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Catwoman (2011)
Catwoman, Volume 6: Keeper of the Castle
She was Gotham’s Catwoman. Now Selina Kyle is Gotham’s kingpin.
After discovering that she’s the heir apparent to the Calabrese crime family, Selina has put aside the life of a high-stakes jewel thief—and occasional vigilante—for an even more dangerous game. Now she’s the head of all organized crime in the city. Her plan? Unite Gotham’s warring families, using their resources to rebuild the city instead of preying on it.
But the crown comes at a cost. Not every family is willing to play ball. As her enemies—like the brutal Black Mask and an impostor calling herself the new Catwoman—attack from outside her organization, traitors lurk within.
To rule the underworld, Selina must become a creature of the underworld herself. She may have nine lives, but she only has one soul. To save the city she loves, will she sacrifice everything else?
Writer Genevieve Valentine and artist Garry Brown radically reimagine one of the DC Universe’s greatest characters in CATWOMAN: KEEPER OF THE CASTLE. Once this crime saga sinks its claws into you, there’s no turning back…
Collects: Catwoman #35-40 and Annual #2.
After discovering that she’s the heir apparent to the Calabrese crime family, Selina has put aside the life of a high-stakes jewel thief—and occasional vigilante—for an even more dangerous game. Now she’s the head of all organized crime in the city. Her plan? Unite Gotham’s warring families, using their resources to rebuild the city instead of preying on it.
But the crown comes at a cost. Not every family is willing to play ball. As her enemies—like the brutal Black Mask and an impostor calling herself the new Catwoman—attack from outside her organization, traitors lurk within.
To rule the underworld, Selina must become a creature of the underworld herself. She may have nine lives, but she only has one soul. To save the city she loves, will she sacrifice everything else?
Writer Genevieve Valentine and artist Garry Brown radically reimagine one of the DC Universe’s greatest characters in CATWOMAN: KEEPER OF THE CASTLE. Once this crime saga sinks its claws into you, there’s no turning back…
Collects: Catwoman #35-40 and Annual #2.
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2015
9 people are currently reading
313 people want to read
About the author
Genevieve Valentine
203 books318 followersGenevieve Valentine has sold more than three dozen short stories; her fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in Clarkesworld, Strange Horizons, Journal of Mythic Arts, Fantasy Magazine, Lightspeed, and Apex, and in the anthologies Federations, The Living Dead 2, The Way of the Wizard, Running with the Pack, Teeth, and more.
Her nonfiction has appeared in Lightspeed, Tor.com, and Fantasy Magazine, and she is the co-author of Geek Wisdom (out in Summer 2011 from Quirk Books).
Her first novel, Mechanique: A Tale of the Circus Tresaulti, is forthcoming from Prime Books in May 2011. You can learn more about it at the Circus Tresualti website.
Her appetite for bad movies is insatiable, a tragedy she tracks on her blog.
Her nonfiction has appeared in Lightspeed, Tor.com, and Fantasy Magazine, and she is the co-author of Geek Wisdom (out in Summer 2011 from Quirk Books).
Her first novel, Mechanique: A Tale of the Circus Tresaulti, is forthcoming from Prime Books in May 2011. You can learn more about it at the Circus Tresualti website.
Her appetite for bad movies is insatiable, a tragedy she tracks on her blog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
July 18, 2021
(C+) 66% | Almost Satisfactory
Notes: Meetings, lots of meetings! jawing faction versus faction: it's dry as chalk, just talk, talk, talk, with seldom any action.
Notes: Meetings, lots of meetings! jawing faction versus faction: it's dry as chalk, just talk, talk, talk, with seldom any action.
December 8, 2015
3.5 stars
Wow! Ok, first off, this is leaps and bound above whatever crap they were peddling in the last few volumes!
I only wish Jae Lee was doing more than just the cover art...
Selina Kyle is finally getting decent treatment in her title!
Genevieve Valentine is doing her justice, and writing her as the smart, street savvy character that she should have been all along.
Bless you, kind woman!
Ok, having said all that, I wasn't actually in love with the story.
I know, right?! What's wrong with me?
Well, someone compared this to Gotham Central, and I think they're correct. Now, Gotham Central, Vol. 1: In the Line of Duty is a much beloved series about the Gotham police force. I believe it has even won awards for its awesomeness, unless I'm very much mistaken.
And wouldn't you know it? I wasn't crazy about Gotham Central, either.
To me, this was a bunch of wah, wah, wah jabbering, and not enough Catwoman! actiony style stuff.
So, I kinda zoned out a few times during this one.
That doesn't mean I think this is a bad comic!
It just means I don't think it's a good fit for me. I thought the art was dark and scratchy, and the panels felt a bit crowded with words some of the time. And while it wasnot interesting to see the diary entries (letters...whatever!) of Queen Elizabeth I, Lucrezia Borgia, and Cleopatra in the panels, it started to take a toll on my patience mid-way through the book. Again, just not my cuppa.
But, hey, it's not a badly written crime drama. If you're a fan of those things, then this will be right up your ally!
The gist is that Selina, in order to save Gotham from being torn apart by the crime families, has stepped up and taken over the Calabrese family.
Why, you ask?
Because her (long-lost) father was the head of that family, and he named her his heir.
Does that make sense?
Doesn't matter, doesn't need to. That's what happened.
She's in charge, and her goal is to work from within to keep Gotham as safe as she can.
There are a few hiccups along the way.
Bats does make a few appearances, and those were probably my favorite parts of the book. I enjoy seeing these two interact, so for that reason alone, I'll be back for more.
Also, there's this for those of you who thought Selina was too hetero.
Again, it's not my cuppa (Team Batman!), but whatever.
I thought, overall, Keeper of the Castle was a great step in the right direction for this character. If this were just non-superhero stuff about any other character, I'd drop it like a hot potato. But...Selina's my favorite, so I'm coming back for seconds.
Also reviewed for:
Wow! Ok, first off, this is leaps and bound above whatever crap they were peddling in the last few volumes!
I only wish Jae Lee was doing more than just the cover art...
Selina Kyle is finally getting decent treatment in her title!
Genevieve Valentine is doing her justice, and writing her as the smart, street savvy character that she should have been all along.
Bless you, kind woman!
Ok, having said all that, I wasn't actually in love with the story.
I know, right?! What's wrong with me?
