chess pieces? Really? I don't even have any specific complaint about this, it's just so nonsensical. And the fact that it is so nonsensical damages the entire rest of the plot. I forget about everything that happens the moment I reach that end.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Catwoman 0

The Story

After being caught stealing, a young Selina Kyle is offered a job in the Mayor's office as part of a program to help street children. While searching through her file in the data base she finds that Selina Kyle is an alias, along with a different name, written in Russian. The man who gave her the position finds out she searched her file, and tries to get her to forget about it. When she refuses he pushes her off the building. Somehow she comes back to life and tries to track down information on her would be killer, only to discover that she was never in the database.

The Review
You know what annoys me more than the fact that New 52 Catwoman's backstory is a variation on both movie versions, it's the fact that this issue introduces a mystery that we have no idea when it will be resolved. It's the fact that suddenly she has super powers. Or at least that's what we're meant to assume? And the mysterious past is probably linked to those powers.

Editorials: The DC Valentine Special

Ah, love, the thing I despise most in all the world. And never am I more the Grinch than upon St Valentine's feast. So imagine my confusion, when confronted with the thing I hate most and the thing I love most. That's right, this February DC will be publishing a Valentine's special (possibly as part of their nefarious Superman/Wonder Woman push), and Batman will be involved. Better yet, Catwoman will be sharing his story, as DC finally acknowledges the pairing after a good year or so. Though, I am amused by the synopsis for their story:

Following the events of “Death in the Family,” how can Catwoman ease Batman’s troubled soul? 

I'm going to say, yes, yes she can. And it's probably going to look something like the end of Catwoman 001. 

Still, I'm not one to look a pairing gift horse in the mouth, even if that horse wants me to put $7.99 in there first. 

Take a look at the summaries, and let me know if there's anything you're excited for or disappointed about..

Graphic Novel Reviews: Catwoman 012

The Story

After Dollhouse escapes, Catwoman finds Alvarez's cellphone, with a GPS tracking device on him. She has Spark vandalize the bat-signal to get Batman's attention, and leave a cellphone behind for him.

She then tracks down Dollhouse, and tries to fight her, but is hit with tranquilizer darts. Batman, who tracked her phone, crashes his car into the house. Dollhouse escapes, and so does Catwoman, leaving Batman and Alvarez to deal with the victims.

Later, Spark is confronted by Gwen about working for the police. He tries to convince her he isn't really working for them, but she shoots him. She then calls the Penguin, revealing that he was the one who tipped her off.

News: Injustice - Gods Among Us - Catwoman Trailer

I post this trailer for two reasons. Two reasons that have me more interested in this game than I'd been.

First: Grey DeLisle reprises the role of Catwoman. In recent years Grey has become one of my favorite voice actresses around, and she's a strong contender on my Sexiest Voices list (yes I have a list like that, no you don't get to see it). So as far as I'm concerned it's a good match.

Second: They actually seem to be treating her with dignity. By which I mean her top is zipped up. I'm a big fan of the character, but it's really hard to explain that considering how she's been portrayed in almost everything she shows up in. A cleavage'd catsuit is hardly practical, and no matter how often her outfit becomes more and more practical, artists always seem to negate that by opening her top to her belly button and then taking away the zipper. So I'm glad to see a version of her, along with Anne Hathaway's portrayal, that isn't overly sexualized.

If I have one bad thing to say about this trailer, it's that they're still giving her those awful cat puns. Please. Just stop.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Catwoman 011

The Story

Catwoman meets with Detective Alvarez and manages to recruit him to help her find out who has been taking people off the streets. In the meanwhile Dollhouse is behind quota supplying organs, and one of his victims has killed himself.

Catwoman, Spark, and Alvarez set up surveilance in several locations Alvarez determined were potential target areas. They each find a target, but find that Dollhouse sent out decoys, while he hit the area Alvarez was in. He (or she, it's not quite clear) uses a chain fed tranquilizer gun to knock out a heap of people, including Alvarez. She makes off with them, as well as the detective, leaving Catwoman to find the aftermath of the attack.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Catwoman 010

The Story

Catwoman attacks Dollhouse, who just picked up another hooker. He goes after her with an assault rifle, and it's only thanks to Spark's intervention that she is able to get out alive. She tries to go back, revealing that she was "taken" in the past, but no one came to save her. Spark kisses her, to stop her from heading back.

The kidnapped prostitute wakes up in a closed off ward of what looks like some kind of underground hospital. Dollhouse talks to him, saying  how he just wants to help, that he's providing food, a place to wash the drugs out of the system. Dollhouse gets off the PA, and reveals that he's been harvesting organs from his rehabilitated prositutes, and has been keeping their bodies, posing them as dolls.

Catwoman meets Detective Alvarez, having heard that he was looking for her. Meanwhile, Spark reveals himself to be working for the crooked police officers who Catwoman stole the money from.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Catwoman Issue 009

The Story
While staking out the Penguin Catwoman and whatshisface witness a Talon attack. The Talon, who is the original owner of the knife Catwoman is trying to steal, holds off on his attack once he notices the knife. Catwoman is able to promise to get the rest of the set to him, just as the Penguin shoots the Talon in the face.

With the Talon dead, Catwoman leaves his body by the batsignal, which she turns on to alert Batman to the presence of the corpse.

The Review
I'm going to assume that the batsignal being fixed is something that happened in another issue of the Court of the Owls event. I am also going to assume that this issue of Catwoman took place later on in the story. I'm sure it's not a case of writers not talking to each other.

It's hard to comment on the individual issues in the Court of Owls event. Mostly because most of them are one shot stories involving the characters fighting Talons. Entertaining enough, but not exactly substantial. For a one-off story I have to admit that this might be the story I enjoyed most. The main reason for this was because I really connected with the Talon in this story. He just wanted his knives back, I can relate to that.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Catwoman 008

Catwoman and Spark break into the home of a collector of antique weapons. They realize that the set of daggers they were going after is missing the fifth dagger. They determine that the Penguin has the fifth dagger, and they'll need to steal it from him. While staking out the Penguin, they come across a prostitute being abducted. They save the woman, and later learn from her and two of her friends that prostitutes have been going missing all over the city. Catwoman and Spark continue forward with their plan to steal the dagger.

If there's one thing you can count on Catwoman for, it's that there will be more shameless fanservice than an Oh!Great manga. Though Catwoman has the considerable advantage that the book doesn't make me want to punch the country of Japan. So I think I can live with the plot required swimsuit and cleavage shots, safe in the knowledge that it could be so, so much worse.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Catwoman 001-007

Yes, yes, we've all heard it. Catwoman has costumed, angry sex with Batman at the end of the first issue. I'd rather Judd Winick had not decided to start off the new series like that, since I was quite a fan of Batman and Catwoman's relationship before the reboot. Seeing the two of them having sex when all their past history has been erased just doesn't sit well with me. It's sensationalism, and it certainly drew attention to the book. So, job well done I guess? Unless of course you wanted to see Batman and Catwoman bumping uglies. So...all of the internet then?