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Catwoman (2011)
Catwoman, Volume 3: Death of the Family
Writer Ann Nocenti begins her run with the feline fatale! Catwoman must stay one step of The Joker ahead as he terrorizes Batman and his allies during 'Death of the Family.' Then, Catwoman is hired to steal the Black Diamond-the source of Eclipso's power!
Collecting: Catwoman #0, 13-18 and a story from Young Romance #1.
Collecting: Catwoman #0, 13-18 and a story from Young Romance #1.
176 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2013
22 people are currently reading
384 people want to read
About the author
Ann Nocenti
733 books115 followersAnn Nocenti is most noted as an editor for Marvel Comics, for whom she edited New Mutants and The Uncanny X-Men. She made her comics writing debut on a brief run of Spider-Woman (#47-50) and subsequently wrote a long run of Daredevil (1st series) #236-291 (minus #237) from 1986 to 1991, directly following on from Frank Miller's definitive Born Again storyline. She also wrote the 1986 Longshot limited series for Marvel, and in the same year produced the Someplace Strange graphic novel in collaboration with artist John Bolton. She wrote "the Inhumans Graphic Novel" in 1988. In 1993, she wrote the 16-issue run of Kid Eternity for the DC Comics imprint Vertigo.
In Incredible Hulk #291, published in September 1983 (cover date January 1984), Ann Nocenti made a cameo appearance, talking to Dr. Bruce Banner, in a history written by Bill Mantlo, drawn by Sal Buscema and inked by Carlos Garzón and Joe Sinnot. That time Ann Nocenti was Assistant Editor for Larry Hama on Incredible Hulk and X-Men.
She is noted for her left-wing political views which, particularly during her run on Daredevil, caused some controversy among some fans who didn't agree with her politics.
She created several popular characters, including Typhoid Mary, Blackheart, Longshot and Mojo, and wrote the 1998 X-Men novel Prisoner X.
Although Nocenti left comic books in the '90s after the industry sales collapsed, she later returned to the field, penning stories such as 2004's Batman & Poison Ivy: Cast Shadows.
In Ultimate X-Men, a reimagination of the X-Men comic, the character Longshot, who was invented by her, has the civil name Arthur Centino. His last name, Centino, is an anagram of Nocenti and a homage to Nocenti. The name Arthur is for the co-creator of Longshot Arthur Adams who was Ann Nocenti's artist on the Longshot Mini Series.
She edited High Times magazine for one year (2004) under the name Annie Nocenti and is the former editor of the screenwriting magazine Scenario.
In Incredible Hulk #291, published in September 1983 (cover date January 1984), Ann Nocenti made a cameo appearance, talking to Dr. Bruce Banner, in a history written by Bill Mantlo, drawn by Sal Buscema and inked by Carlos Garzón and Joe Sinnot. That time Ann Nocenti was Assistant Editor for Larry Hama on Incredible Hulk and X-Men.
She is noted for her left-wing political views which, particularly during her run on Daredevil, caused some controversy among some fans who didn't agree with her politics.
She created several popular characters, including Typhoid Mary, Blackheart, Longshot and Mojo, and wrote the 1998 X-Men novel Prisoner X.
Although Nocenti left comic books in the '90s after the industry sales collapsed, she later returned to the field, penning stories such as 2004's Batman & Poison Ivy: Cast Shadows.
In Ultimate X-Men, a reimagination of the X-Men comic, the character Longshot, who was invented by her, has the civil name Arthur Centino. His last name, Centino, is an anagram of Nocenti and a homage to Nocenti. The name Arthur is for the co-creator of Longshot Arthur Adams who was Ann Nocenti's artist on the Longshot Mini Series.
She edited High Times magazine for one year (2004) under the name Annie Nocenti and is the former editor of the screenwriting magazine Scenario.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
July 18, 2021
(C+) 64% | Almost Satisfactory
Notes: Wherein your mind begs for mercy: "Please shut the damn book! Can't sustain all the pain from this gobbledygook!"
Notes: Wherein your mind begs for mercy: "Please shut the damn book! Can't sustain all the pain from this gobbledygook!"
January 28, 2014
Nocenti Strikes Again!
Will someone at DC please stop giving this woman important titles! I don't understand? Is she blackmailing the higher ups into letting her continue to write? How...how can she still have a job? She's been the death knell for everything she's touched lately!
This was ridiculous. Instead of a coherent storyline, it was a weird mish mosh of crazy. The style of the artwork wasn't bad, but some of the panels didn't make sense. For instance, one minute she's in a van, next panel it looks like she may be strapped down to the top of the van, and the next panel she's on the Tilt-O-Whirl of Death? Joker is ranting about the centrifugal force ripping her skin off, and claiming it looks like a grain silo or a garbage can.