Well, someone compared this to Gotham Central, and I think they're correct. Now, Gotham Central, Vol. 1: In the Line of Duty is a much beloved series about the Gotham police force. I believe it has even won awards for its awesomeness, unless I'm very much mistaken.
And wouldn't you know it? I wasn't crazy about Gotham Central, either.
To me, this was a bunch of wah, wah, wah jabbering, and not enough Catwoman! actiony style stuff.
So, I kinda zoned out a few times during this one.
That doesn't mean I think this is a bad comic!
It just means I don't think it's a good fit for me. I thought the art was dark and scratchy, and the panels felt a bit crowded with words some of the time. And while it was
But, hey, it's not a badly written crime drama. If you're a fan of those things, then this will be right up your ally!
The gist is that Selina, in order to save Gotham from being torn apart by the crime families, has stepped up and taken over the Calabrese family.
Why, you ask?
Because her (long-lost) father was the head of that family, and he named her his heir.
Does that make sense?
Doesn't matter, doesn't need to. That's what happened.
She's in charge, and her goal is to work from within to keep Gotham as safe as she can.
There are a few hiccups along the way.
Bats does make a few appearances, and those were probably my favorite parts of the book. I enjoy seeing these two interact, so for that reason alone, I'll be back for more.
Also, there's this for those of you who thought Selina was too hetero.
Again, it's not my cuppa (Team Batman!), but whatever.
I thought, overall, Keeper of the Castle was a great step in the right direction for this character. If this were just non-superhero stuff about any other character, I'd drop it like a hot potato. But...Selina's my favorite, so I'm coming back for seconds.
Also reviewed for:
May 15, 2019
Beyond awful. Since when is Catwoman a mafia Don? The motivations in this book make no sense. And the book is beyond boring. Garry Brown's artwork is scratchy and crude. It doesn't help this book at all. This book needs to get back to its Ed Brubaker / Darwyn Cook roots. That's the only time Catwoman has been interesting in her own book.
July 2, 2016
I’d have put money on Genevieve Valentine’s Catwoman being head and shoulders above Ann Nocenti’s appalling run because nothing - nothing - could be THAT bad… and I’d have lost that money - Catwoman still sucks!
In Batman Eternal, Selina Kyle discovered she was related to the Calabrese crime family and now she’s the head and trying to run all the crime families in Gotham. The book follows the in-fighting that goes with all mob stories with Batman villains Black Mask and Penguin doing stuff in the background.
Catwoman, Volume 6: Keeper of the Castle reads like a bargain basement Godfather knockoff. This barely feels like a Catwoman book. To call it boring is to redefine the word - this was beyond boring. None of the characters are interesting, nor is any aspect of the story. Not that there is much of a story: crime families fighting each other is all it is. There’s no real beginning, middle or end, it’s just that same mundane crap throughout so there’s no buildup to any sort of finale.
Some Asian chick is suddenly Catwoman for no reason. Her character is that she has a tattoo that’s unfinished - enthralling stuff, eh? She and Catwoman kiss for no reason except for some cheap reader titillation - there wasn’t any indication of a romance there it was just randomly dropped into the story. That’s it. And, at the start of each issue, why not throw some quotes from Queen Elizabeth I’s letters or Sun Tzu to make it seem like you’re not reading dogshit??
Don’t let the beautiful neo-Gothic Jae Lee covers fool you - inside is Garry Brown’s scratchy, unappealing art to perfectly complement Valentine’s craptastic script!
I can’t believe Ann Nocenti left Catwoman and the series hasn’t improved one iota. Don’t read Genevieve Valentine’s Catwoman if you’re looking for quality entertainment, turn a fan on some dust bunnies and watch that instead - that’s more riveting and intellectually stimulating than this drivel!
In Batman Eternal, Selina Kyle discovered she was related to the Calabrese crime family and now she’s the head and trying to run all the crime families in Gotham. The book follows the in-fighting that goes with all mob stories with Batman villains Black Mask and Penguin doing stuff in the background.
Catwoman, Volume 6: Keeper of the Castle reads like a bargain basement Godfather knockoff. This barely feels like a Catwoman book. To call it boring is to redefine the word - this was beyond boring. None of the characters are interesting, nor is any aspect of the story. Not that there is much of a story: crime families fighting each other is all it is. There’s no real beginning, middle or end, it’s just that same mundane crap throughout so there’s no buildup to any sort of finale.
Some Asian chick is suddenly Catwoman for no reason. Her character is that she has a tattoo that’s unfinished - enthralling stuff, eh? She and Catwoman kiss for no reason except for some cheap reader titillation - there wasn’t any indication of a romance there it was just randomly dropped into the story. That’s it. And, at the start of each issue, why not throw some quotes from Queen Elizabeth I’s letters or Sun Tzu to make it seem like you’re not reading dogshit??
Don’t let the beautiful neo-Gothic Jae Lee covers fool you - inside is Garry Brown’s scratchy, unappealing art to perfectly complement Valentine’s craptastic script!
I can’t believe Ann Nocenti left Catwoman and the series hasn’t improved one iota. Don’t read Genevieve Valentine’s Catwoman if you’re looking for quality entertainment, turn a fan on some dust bunnies and watch that instead - that’s more riveting and intellectually stimulating than this drivel!
December 27, 2015
From where Noncenti left the character when I stopped reading after Vol. 3, it was near rock bottom, and apparently got worse...
So when I read Batman Eternal and saw the direction they took Selina, I actually had a renewed interest.
Writer Genevieve Valentine has saved a character that was relegated to S&M sex object masturbatory fantasy joke and turned her into a powerful player in Gotham's crime family world.
Discovering that she was, in fact, the daughter of Leo Calabrese, the former head of Gotham, before his incarceration and before the time of Batman, she was chosen as ready to succeed him, and decides to unite the crime families of Gotham. Instead of more tearing down and violence, she tries to rebuild Gotham to gain legitimacy and respect for the families that once did so a generation ago.
Her main opponent? Black Mask. Aka Roman Sionis, who tries to outplay her at the chess game. The wild card here? The Hasigawa Family, the Yakuza presence in Gotham, ready to be courted by Selina or Sionis. The daughter, Eiko, is second in command, and has far more invested than one might think.
This is a story about family, loyalty, psychological warfare, and sacrifice. It's also reading like something Ed Brubaker might have written years ago, no coincidence that people are comparing it to Greg Rucka's excellent 'Gotham Central' series. This time the GCPD are a secondary character, but still important.
This volume is such a strong Renaissance for the character, it's saved her from being a punchline or a Batman tag along. In fact, Bats/Bruce is used very sparingly here, to an ideal effect, showing the faith that is being placed in Selina 2.0. This being DC though, they've probably already fired Valentine and returned Selina to latex fetish gear and petty theft.
If they stay the course here, then Catwoman might join the A-list of titles.
So when I read Batman Eternal and saw the direction they took Selina, I actually had a renewed interest.
Writer Genevieve Valentine has saved a character that was relegated to S&M sex object masturbatory fantasy joke and turned her into a powerful player in Gotham's crime family world.
Discovering that she was, in fact, the daughter of Leo Calabrese, the former head of Gotham, before his incarceration and before the time of Batman, she was chosen as ready to succeed him, and decides to unite the crime families of Gotham. Instead of more tearing down and violence, she tries to rebuild Gotham to gain legitimacy and respect for the families that once did so a generation ago.
Her main opponent? Black Mask. Aka Roman Sionis, who tries to outplay her at the chess game. The wild card here? The Hasigawa Family, the Yakuza presence in Gotham, ready to be courted by Selina or Sionis. The daughter, Eiko, is second in command, and has far more invested than one might think.
This is a story about family, loyalty, psychological warfare, and sacrifice. It's also reading like something Ed Brubaker might have written years ago, no coincidence that people are comparing it to Greg Rucka's excellent 'Gotham Central' series. This time the GCPD are a secondary character, but still important.
This volume is such a strong Renaissance for the character, it's saved her from being a punchline or a Batman tag along. In fact, Bats/Bruce is used very sparingly here, to an ideal effect, showing the faith that is being placed in Selina 2.0. This being DC though, they've probably already fired Valentine and returned Selina to latex fetish gear and petty theft.
If they stay the course here, then Catwoman might join the A-list of titles.
May 24, 2021
Selina Kyle has inherited the mantle of leader of the Calebrese Family and overlord-ship of the crime families of Gotham. There's a new Catwoman filling the gap she no longer can indulge.
May 2, 2015
This series really took a dive after the first few strong volumes. Ann Nocenti's run was confusing and just not very enjoyable, so I was hoping the new writer would be a step up. However, it remained just as confusing. This series ties into Batman: Eternal which I haven't read yet, and has Catwoman assuming control of a crime family in Gotham. This isn't really a Catwoman story, however, as it reads like someone doing a cheap Godfather imitation. Maybe it was me, but I was lost for most of the story.
Only read this one if you're a Catwoman completist.
Only read this one if you're a Catwoman completist.
October 17, 2018
I keep going because I'm a dumb idiot sucker who loved Volume 1. The story here was muddled and the art was atrocious. Worse than A.N. Thats hard to do.
July 6, 2020
I really liked the cover art, the inside art was sketchy, though not bad, just not to my taste. The story was the same. If you like crime stories, this is a good one. I did like the characterizations better in this, it did not feel like different characters from those I knew, and none seamed pathetic either.
September 27, 2015
Wow! Selina Kyle! Goodness! And Catwoman! How do I even begin to gush about this volume? I really like Brubaker's run, but Valentine takes Selina to a whole new level, putting aside the suit and getting her to lead a crime family. It was a big risk, and my goodness did it pay off. With a similar feel to Brubaker's run (but more political and intense), Selina's navigating Gotham's crime world from a different angle, and it's highly intriguing. A new woman slips on the Cat suit and Selina has to deal with that, too.
The character work is fantastic. Selina makes my heart ache. You know how much she cares, and how much she hates what she has to do, but she needs to play the part to keep the families in order. She knows she can rule Gotham for the better, but she needs to stay in control all the time or things will fall apart. With the other families doubting her, Black Mask working against her, and no one to trust, Selina has a full plate. The way she manages all of this is impressive, with her cool head and bold moves, she remains as unpredictable and adaptable as she was as Catwoman. Those rare moments of emotion or affection she shows are golden.
Then there's Eiko, daughter to the crime family that poses the biggest threat to Selina's. She has an interesting story as well, and her interactions with Selina are filled with tension, curiosity, and held-back longing. I love the relationship of trust, respect, and concern that develops between them, even though they're supposed to be enemies.
I can't talk about this book without mentioning Antonia. She's a fantastic character. Loyal, strong, and willing to sacrifice everything for the good of the family, Antonia also captures my heart. She genuinely cares about Selina, and though their interactions are usually tense, there is one shining moment of affection that really stands out and warms my heart.
Several artists worked on this book, but my favourite is Garry Brown, who does the bulk of it. Combined with Lee Loughridge's colouring, the artwork is simply gorgeous. The style is comparable to Gotham Central with simple, rough lines and eye-catching colour palettes. Selina's new look is gosh-darn sexy and professional, and the close-ups of her eyes, or her smile, are captivating.
So, if you skipped all my gushing and just want the basics: READ THIS BOOK!!! Selina isn't "Catwoman" in it, but it's a testament to the writing that she's even more complex and layered here than ever before. The characters will hold your attention as much as the story, and the art is beautiful. You have to read it. You'll fall in love. And then you'll cry waiting for the next volume, praying it's as good as this one. I've always believed Selina had potential, but there are few writer's who've been able to handle her properly. For me, Valentine's Selina is queen.
The character work is fantastic. Selina makes my heart ache. You know how much she cares, and how much she hates what she has to do, but she needs to play the part to keep the families in order. She knows she can rule Gotham for the better, but she needs to stay in control all the time or things will fall apart. With the other families doubting her, Black Mask working against her, and no one to trust, Selina has a full plate. The way she manages all of this is impressive, with her cool head and bold moves, she remains as unpredictable and adaptable as she was as Catwoman. Those rare moments of emotion or affection she shows are golden.
Then there's Eiko, daughter to the crime family that poses the biggest threat to Selina's. She has an interesting story as well, and her interactions with Selina are filled with tension, curiosity, and held-back longing. I love the relationship of trust, respect, and concern that develops between them, even though they're supposed to be enemies.
I can't talk about this book without mentioning Antonia. She's a fantastic character. Loyal, strong, and willing to sacrifice everything for the good of the family, Antonia also captures my heart. She genuinely cares about Selina, and though their interactions are usually tense, there is one shining moment of affection that really stands out and warms my heart.