What?
I'm guessing he souped up one of those carnival rides like the Graviton? And seriously, how hard would it have been to clearly explain/draw that?
Not very!
The dialogue. Oh, the dialogue...
Here' an example of what you can expect:
That's all you got, boys?
Ever hear of Rope-A-Dope?
I'm all muscle and rock hard.
My abs can take a pounding.
So you guys pummel me till your arms get weak?
That's why you Dopes are Roped.
Wha..?
Um, am I supposed to laugh or cry?
What is the appropriate response to reading something that stupid?
And Selina?
She's a smart, sexy, dangerous woman with a tough exterior and a damaged past.
Or.
In Nocenti's world, she's an oversexed thief, with the attention span of a gnat, and the mental capacity of a three year old.
Awesome.
Way to add something new and different to a female character...Ann!
If it looks like a turd, floats like a turd, and smells like a turd...it's a turd.
This was a two-flusher. Burn a match and flip on the fan when you're done...
Will someone at DC please stop giving this woman important titles! I don't understand? Is she blackmailing the higher ups into letting her continue to write? How...how can she still have a job? She's been the death knell for everything she's touched lately!
This was ridiculous. Instead of a coherent storyline, it was a weird mish mosh of crazy. The style of the artwork wasn't bad, but some of the panels didn't make sense. For instance, one minute she's in a van, next panel it looks like she may be strapped down to the top of the van, and the next panel she's on the Tilt-O-Whirl of Death? Joker is ranting about the centrifugal force ripping her skin off, and claiming it looks like a grain silo or a garbage can.
What?
I'm guessing he souped up one of those carnival rides like the Graviton? And seriously, how hard would it have been to clearly explain/draw that?
Not very!
The dialogue. Oh, the dialogue...
Here' an example of what you can expect:
That's all you got, boys?
Ever hear of Rope-A-Dope?
I'm all muscle and rock hard.
My abs can take a pounding.
So you guys pummel me till your arms get weak?
That's why you Dopes are Roped.
Wha..?
Um, am I supposed to laugh or cry?
What is the appropriate response to reading something that stupid?
And Selina?
She's a smart, sexy, dangerous woman with a tough exterior and a damaged past.
Or.
In Nocenti's world, she's an oversexed thief, with the attention span of a gnat, and the mental capacity of a three year old.
Awesome.
Way to add something new and different to a female character...Ann!
If it looks like a turd, floats like a turd, and smells like a turd...it's a turd.
This was a two-flusher. Burn a match and flip on the fan when you're done...
July 7, 2015
When you’re out of beer, or whatever your drug of choice is, and just gotta lose some brain cells, DC’s got you covered: look for anything with Ann Nocenti’s name on the cover. It’ll do the job but good!
You know what kind of story I want to read about a cat burglar who loves shiny objects? A demonic plot so hackneyed Scooby-Doo wouldn’t touch it with an empty snack box where Catwoman chants “rope-a-dope” like some braindead card shark.
I can’t fault Nocenti entirely, she was clearly “rope-a-doped” herself into doing a two-parter about the Joker because Scott Snyder’s comics sell so why not pretend he had something to do with this money pit! What does the Joker want with Catwoman? Fucked if I know, and I read the damn thing! It's kind of a success though as the story is a joke!
What else is in this disasterpiece - something about Selina looking for her true identity? When did Catwoman become such a downer? Isn’t she supposed to be this happy-go-lucky girl who gets her kicks stealing fancy stuff, then playfully running away from the Big Bat only to get “caught” and “punished” (yeah, she knows what Bruce wants)!? Now she’s brooding and going through orphanage files, murmuring to herself like a bag lady looking for her tin can collection - ugh! Somebody light a match! Not for the smell, put it to the page!
Two more things - I know, it goes on, doesn’t it? Well, quantity over quality, guys! After finding out about Damian's death, Bruce started sobbing and so did I - there was still more book! So we see Selina and Bruce’s first encounter (for the umpteenth time) and Catwoman's origin from Batman Returns is trotted out again because the reader hasn't been punished enough. I’m sure there’s something in the Geneva Convention about this comic!
Do yourself a favour and make that walk through the bad neighbourhood to get what you need to get through the evening. Spend it instead on this book and the damage will be much worse!
You know what kind of story I want to read about a cat burglar who loves shiny objects? A demonic plot so hackneyed Scooby-Doo wouldn’t touch it with an empty snack box where Catwoman chants “rope-a-dope” like some braindead card shark.