Several artists worked on this book, but my favourite is Garry Brown, who does the bulk of it. Combined with Lee Loughridge's colouring, the artwork is simply gorgeous. The style is comparable to Gotham Central with simple, rough lines and eye-catching colour palettes. Selina's new look is gosh-darn sexy and professional, and the close-ups of her eyes, or her smile, are captivating.
So, if you skipped all my gushing and just want the basics: READ THIS BOOK!!! Selina isn't "Catwoman" in it, but it's a testament to the writing that she's even more complex and layered here than ever before. The characters will hold your attention as much as the story, and the art is beautiful. You have to read it. You'll fall in love. And then you'll cry waiting for the next volume, praying it's as good as this one. I've always believed Selina had potential, but there are few writer's who've been able to handle her properly. For me, Valentine's Selina is queen.
August 20, 2019
This link here says it best:
http://beccatoria.dreamwidth.org/1835...
"It's a fine line to walk - when you write women in superhero comics, well, in any heroic fiction, competence is the double standard. Women don't get to fuck up. And fucking up when Batman warned you is a particularly dicey proposition. When Catwoman's written well, though, it throws shade on Batman's hypocrisy and lack of compassion: here is a man with a revolving door of dead and traumatised sidekicks and an interpersonal style that borders on abuse. He tries to manage and control Selina and it backfires spectacularly. He tries to take it back and it's too late. The fact we see this from Selina's point of view, in her comic, matters. Her aggressive rejection of his pity because her redemption isn't about him; he doesn't understand that they're doing exactly the same thing.
Like I said, it's difficult to write well, but the fact that Catwoman is an impulsive, reckless character is important to me. She is fiercely talented but she's also self-destructive. She jumps into situations without an exit strategy and relies on guts and cunning and cleverness and sometimes blind, dumb luck to get herself back out. It's a life she's comfortable with because she's the only casualty: it's not a failure she'd ever have to live with. She teases Batman and loves danger and under it all she is furious. She is rageful and angry. That's why she walks that line of anti-heroism so well. She's out to get back at the whole damn world - that's why she's flashy, that's why she steals from people who can afford it and who'll hate her for it instead of people who can't stop her. She does what she does because the world is broken, it's just that she's not interested in fixing it. She's just interested in a giant middle finger that everyone can see.
So when she does fail - when she gets caught by the gangs and her lone operation leaves her stranded and someone else pays the price for her "throw myself out a window" exit strategy - and Batman sees her in pain and tries, clumsily, to take back what he said before? Tries to tell her it's okay, he can help her fix it, why can't she just come over to his side, why can't she just stop being a criminal, he knows she's better than that, let him fix it and her and everything by just letting him be in charge?
She pushes him the hell away and runs off to join/run the Gotham mob. Because that is her redemption story. That is her finally deciding she can't cut and run anymore and that she has to take hold of the power that's been offered to her for the greater good. That is her deciding to be the hero Gotham deserves, even if it's not the hero that it needs. Selina Kyle's angsty self-denying superheroic alter ego is the capo di tutti capi of the Gotham mafia."
The art is beautiful with a charchol darkness and subtly to it that fully encapsulates the noir world, where enemies are in your face and friends distant. Brown does a superb job at showing Selina's fire and vulnerability.
http://beccatoria.dreamwidth.org/1835...
"It's a fine line to walk - when you write women in superhero comics, well, in any heroic fiction, competence is the double standard. Women don't get to fuck up. And fucking up when Batman warned you is a particularly dicey proposition. When Catwoman's written well, though, it throws shade on Batman's hypocrisy and lack of compassion: here is a man with a revolving door of dead and traumatised sidekicks and an interpersonal style that borders on abuse. He tries to manage and control Selina and it backfires spectacularly. He tries to take it back and it's too late. The fact we see this from Selina's point of view, in her comic, matters. Her aggressive rejection of his pity because her redemption isn't about him; he doesn't understand that they're doing exactly the same thing.
Like I said, it's difficult to write well, but the fact that Catwoman is an impulsive, reckless character is important to me. She is fiercely talented but she's also self-destructive. She jumps into situations without an exit strategy and relies on guts and cunning and cleverness and sometimes blind, dumb luck to get herself back out. It's a life she's comfortable with because she's the only casualty: it's not a failure she'd ever have to live with. She teases Batman and loves danger and under it all she is furious. She is rageful and angry. That's why she walks that line of anti-heroism so well. She's out to get back at the whole damn world - that's why she's flashy, that's why she steals from people who can afford it and who'll hate her for it instead of people who can't stop her. She does what she does because the world is broken, it's just that she's not interested in fixing it. She's just interested in a giant middle finger that everyone can see.
So when she does fail - when she gets caught by the gangs and her lone operation leaves her stranded and someone else pays the price for her "throw myself out a window" exit strategy - and Batman sees her in pain and tries, clumsily, to take back what he said before? Tries to tell her it's okay, he can help her fix it, why can't she just come over to his side, why can't she just stop being a criminal, he knows she's better than that, let him fix it and her and everything by just letting him be in charge?
She pushes him the hell away and runs off to join/run the Gotham mob. Because that is her redemption story. That is her finally deciding she can't cut and run anymore and that she has to take hold of the power that's been offered to her for the greater good. That is her deciding to be the hero Gotham deserves, even if it's not the hero that it needs. Selina Kyle's angsty self-denying superheroic alter ego is the capo di tutti capi of the Gotham mafia."
The art is beautiful with a charchol darkness and subtly to it that fully encapsulates the noir world, where enemies are in your face and friends distant. Brown does a superb job at showing Selina's fire and vulnerability.
November 26, 2016
No more sexploitation.
Good start, yeah?
So why does this book feel so somber, like I'm reading a tragedy instead of a crime thriller?
Maybe it's the off-kilter quotes peppered throughout the story (usually drawn from the writers of female leaders from centuries past):
"You may see whether I keep the serpent that poisons me when they confess to have reward."
What the hairy hell does that even mean? I get going literary - sometimes I feel very clever with myself when I can remember that one line from F. Scott Fitzgerald that everyone likes to quote (not coming to me now of course) - but this book is littered with oblique shit like this, that never quite connects with the actual story alongside which it's printed.
Maybe Valentine is aiming for "art" where thin connections inspire the reader to loftier interpretations of what's implied on the page.
Me, I'm smart enough that when I don't see the connection, it's like "swing and a miss".
But that's the worst complaint about this book.