I can’t fault Nocenti entirely, she was clearly “rope-a-doped” herself into doing a two-parter about the Joker because Scott Snyder’s comics sell so why not pretend he had something to do with this money pit! What does the Joker want with Catwoman? Fucked if I know, and I read the damn thing! It's kind of a success though as the story is a joke!
What else is in this disasterpiece - something about Selina looking for her true identity? When did Catwoman become such a downer? Isn’t she supposed to be this happy-go-lucky girl who gets her kicks stealing fancy stuff, then playfully running away from the Big Bat only to get “caught” and “punished” (yeah, she knows what Bruce wants)!? Now she’s brooding and going through orphanage files, murmuring to herself like a bag lady looking for her tin can collection - ugh! Somebody light a match! Not for the smell, put it to the page!
Two more things - I know, it goes on, doesn’t it? Well, quantity over quality, guys! After finding out about Damian's death, Bruce started sobbing and so did I - there was still more book! So we see Selina and Bruce’s first encounter (for the umpteenth time) and Catwoman's origin from Batman Returns is trotted out again because the reader hasn't been punished enough. I’m sure there’s something in the Geneva Convention about this comic!
Do yourself a favour and make that walk through the bad neighbourhood to get what you need to get through the evening. Spend it instead on this book and the damage will be much worse!
January 18, 2019
H-o-l-y shit. This might be one of the worst comics I've ever read. Like, I read Iron Sights and The Pro, and this might be worse than both.
Listen, this is all you need to know. At one point Catwoman gets about 80% of her clothes ripped off and we have big chunks of skin showing, everything except ass, vagina, and nipples because it is mainstream DC title. Okay, so whatever, superhero lose their uniforms all the time. The joker is the one who did it, so you know that crazy clown pushes people to the end. So then he hands her a new suit in which she puts on almost right away and BOOM there's a trap inside the suit that stuns her because THE SUIT CAME FROM THE FUCKING JOKER, and on top of that the joker promises a cure of some sort on his pecker....oh yeah and he puts under her suit a bunch of Bat signals on her mostly nude body when she takes off her uniform and...
This is like less than a issue worth but that's probably the highlight of the entire volume because the rest is oversexualizing Selina on top of really terrible storylines and dialogues.
So yeah...this is bad. 0 out of 5.
Listen, this is all you need to know. At one point Catwoman gets about 80% of her clothes ripped off and we have big chunks of skin showing, everything except ass, vagina, and nipples because it is mainstream DC title. Okay, so whatever, superhero lose their uniforms all the time. The joker is the one who did it, so you know that crazy clown pushes people to the end. So then he hands her a new suit in which she puts on almost right away and BOOM there's a trap inside the suit that stuns her because THE SUIT CAME FROM THE FUCKING JOKER, and on top of that the joker promises a cure of some sort on his pecker....oh yeah and he puts under her suit a bunch of Bat signals on her mostly nude body when she takes off her uniform and...
This is like less than a issue worth but that's probably the highlight of the entire volume because the rest is oversexualizing Selina on top of really terrible storylines and dialogues.
So yeah...this is bad. 0 out of 5.
November 17, 2013
Ann Nocenti is on a roll! First she killed my interest in Green Arrow comics, and now she's killed my interest in Catwoman comics!
Holy shit, but does this not make a lick of sense. Nocenti seems to have good ideas, but the execution is all over the shop, with story lines simply ending with no resolution or deus ex machinas popping up out of nowhere to shock and confuse. (Also, what's with Catwoman calling people "hunk" all the time? Are we back in the '90s all of a sudden?)
The art is of a high standard, and is slightly less porntastic than Guillem March's horny pencils, but Catwoman is still living her life on an all day lingerie shoot. It's disconcerting how often Selina is arching her back and presenting her bum at the reader. She's got a great ass, we get it.
The problem I am having with these stories is that Catwoman is pretty much a horrible person. There are 'explanations' offered to generate sympathy, and the occasional good deed thrown in to swirl the mixture from black to grey, but the cold reality of it is that Selina Kyle is written as a noxious person with little regard for anyone but herself. I can see what the writers (Winick, Nocenti) have been aiming for on this title, but they are quite wide of the mark in my opinion. Any sympathy generated is limited and temporal--within a few pages it has been worn away again, and my interest in paying to read about the exploits of a toxic individual has been thoroughly eroded by C-grade writing.
Free advice: don't bother with this crap. Read Batgirl instead.
Holy shit, but does this not make a lick of sense. Nocenti seems to have good ideas, but the execution is all over the shop, with story lines simply ending with no resolution or deus ex machinas popping up out of nowhere to shock and confuse. (Also, what's with Catwoman calling people "hunk" all the time? Are we back in the '90s all of a sudden?)