There's a ton of grey players - we don't know who's on whose side, what their agendas or alliances are, and I can't actually follow who's who or what the end game is. Which should be keeping me entirely engaged, no? I mean, this is the substance of any good long-form story - keep you guessing, teasing out the details.
And yet somehow I'm bored, like "yet another Cold War between crime families" just feels tired. Guns, heroin, territory? (*rolls eyes*)
I kept reading this book not because I was excited or engaged, but because the premise was supposed to pay off: Catwoman goes from two-dimensional B-list cartoon to third-dimension adult player, taking on power not through her boots but her wits (and doing it in wool, not skintight, poorly-fastened leather). What card-carrying feminist wouldn't want to read some of that, redeeming comics with an actually-respectful take on a character with plenty of potential? Selina's always been a slippery character on the spectrum of selfish-evildoer-to-anti-hero - plenty of room to let her roam the murky shadows and show us what she's really made of.
Instead this feels like a lot of "woe is me, I wasn't prepared for these kinds of battles", and yet Selina doesn't seem to be learning much from the experience. If I wanted to watch someone fail often, I'd just record my job interviews.
The best part of this book? How cool Selina Kyle looks when she's posing for the camera:
Even the climax of this book doesn't quite satisfy. Deus Ex, and I'm confused by who betrayed who (maybe because there's too many f'n characters who are all double agents) or what it means.
Hell, I might just read the closing book of Valentine's run to see if she finally makes sense out of this mess.
Good start, yeah?
So why does this book feel so somber, like I'm reading a tragedy instead of a crime thriller?
Maybe it's the off-kilter quotes peppered throughout the story (usually drawn from the writers of female leaders from centuries past):
"You may see whether I keep the serpent that poisons me when they confess to have reward."
What the hairy hell does that even mean? I get going literary - sometimes I feel very clever with myself when I can remember that one line from F. Scott Fitzgerald that everyone likes to quote (not coming to me now of course) - but this book is littered with oblique shit like this, that never quite connects with the actual story alongside which it's printed.
Maybe Valentine is aiming for "art" where thin connections inspire the reader to loftier interpretations of what's implied on the page.
Me, I'm smart enough that when I don't see the connection, it's like "swing and a miss".
But that's the worst complaint about this book.
There's a ton of grey players - we don't know who's on whose side, what their agendas or alliances are, and I can't actually follow who's who or what the end game is. Which should be keeping me entirely engaged, no? I mean, this is the substance of any good long-form story - keep you guessing, teasing out the details.
And yet somehow I'm bored, like "yet another Cold War between crime families" just feels tired. Guns, heroin, territory? (*rolls eyes*)
I kept reading this book not because I was excited or engaged, but because the premise was supposed to pay off: Catwoman goes from two-dimensional B-list cartoon to third-dimension adult player, taking on power not through her boots but her wits (and doing it in wool, not skintight, poorly-fastened leather). What card-carrying feminist wouldn't want to read some of that, redeeming comics with an actually-respectful take on a character with plenty of potential? Selina's always been a slippery character on the spectrum of selfish-evildoer-to-anti-hero - plenty of room to let her roam the murky shadows and show us what she's really made of.
Instead this feels like a lot of "woe is me, I wasn't prepared for these kinds of battles", and yet Selina doesn't seem to be learning much from the experience. If I wanted to watch someone fail often, I'd just record my job interviews.
The best part of this book? How cool Selina Kyle looks when she's posing for the camera:
Even the climax of this book doesn't quite satisfy. Deus Ex, and I'm confused by who betrayed who (maybe because there's too many f'n characters who are all double agents) or what it means.
Hell, I might just read the closing book of Valentine's run to see if she finally makes sense out of this mess.
June 23, 2022
Selina as the head of a mob family? SOLD. The writing was spectacular and even if the lines got a little heavy sometimes, the artwork fit the gritty world Valentine created. I loved this. More Eiko, please!
#CharlieAndAshleyReadComics
#CharlieAndAshleyReadComics
January 16, 2016
I don't know where I stand on this yet. Objectively, it's a very good story, though I can imagine it'd be boring if you don't like mob stories. Me, I love the complicated, layered storytelling in this, and the way Selina was shown to be damn smart at what she did, even while it was killing her soul.
But. Is it a Catwoman story? I'm not sure. Even after reading this and seeing Selina's reasoning -- to build a better Gotham -- I still don't know that I buy that Selina would have made the choice to become a mob boss. I really just can't see her wanting to mess with that.
So, I'm conflicted. But bonus points for a range of awesome ladies, and for canonizing Selina's bisexuality.
But. Is it a Catwoman story? I'm not sure. Even after reading this and seeing Selina's reasoning -- to build a better Gotham -- I still don't know that I buy that Selina would have made the choice to become a mob boss. I really just can't see her wanting to mess with that.
So, I'm conflicted. But bonus points for a range of awesome ladies, and for canonizing Selina's bisexuality.
July 15, 2019
Catwoman: Keeper of the Castle picks up where the previous volume left off collecting the next six issues (Catwoman #35–40) of the 2011 on-going series with Catwoman Annual #2 and collects seven interconnecting one-issue stories.
From the aftermath of the events in Batman: Eternal, Selina Kyle has accepted the family mantle of being the Boss of the Calabrese Family – an organized crime family. As Boss, she no longer be Catwoman and hung up that identity. As head of the Calabrese Family, she faces antagonists from Roman Sionis as Black Mask and other Crime Families who wouldn't unite under her. Meanwhile, Eiko Hasigawa of the Hasigawa Yakuza picks up the mantle of Catwoman and stars as the titular character for Catwoman Annual #2.
Genevieve Valentine penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, Valentine's narration is significantly better than Nocenti. However, having said that, I am not thrilled at the direction of the series – granted it probably wasn't Valentine's idea for Selina Kyle to become a Crime Boss, but she did admirable with the direction of the narration. There is a strong cohesion to the trade paperback with a center that holds the entire trade paperback strong.
With the exception of one issues who was penciled by Patrick Olliffee (Catwoman Annual #2), the entire trade paperback was penciled by Garry Brown. Since he was the main penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, I somewhat enjoyed his penciling style.
All in all, Catwoman: Keeper of the Castle is a wonderful continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
From the aftermath of the events in Batman: Eternal, Selina Kyle has accepted the family mantle of being the Boss of the Calabrese Family – an organized crime family. As Boss, she no longer be Catwoman and hung up that identity. As head of the Calabrese Family, she faces antagonists from Roman Sionis as Black Mask and other Crime Families who wouldn't unite under her. Meanwhile, Eiko Hasigawa of the Hasigawa Yakuza picks up the mantle of Catwoman and stars as the titular character for Catwoman Annual #2.
Genevieve Valentine penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, Valentine's narration is significantly better than Nocenti. However, having said that, I am not thrilled at the direction of the series – granted it probably wasn't Valentine's idea for Selina Kyle to become a Crime Boss, but she did admirable with the direction of the narration. There is a strong cohesion to the trade paperback with a center that holds the entire trade paperback strong.
With the exception of one issues who was penciled by Patrick Olliffee (Catwoman Annual #2), the entire trade paperback was penciled by Garry Brown. Since he was the main penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, I somewhat enjoyed his penciling style.
All in all, Catwoman: Keeper of the Castle is a wonderful continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
September 22, 2017
I got a little bogged down by some of the strategy stuff but overall I liked seeing Selina be a BOSS. And the art was stunning. So many perfect shots of Selina in the shadows, long coat whipping behind her. Such good shadows. Beautiful whip work all around. And Eiko! Eiko. That is all.
June 13, 2019
A little meandering but way more interesting and character-driven than any of the other Catwoman solo titles I've read.
August 19, 2015
Better...but not by much...bad in another way...at least it tries.
Oh man, I can't even explain how much a disappointment the Catwoman series has been since the New52 relaunch. Gone were the days of the amazing and strong antihero that was Selina Kyle, gone were the days of amazing writers giving her a unique and special voice like Brubaker and Cooke what we are left with is simply put...garbage.
With the change from Nocenti (which was very disappointing) to Valentine I thought we would get something deeper, a bit more character driven but also playful and more in key with the Catwoman of the 2000s (when she was fully fleshed out and defined) but what we have with this new writer...well read below to see what I think:
World: I will start by saying that the art by Brown is very troubling. It's not offensive like March's but Brown's art is messy. It is a distinct style which I at first really enjoyed but as I read more and more into this arc I found his art a problem as character details and faces were lost and it was unclear who was who (yes it got that bad...especially for the male characters). Given that this is a visual storytelling medium and the unclear nature of his art is not intentional it is a massive problem, not a fan. The world building following the events of Batman Eternal was good, it left a lot of potential on how the series could go and it took the character in a decidedly different direction which could have paid off. I found the world building in this arc to be fine, it was different but it also allowed for the readers to see another deeper side of organized crime Gotham and that's always an intriguing thing.
Story: I am still trying to decide if the story is the main issue here or the writing is the main issue. Let's talk about story first, it's different, Selina being where she is in the beginning of this arc is different and a different type of story is to be expected. I like things that are different, it allows for the character to grow and also gives readers something new and indeed things were very different. In all 7 issues we barely got to see Selina in her suit, which is fine and I did enjoy that dynamic, the problem I feel is in the overall storyline which is just a patchwork of cliche mafia storylines. We see Selina struggling with controlling the Calabrese and the rest of Gotham and the manner in which she goes about it is fairly standard fare and therefore boring. I would have expected the fact that this story takes place in Gotham with bigger than life characters would give this type of tale something special but alas it did not. So pacing and writing, these are really big problems with the story. I've never read anything from Valentine so I don't know how to judge her other than purely from this comic book series. It's poorly paced, the framing is choppy and the emotions and feelings that she is trying to evoke with the reader does not hit because 1) the art does not help her by being so messy and 2) the points in which she chooses to linger on don't have the impact she is expecting. As I said the story is choppy and often disorienting as a result which made for a fairly uncomfortable read.
Characters: Selina is great in this book, she's strong and her voice is very distinct. I think that's the best thing about this book is Selina and her portrayal. She's out of her comfort zone this time around and she's a bit overwhelmed. This puts her into a place for wonderful storytelling but alas the story let's her down. The struggles she was going through at her changed role and her handling of it could have been gold, but it's not. Add to that the rest of the cast simply do not cut it, they are boring and the time we get to spend with them is not enough to draw enough connection with the reader. The end of issue 37 should have been huge, and it does give me something to chew on in terms of story, but the impact was not enough...it felt distant. I also really do not like how Black Mask was used. After the amazing things Brubaker did with him and making him pre New52, I find his portrayal but not only Valentine but writers in general to be very disappointing. Yeah so, Selina is good but she's stuck in a poorly written story so she cant' really stretch her muscles.
I really wanted to like this series again, with every new creative team change I am hoping for a return to Catwoman glory, but alas so far it has gotten actually progressively worse, when will my torture end?
Onward to the next book!
Oh man, I can't even explain how much a disappointment the Catwoman series has been since the New52 relaunch. Gone were the days of the amazing and strong antihero that was Selina Kyle, gone were the days of amazing writers giving her a unique and special voice like Brubaker and Cooke what we are left with is simply put...garbage.
With the change from Nocenti (which was very disappointing) to Valentine I thought we would get something deeper, a bit more character driven but also playful and more in key with the Catwoman of the 2000s (when she was fully fleshed out and defined) but what we have with this new writer...well read below to see what I think:
World: I will start by saying that the art by Brown is very troubling. It's not offensive like March's but Brown's art is messy. It is a distinct style which I at first really enjoyed but as I read more and more into this arc I found his art a problem as character details and faces were lost and it was unclear who was who (yes it got that bad...especially for the male characters). Given that this is a visual storytelling medium and the unclear nature of his art is not intentional it is a massive problem, not a fan. The world building following the events of Batman Eternal was good, it left a lot of potential on how the series could go and it took the character in a decidedly different direction which could have paid off. I found the world building in this arc to be fine, it was different but it also allowed for the readers to see another deeper side of organized crime Gotham and that's always an intriguing thing.
Story: I am still trying to decide if the story is the main issue here or the writing is the main issue. Let's talk about story first, it's different, Selina being where she is in the beginning of this arc is different and a different type of story is to be expected. I like things that are different, it allows for the character to grow and also gives readers something new and indeed things were very different. In all 7 issues we barely got to see Selina in her suit, which is fine and I did enjoy that dynamic, the problem I feel is in the overall storyline which is just a patchwork of cliche mafia storylines. We see Selina struggling with controlling the Calabrese and the rest of Gotham and the manner in which she goes about it is fairly standard fare and therefore boring. I would have expected the fact that this story takes place in Gotham with bigger than life characters would give this type of tale something special but alas it did not. So pacing and writing, these are really big problems with the story. I've never read anything from Valentine so I don't know how to judge her other than purely from this comic book series. It's poorly paced, the framing is choppy and the emotions and feelings that she is trying to evoke with the reader does not hit because 1) the art does not help her by being so messy and 2) the points in which she chooses to linger on don't have the impact she is expecting. As I said the story is choppy and often disorienting as a result which made for a fairly uncomfortable read.