The art is of a high standard, and is slightly less porntastic than Guillem March's horny pencils, but Catwoman is still living her life on an all day lingerie shoot. It's disconcerting how often Selina is arching her back and presenting her bum at the reader. She's got a great ass, we get it.
The problem I am having with these stories is that Catwoman is pretty much a horrible person. There are 'explanations' offered to generate sympathy, and the occasional good deed thrown in to swirl the mixture from black to grey, but the cold reality of it is that Selina Kyle is written as a noxious person with little regard for anyone but herself. I can see what the writers (Winick, Nocenti) have been aiming for on this title, but they are quite wide of the mark in my opinion. Any sympathy generated is limited and temporal--within a few pages it has been worn away again, and my interest in paying to read about the exploits of a toxic individual has been thoroughly eroded by C-grade writing.
Free advice: don't bother with this crap. Read Batgirl instead.
May 12, 2014
Oh dear. Volume 1 was so good...then Vol 2. slowed down, but kept enough good that I was still interested. Then this. Alien artifacts, yet another mysterious dark stranger Selina wants to bang, a demon from a book who becomes real, and more shallow "I like to steal stuff and party! Oh look, that dog has a poofy tail! HEHEHE! POOFY!"
Even the potential long-term storyline/relationship with Batman (and the one with the GCPD guy Alvarez?) both just poof and not even really thought about. Joker shows up, but that's only to sell this TPB to completists and those who don't know any better. This has no bearing on Death of the Family at all. About as much as Final Crisis: Boob Window, but without the titillating fun...(see what I did there?) Hehehe.
I skimmed so much of this I felt like a damn pool boy, working to get it done.
AVOID. LIKE. THE. PLAGUE.
Please hope that someone rescues Catwoman from irrelevancy fast. She started off with so much potential...Judd where are ye???
STEAMING TURD PILE. (This was my 4th Bat-ish book of the day, but even so, I don't think saving this to read another day would have helped. It did save me from having to peel potatoes but that's about it. I almost want to put a bio-hazard label on this before it goes to the library returns)
Even the potential long-term storyline/relationship with Batman (and the one with the GCPD guy Alvarez?) both just poof and not even really thought about. Joker shows up, but that's only to sell this TPB to completists and those who don't know any better. This has no bearing on Death of the Family at all. About as much as Final Crisis: Boob Window, but without the titillating fun...(see what I did there?) Hehehe.
I skimmed so much of this I felt like a damn pool boy, working to get it done.
AVOID. LIKE. THE. PLAGUE.
Please hope that someone rescues Catwoman from irrelevancy fast. She started off with so much potential...Judd where are ye???
STEAMING TURD PILE. (This was my 4th Bat-ish book of the day, but even so, I don't think saving this to read another day would have helped. It did save me from having to peel potatoes but that's about it. I almost want to put a bio-hazard label on this before it goes to the library returns)
January 11, 2016
What the hell did I just read? Only good parts were the Joker storyline and the last issue detailing her backstory. But I'm especially annoyed at how Selina learned to be a better thief entirely from men. Because, you know, she couldn't have learned entirely on her own.
I mean, come on. Batman teaching her not to steal from poor people? She was an ORPHAN. She grew up in that environment. She already knows not to steal from poor people.
I see now why Nocenti isn't well liked as a writer. Yeesh.
I mean, come on. Batman teaching her not to steal from poor people? She was an ORPHAN. She grew up in that environment. She already knows not to steal from poor people.
I see now why Nocenti isn't well liked as a writer. Yeesh.
May 13, 2015
I have mixed feelings about this series. I am definitely liking Selina Kyle, for the most part. However, the panels are rather difficult to read in some issues, and the art quality isn't always up to par. But, when it's good, it's very good. I especially liked the art in the last issue, which features Selina's interesting backstory. I think the writing could definitely have more clarity. There is a disconnect between the action in the panels and the storyline, and it left me confused, especially in the first issue. I did like the cameo of Batman, I mean who doesn't like when Bats shows up? I wasn't always the biggest Bat/Cat shipper, but I'm slowly coming around (if he can't be with Wonder Woman, that is).
I'll keep reading this.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
I'll keep reading this.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
June 17, 2016
0 Stars. ZEROOOO!
I read this more than a year ago and let me tell you, this is still, without a doubt, the worst comic I've ever read. Fuck, my heart hurts writing that 'cause I love Selina Kyle, but the fact is this comic is a piece of GAHBAGE.
This is the only time where I skimmed a graphic novel and I tried man, I did, but the storyline didn't make any sense and the dialogue was horrible, a 10 year old could write better than this woman.