Characters: Selina is great in this book, she's strong and her voice is very distinct. I think that's the best thing about this book is Selina and her portrayal. She's out of her comfort zone this time around and she's a bit overwhelmed. This puts her into a place for wonderful storytelling but alas the story let's her down. The struggles she was going through at her changed role and her handling of it could have been gold, but it's not. Add to that the rest of the cast simply do not cut it, they are boring and the time we get to spend with them is not enough to draw enough connection with the reader. The end of issue 37 should have been huge, and it does give me something to chew on in terms of story, but the impact was not enough...it felt distant. I also really do not like how Black Mask was used. After the amazing things Brubaker did with him and making him pre New52, I find his portrayal but not only Valentine but writers in general to be very disappointing. Yeah so, Selina is good but she's stuck in a poorly written story so she cant' really stretch her muscles.
I really wanted to like this series again, with every new creative team change I am hoping for a return to Catwoman glory, but alas so far it has gotten actually progressively worse, when will my torture end?
Onward to the next book!
January 29, 2016
The New 52 has not been kind to the sly thief. Between Judd Winick's pale imitation of a cheap HBO drama without the plot, and Ann Nocenti's unspeakable mess, the Catwoman title has been stuck at the bottom of the DC barrel for quite some time, sharing space with the likes of Red Hood and the Outlaws, Teen Titans, and the post-Robinson Earth 2. Thankfully, novelist and AV Club writer Genevieve Valentine has found a new direction for this troubled character, and has instantly spun a previous embarrassment of an ongoing series into one of DC's finest books to date.
Keeper of the Castle is an intricately plotted and emotionally riveting mafia drama full of twists and turns. Those who are interested should be relieved to hear that none of the previous five volumes nor the astoundingly mediocre Batman Eternal are necessary reading. Valentine plops Selina Kyle as the head of the Calabrese crime family, and never looks back. Selina attempts to use her connections with the mob to clean up the streets of Gotham, but resistance from her allies and opposition from rival families hound her at every step. What ensues is one extended game of chess between her and Black Mask, who has never been more menacing than he has here, manipulating his way into making Selina's life as difficult as possible. Selina herself is no stranger to the game, however. She understands how to put on a facade, make underhanded deals, and even commit morally questionable actions in order to preserve her endgame, all while dealing with the various curveballs being thrown her way. The plot is a slow burn, and those who expect action on every page will be put off, but there's considerable plot movement in every issue, with dominoes being set up to be knocked over at a later time.
Valentine does a fantastic job of making the reader truly understand Selina. Historical quotes about various women in power are peppered throughout the series, helping to color the context of Selina's actions. Narration may be highly present, but Valentine is one of the few writers in comics that understands how to utilize internal monologue as a tool for shaping the tone of a story, rather than a crutch to explain to the reader what's supposed to be happening in the script. Valentine also successfully introduces a complex and varied cast of characters with merely a handful of issues. Garry Brown's artwork creates the perfect atmosphere for this gritty mob drama, although his rough pencils can often leave character faces indistinguishable from one another.
Of course, the biggest crimeKeeper of the Castle is its association with the five abysmal volumes that came before. Not knowing what Valentine was capable of, DC neglected to re-launch the Catwoman ongoing series. And it has fumbled the ball yet again, attaching the "Volume 6" label to this saga, instead of resetting its numbering like it did with Batgirl of Burnside. Many were justifiably put off by the previous volumes in the title, and it's a shame that those readers' prejudices towards this title may prevent them from reading the best Catwoman story since Ed Brubaker.
Keeper of the Castle is an intricately plotted and emotionally riveting mafia drama full of twists and turns. Those who are interested should be relieved to hear that none of the previous five volumes nor the astoundingly mediocre Batman Eternal are necessary reading. Valentine plops Selina Kyle as the head of the Calabrese crime family, and never looks back. Selina attempts to use her connections with the mob to clean up the streets of Gotham, but resistance from her allies and opposition from rival families hound her at every step. What ensues is one extended game of chess between her and Black Mask, who has never been more menacing than he has here, manipulating his way into making Selina's life as difficult as possible. Selina herself is no stranger to the game, however. She understands how to put on a facade, make underhanded deals, and even commit morally questionable actions in order to preserve her endgame, all while dealing with the various curveballs being thrown her way. The plot is a slow burn, and those who expect action on every page will be put off, but there's considerable plot movement in every issue, with dominoes being set up to be knocked over at a later time.
Valentine does a fantastic job of making the reader truly understand Selina. Historical quotes about various women in power are peppered throughout the series, helping to color the context of Selina's actions. Narration may be highly present, but Valentine is one of the few writers in comics that understands how to utilize internal monologue as a tool for shaping the tone of a story, rather than a crutch to explain to the reader what's supposed to be happening in the script. Valentine also successfully introduces a complex and varied cast of characters with merely a handful of issues. Garry Brown's artwork creates the perfect atmosphere for this gritty mob drama, although his rough pencils can often leave character faces indistinguishable from one another.
Of course, the biggest crimeKeeper of the Castle is its association with the five abysmal volumes that came before. Not knowing what Valentine was capable of, DC neglected to re-launch the Catwoman ongoing series. And it has fumbled the ball yet again, attaching the "Volume 6" label to this saga, instead of resetting its numbering like it did with Batgirl of Burnside. Many were justifiably put off by the previous volumes in the title, and it's a shame that those readers' prejudices towards this title may prevent them from reading the best Catwoman story since Ed Brubaker.
August 2, 2015
After three volumes of Ann Nocenti, a kick in the face would have been a welcome improvement, but luckily, a new creative team is even better. Comics newcomer Genevieve Valentine joins artist Garry Brown to take Catwoman into the events of Batman Eternal. This sees her becoming Gotham's leading crime boss after the revelation that her father is Rex Calabrese, and so Selina hangs up her tights in order to try and fix Gotham her own way.