Forget everything about the complexity of Catwoman, forget about her being a survivor, nah son, this time prepare yourself for an oversexualized stupid chick that has to be taught not to steal to the poors by batman himself, because fuck her real backstory, right?
I don't even want to write some of the dialogue here because it was so awful, so stupid, that reading it made me feel physically ill. I mean what the fuck happened here? I still don't understand how DC published this and how this title was given to Ann Nocenti. Did she think that this was a good job? Or did she think that fans would be stupid enough to actually enjoy this dumb nonsense? It could have been funny, except that it crossed the line so quickly from ''Oh man, seriously?'' to ''STOP DESTROYING THIS CHARACTER'' and I was just horrified by this shitty excuse of a comic. I'm so happy now that New 52 is done 'cause this was one of the biggest disservice to a character I've ever seen.
The only good thing about this was the artwork, but at the end it made me feel so bad for the artist, what a disrespect for Sandoval.
The biggest joke though, is the title... Death of the family, one of the worst tie-in I've ever seen, not only the story was dumb as shit, but... oh god, remembering Batman being so out of character actually makes me cringe. It's ridiculous how Nocenti tried to attach her work to the sucess of Snyder's run on Batman. Come on.
Can you tell that after a year I'm still furious and frustrated with what this woman did to one of my favorite characters?
Stay away from this crap.
I read this more than a year ago and let me tell you, this is still, without a doubt, the worst comic I've ever read. Fuck, my heart hurts writing that 'cause I love Selina Kyle, but the fact is this comic is a piece of GAHBAGE.
This is the only time where I skimmed a graphic novel and I tried man, I did, but the storyline didn't make any sense and the dialogue was horrible, a 10 year old could write better than this woman.
Forget everything about the complexity of Catwoman, forget about her being a survivor, nah son, this time prepare yourself for an oversexualized stupid chick that has to be taught not to steal to the poors by batman himself, because fuck her real backstory, right?
I don't even want to write some of the dialogue here because it was so awful, so stupid, that reading it made me feel physically ill. I mean what the fuck happened here? I still don't understand how DC published this and how this title was given to Ann Nocenti. Did she think that this was a good job? Or did she think that fans would be stupid enough to actually enjoy this dumb nonsense? It could have been funny, except that it crossed the line so quickly from ''Oh man, seriously?'' to ''STOP DESTROYING THIS CHARACTER'' and I was just horrified by this shitty excuse of a comic. I'm so happy now that New 52 is done 'cause this was one of the biggest disservice to a character I've ever seen.
The only good thing about this was the artwork, but at the end it made me feel so bad for the artist, what a disrespect for Sandoval.
The biggest joke though, is the title... Death of the family, one of the worst tie-in I've ever seen, not only the story was dumb as shit, but... oh god, remembering Batman being so out of character actually makes me cringe. It's ridiculous how Nocenti tried to attach her work to the sucess of Snyder's run on Batman. Come on.
Can you tell that after a year I'm still furious and frustrated with what this woman did to one of my favorite characters?
Stay away from this crap.
January 4, 2014
wow. Nocenti is just an awful writer. first on Green Arrow, now Catwoman. The plots are decent but it's hard to follow her stream of consciousness writing. dialogue is forced and fake.
sandival's art saves the book, along with a couple other artists who contribute.
disappointing after Winick's two volumes.
sandival's art saves the book, along with a couple other artists who contribute.
disappointing after Winick's two volumes.
July 7, 2017
I enjoyed the Joker volume in the middle. The rest was pretty much shit.
January 25, 2014
Ugh, not only is the change of artwork terrible (Selina suddenly looks like a teenager) but Ann Nocenti is responsible for the dire run of Green Arrow that almost turned me off the character for good (thank fuck for the television series!). If this continues, I wonder who they'll set Nocenti to destroy next.
April 5, 2015
This one was a mess. It was just all confusing. The Death in the Family tie-in was by far the worst tie-ins of the series. The Black Diamond storyline had a ton of potential, but failed to live up to any of it, and was, yes, confusing. The 0 issue was decent, but still slightly confusing. And the Requiem issue was...you guessed it, confusing. I was really disappointed because Judd Winick was really taking the Catwoman series into a new, darker direction, and then they changed writers. I have enjoyed Ann Nocenti's writing in the past, but this isn't up to her usual standard in my opinion. The art wasn't terrible, but wasn't good enough to save this volume.
Unless you just must read all things Catwoman, I'd skip this volume.
Unless you just must read all things Catwoman, I'd skip this volume.
June 14, 2022
Every criticism of this volume that I've seen makes total sense to me. The dialogue is clunky AF, the panels are disjointed, Selina and Bruce both feel very out-of-character... yeesh. Confusion. Confusion reigns supreme. The inclusion of Joker, or rather his story arc here, felt unnecessary. The artwork for the most part is halfway decent. 1 star for Nocenti's writing and I will be avoiding her forever after, but 2 stars for the overall thing bc sometimes the art was cool. And I like Gwen.
#CharlieAndAshleyReadComics
#CharlieAndAshleyReadComics
July 1, 2020
It's disjointed, and there is some rather heavy handed dialogue as well. I was disappointed in the Death Of The Family part... there was no fall out from it, and Selina just gives up... for real... she is not even pretending so she can help Bruce or anything... Where is their friendship from the previous series? Where's the smart Catwoman who would know better than to put on a "skin" from a psycho???
The art was mostly decent, and the new origin, with a hidden Russian name, may turn out to be interesting, but we'll see.
The art was mostly decent, and the new origin, with a hidden Russian name, may turn out to be interesting, but we'll see.
July 9, 2019
Catwoman: Death of the Family picks up where the previous volume left off, collecting the next six issues (Catwoman #13–18) of the 2011 on-going series with Catwoman #0 and a story from Young Romance: A New 52 Valentine's Day Special and collects eight semi-interconnecting one-issue stories.
There are two main stories in this trade paperback. In "In the Zone" and "Battle in Black" (Catwoman #15–16) has Selina Kyle fighting against Escalate, a demon who can intensify and spread negative emotions. This bat-like demon escaped from the pages of the Devil's Codex located in the Black Room of A.R.G.U.S. In "Rat Tales" and "He Said, She Said" (Catwoman #17–18) has Selina Kyle as Catwoman facing a gang of Rat Tail and his gang of children members.
The rest of the issues are tie-in issues from various events that were happening during publishing of the issues. In "Zip Me Up", the Zero Month tie-in (Catwoman #0) has the origin story of Catwoman. In "Brunt Offerings" and "To Skin a Cat", the Death of the Family tie-in (Catwoman #13–14) has Catwoman facing off the machinations of the Joker. Part of "He Said, She Said" (Catwoman #18) is the Requiem tie-in, concerning the death of Damian Wayne as Robin. Finally in "Think it Through" (Young Romance: A New 52 Valentine's Day Special) has Selina Kyle as Catwoman remembering how she first met Bruce Wayne as Batman.
Ann Nocenti penned the entire trade paperback. There were very little of Melo's writing that wasn't interrupted from events. With the Zero Month, Death of the Family, and Requiem tie-ins there was very little of the trade paperback that wasn't from her imagination. As a result, the trade paperback felt like a hodgepodge of stories with very little to connect them together and had little focus on a central storyline. Furthermore, the villains that Melo created weren't that memorable and felt like they are one-time villains that would eventually be forgotten.
With the exception of Catwoman #0 by Adrianna Melo and "Think it Through" by Emanuela Lupacchino (Young Romance: A New 52 Valentine's Day Special), Rafa Sandoval penciled the entire trade paperback. For the most part, their penciling styles mesh rather well, but also rather distinctive, which made the artistic flow a tad inconsistent, but rather enjoyable nevertheless.
All in all, Catwoman: Death of the Family is a satisfactory continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
There are two main stories in this trade paperback. In "In the Zone" and "Battle in Black" (Catwoman #15–16) has Selina Kyle fighting against Escalate, a demon who can intensify and spread negative emotions. This bat-like demon escaped from the pages of the Devil's Codex located in the Black Room of A.R.G.U.S. In "Rat Tales" and "He Said, She Said" (Catwoman #17–18) has Selina Kyle as Catwoman facing a gang of Rat Tail and his gang of children members.
The rest of the issues are tie-in issues from various events that were happening during publishing of the issues. In "Zip Me Up", the Zero Month tie-in (Catwoman #0) has the origin story of Catwoman. In "Brunt Offerings" and "To Skin a Cat", the Death of the Family tie-in (Catwoman #13–14) has Catwoman facing off the machinations of the Joker. Part of "He Said, She Said" (Catwoman #18) is the Requiem tie-in, concerning the death of Damian Wayne as Robin. Finally in "Think it Through" (Young Romance: A New 52 Valentine's Day Special) has Selina Kyle as Catwoman remembering how she first met Bruce Wayne as Batman.
Ann Nocenti penned the entire trade paperback. There were very little of Melo's writing that wasn't interrupted from events. With the Zero Month, Death of the Family, and Requiem tie-ins there was very little of the trade paperback that wasn't from her imagination. As a result, the trade paperback felt like a hodgepodge of stories with very little to connect them together and had little focus on a central storyline. Furthermore, the villains that Melo created weren't that memorable and felt like they are one-time villains that would eventually be forgotten.
With the exception of Catwoman #0 by Adrianna Melo and "Think it Through" by Emanuela Lupacchino (Young Romance: A New 52 Valentine's Day Special), Rafa Sandoval penciled the entire trade paperback. For the most part, their penciling styles mesh rather well, but also rather distinctive, which made the artistic flow a tad inconsistent, but rather enjoyable nevertheless.
All in all, Catwoman: Death of the Family is a satisfactory continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
November 22, 2016
Definitely the weakest link of the Death of the Family series.
March 12, 2015
Eh, some of it was ok.. 2.5 stars.
January 12, 2019
This was not a good album. The art was a little all over the place, and the story was even more so. It seemed mostly like a lot of filler and a lot of focus on Batman, which was a downer. I like that already established relationship, but when there's so much focus on it, it almost gives the idea that the comic was originally made to push batman more than catwoman, which is not cool.
Despite this album being a mess, I plan to buy the next album when I get the chance.
Despite this album being a mess, I plan to buy the next album when I get the chance.
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June 29, 2022i miss ed brubaker
November 23, 2013
Finally...the end of the "Death of the Family" crossover series (for me, at least -- I don't kow if there are more books in the series out there or not). And oddly enough, i actually read this book twice. When I was sorting through my reviews, I saw that this wasn't posted, so I read the book, only to have that deja vu sense. Sure enough, I had already read it, but didn't remember it. Yes...that says a lot about this book.
But first let me say that I haven't really enjoyed Catwoman since the slinky, sexy ladies of the 60's tv show (though Anne Hathaway was enjoyable in the recent movie). I'm typically not fond of praising villians and villainy. This book tries to toss in a few tidbits to show the 'good' side of Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman), but at heart, she is a thief, never seeming to regret what she does.
This particular book starts off with the promise of a good, strong story with the wickedest of wicked manifestations of Joker I've ever seen in the comics. Here, Joker fights, threatens, and cajoles Catwoman, and we understand that this is because the two of them are competing for Batman's attentions. I found this exciting and tempting, and couldn't wait to see how it tied in with the rest of the "death of the Family" series, and then... and then... I don't know what happened! Suddenly the theft of a Black Diamond is all we focus on. And I use the term 'focus' very loosely.
I've complained about the repeating of the 33 pages of comic in the other books...33 pages that are identical in every way -- all part of that crossover, get it? -- and I was partly relieved that it wasn't in this book (I'd wondered how they would do it, since Catwoman wasn't at the 'banquet' in which the 33 pages cover); but mostly I think it served to show how this book wasn't really a part of the series. It was simply one more opportunity to capitalize on the story-line. At one point, while Catwoman was losing a battle, she cries out "Where are you Batman? You always seem to know when I'm in trouble" and I thought to myself...'ah, there's the crossover part...he can't come to her rescue because he's busy in his own story at the moment...how cheesy!'
This story just meanders, and even having read it twice now, I'm no wiser to why I should have read this. I'm not touched, moved, motivated, enlightned, entertained,or in any way a better person for having read this.
Being a graphic novel, the art is key to the story and I didn't particularly care for this art. Technically it seemed to be fine, but I was distracted by the distortioned poses of Catwoman. I understand the desire to make her lithe, supple, somewhat feline-like, but it took me out of what little story there was, wondering just how the heck a body would look like that. And the whip...what the heck is up with that whip? Is it half a mile long? It's curled and coiled and looping all over the place in too many panels. I undestand the effect the artist is making, but again...it was just distracting.
This series had some real highs (Batman) and some real lows (Catwoman). Fortunately the stories are not dependent upon one another.
Looking for a good book? Pick a different book in the DC "Death of the Family" series...this one just isn't right.
But first let me say that I haven't really enjoyed Catwoman since the slinky, sexy ladies of the 60's tv show (though Anne Hathaway was enjoyable in the recent movie). I'm typically not fond of praising villians and villainy. This book tries to toss in a few tidbits to show the 'good' side of Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman), but at heart, she is a thief, never seeming to regret what she does.
This particular book starts off with the promise of a good, strong story with the wickedest of wicked manifestations of Joker I've ever seen in the comics. Here, Joker fights, threatens, and cajoles Catwoman, and we understand that this is because the two of them are competing for Batman's attentions. I found this exciting and tempting, and couldn't wait to see how it tied in with the rest of the "death of the Family" series, and then... and then... I don't know what happened! Suddenly the theft of a Black Diamond is all we focus on. And I use the term 'focus' very loosely.
I've complained about the repeating of the 33 pages of comic in the other books...33 pages that are identical in every way -- all part of that crossover, get it? -- and I was partly relieved that it wasn't in this book (I'd wondered how they would do it, since Catwoman wasn't at the 'banquet' in which the 33 pages cover); but mostly I think it served to show how this book wasn't really a part of the series. It was simply one more opportunity to capitalize on the story-line. At one point, while Catwoman was losing a battle, she cries out "Where are you Batman? You always seem to know when I'm in trouble" and I thought to myself...'ah, there's the crossover part...he can't come to her rescue because he's busy in his own story at the moment...how cheesy!'
This story just meanders, and even having read it twice now, I'm no wiser to why I should have read this. I'm not touched, moved, motivated, enlightned, entertained,or in any way a better person for having read this.
Being a graphic novel, the art is key to the story and I didn't particularly care for this art. Technically it seemed to be fine, but I was distracted by the distortioned poses of Catwoman. I understand the desire to make her lithe, supple, somewhat feline-like, but it took me out of what little story there was, wondering just how the heck a body would look like that. And the whip...what the heck is up with that whip? Is it half a mile long? It's curled and coiled and looping all over the place in too many panels. I undestand the effect the artist is making, but again...it was just distracting.
This series had some real highs (Batman) and some real lows (Catwoman). Fortunately the stories are not dependent upon one another.
Looking for a good book? Pick a different book in the DC "Death of the Family" series...this one just isn't right.
November 10, 2013
I read the Batman series but decided to branch out and read all the "Death in the Family" volumes to actually see how DC combines these story arcs throughout the universe. I'm no big fan of Catwoman and this volume did not change my mind but it was a decent story and I loved the art. The book is broken up basically into two main stories featuring a lot of flashbacks into Selina's past and background. I enjoyed the flashbacks the most as it gave a better insight for me into this ambiguous character. There is even a romantic flashback to her and Batman at the end! The first half of the book contains the "Death of a Family' tie-in as Catwoman is harassed by The Joker in a pretty creepy/stalker mode. I love the artist's rendition of Joker since he had his face cut off, he's not so comical looking and yet he is more appealing to me this way as I've never been a fan of the Joker either. The second story has Catwoman being hired to go into A.R.G.U.S. and steal a black diamond from the top secret black room. This starts out as a good caper but ends up involving the paranormal which I hadn't expected but it does introduce us to a new supervillain. Finally Gwen and Selina, put on their own heist to steal some paintings which brings back elements of the first two stories and a brief cameo from Batman. Decent enough story but not anything to make me want to start reading Catwoman.
October 2, 2024
“Catwoman, Volume 3: Death of the Family” by Ann Nocenti is my least favorite installment in the series so far. The story felt all over the place, with too many plotlines, making staying engaged difficult. I sometimes found myself bored, waiting for the narrative to pick up. Despite these issues, Rafa Sandoval's artwork is a highlight, with beautiful and detailed illustrations that add a lot to the visual appeal of the volume. His drawings capture the essence of Catwoman and make the reading experience more enjoyable.
Although this volume was somewhat disappointing, it did start to get interesting towards the end. Catwoman remains a compelling character, and I appreciated learning more about her past. While “Catwoman, Volume 3: Death of the Family” wasn't as strong as the previous volumes, it still had its moments. I hope the next part of the series will improve and continue building on Catwoman's fascinating story.
Although this volume was somewhat disappointing, it did start to get interesting towards the end. Catwoman remains a compelling character, and I appreciated learning more about her past. While “Catwoman, Volume 3: Death of the Family” wasn't as strong as the previous volumes, it still had its moments. I hope the next part of the series will improve and continue building on Catwoman's fascinating story.
October 22, 2013
Dear god this is awful. The dialogue makes no sense, and the stories sound like a good idea in principle but in execution fall very flat. That said, I like the mix of stories, going from a creepy Joker story to a supernatural two-parter before a back to basics theft arc. It's a good mix, it just gets dragged down by some terrible, terrible dialogue. This would only get the 1 star, but the artwork from Rafa Sandoval is excellent,and the ambition is there in the storylines, it just all goes wrong when it actually comes to Catwoman acting them out.
September 20, 2013
I have never Rage Quit anything like I rage-quit Ann Nocenti's version of Catwoman. Completely nonsensical and the dialogue is 100% terrible.
October 1, 2013
This great book series basically took a hiatus while they dredged through the "Death of the Family" storyline.
March 31, 2014
After this one, I really won't be picking up more Cat Woman graphic novels. She's just not that entertaining.
November 29, 2014
Yet another great comic character destroyed by what I can only assume is editorial mandate. Writing this bad just doesn't happen.
July 12, 2016
Not bad at all. The story got a little out there but the artwork and Selinas attitude make up for it.
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