Valentine's story flits around the different crime families very well, and it's got a few plot twists that build as the story progresses. It's clear even once this arc ends that the story is nowhere near finished; it's more like it's building to its second act, so I'm glad Valentine is sticking around to see her story through to conclusion. Yes, it's difficult to see Catwoman out of costume more than in it, but there's a second Catwoman running around too to make things even more intricate. Some of the historical references are lost on me, but I get the general gist of it - Selina's trying to model herself on successful but underestimated women of history, and it pays off as she maneavoures Black Mask, Penguin, and numerous other gang leaders around their own chess board.
Garry Brown's art is suitable for this new take on the series, but it's definitely a little dark and unfinished for my taste. Characters are sometimes difficult to tell apart, especially in longer shots, although he has a good eye for action scenes. He's off the series for now, replaced by David Messina going forward, so we'll see if that has any effect. The annual is drawn by Pat Oliffe and John McCrea, and their styles are very different compared to Brown, but their story is also told from a different character's perspective, so the visual style changing makes sense.
Catwoman is interesting again. Very interesting.
Valentine's story flits around the different crime families very well, and it's got a few plot twists that build as the story progresses. It's clear even once this arc ends that the story is nowhere near finished; it's more like it's building to its second act, so I'm glad Valentine is sticking around to see her story through to conclusion. Yes, it's difficult to see Catwoman out of costume more than in it, but there's a second Catwoman running around too to make things even more intricate. Some of the historical references are lost on me, but I get the general gist of it - Selina's trying to model herself on successful but underestimated women of history, and it pays off as she maneavoures Black Mask, Penguin, and numerous other gang leaders around their own chess board.
Garry Brown's art is suitable for this new take on the series, but it's definitely a little dark and unfinished for my taste. Characters are sometimes difficult to tell apart, especially in longer shots, although he has a good eye for action scenes. He's off the series for now, replaced by David Messina going forward, so we'll see if that has any effect. The annual is drawn by Pat Oliffe and John McCrea, and their styles are very different compared to Brown, but their story is also told from a different character's perspective, so the visual style changing makes sense.
Catwoman is interesting again. Very interesting.
September 11, 2015
I didn't really find this all that compelling but that's because I'm not really a fan of mob dramas. The Godfather makes me want to snooze.
I do, however, think that Valentine did a stellar job at making Selina the strong, ruthless leader that she is in this issue. She was always in Batman's shadow as his sexy lover, as the one whom he always tries to save. But here, she shows Bruce that she doesn't need saving, that she can handle her own problems. This is a huge change from the very first issue of the New 52 Catwoman, where the first thing we saw of Selina was her tits, where her first interaction was fucking Bruce. I love seeing Selina be in such a position of power, and I can't wait to see more of her.
One thing that disappointed me was that we only see Selina donning the Catwoman suit on the second-last page of the last issue in this trade. While I do love how Selina's taken charge as herself, I want to see her as Catwoman, too.
I do, however, think that Valentine did a stellar job at making Selina the strong, ruthless leader that she is in this issue. She was always in Batman's shadow as his sexy lover, as the one whom he always tries to save. But here, she shows Bruce that she doesn't need saving, that she can handle her own problems. This is a huge change from the very first issue of the New 52 Catwoman, where the first thing we saw of Selina was her tits, where her first interaction was fucking Bruce. I love seeing Selina be in such a position of power, and I can't wait to see more of her.
One thing that disappointed me was that we only see Selina donning the Catwoman suit on the second-last page of the last issue in this trade. While I do love how Selina's taken charge as herself, I want to see her as Catwoman, too.
November 22, 2015
Not having read Batman Eternal, yet, I'm not sure how Selina Kyle got wrapped up in the underworld of the Cabrese crime family. Nevertheless, this is an exciting crime noir tale that pushes the boundaries of Catwoman and what she stands for. I don't know what else Genevieve Valentine has written, but I will be looking for more of her work. This was a refreshing breath of fresh air after the Nocenti nonsense. I had to skip the second and third volumes of Nocenti's Catwoman run simply because it's so damned awful.
Art wise, this book has some pretty good expressionistic art, very reminiscent of Michael Lark. There were a few panels where I couldn't tell who was who, but I attribute that more to the simple color palette than the art itself.
Jae Lee's covers are the bomb. Each one is poster-worthy.
Art wise, this book has some pretty good expressionistic art, very reminiscent of Michael Lark. There were a few panels where I couldn't tell who was who, but I attribute that more to the simple color palette than the art itself.
Jae Lee's covers are the bomb. Each one is poster-worthy.
November 26, 2016
"-Batman loves me.
-Batman wants to change us, that'snot love."
Nueva escritora, nuevo ilustrador, completo nuevo arco y como dije sobre el volumen anterior, no me termina de gustar. Este nuevo argumento es muy confuso y está mas o menos desarrollado. El arte es demasiado simple ahora, y me costaba distinguir los personajes (spoiler: eso nunca puede ser bueno en un comic). Selina me pareció más o menos ahora, es muy diferente a los primeros tomos, pero de dentro de todo sigue siendo una antiheroína.
July 28, 2015
Though this concept is abysmally untrue to Catwoman's character, it is making for some interesting storytelling with Catwoman being the head of the largest organized crime ring in Gotham City. I am very curious to see how the book series proceeds from here.
March 18, 2016
Both the art and the storytelling were muddled.
December 14, 2020
Nową Catwoman mógłbym porównać do... Ojca Chrzestnego? Zaskakujące, ale mamy tu naprawdę wiele cech wspólnych z tym ponad czasowym dziełem, choć to tylko pokazuje jak dobry jest ten film i jak mocno wpływa na wygląd filmów gangsterskich produkowanych do dziś, bo także w Catwoman mamy pewne klisze stamtąd zapożyczone.
Selina Kyle, córka ultra ważnego dona z rodziny Calabrese, "z racji stanu", aby ratować Gotham od widma wojny o władzę pomiędzy lokalnymi głowami rodzin mafijnych staje się niejako głównym donem. Jest to chyba jedna z niewielu moich bolączek jakie miałem z tym tytułem, bowiem średnio mi się chce wierzyć, że była "utytułowana" złodziejka staje nagle na takiej pozycji, tylko dlatego że pozostali pomniejsi donowie usłużnie pochylą głowy przed jakąś obcą kobietą. (mimo, że ojciec zza krat mógł po naciskać odpowiednie sznurki).
Ale nie samą Seliną ten tytuł w tym przypadku żyje. Ward, Antonia, Nick, Eiko. Każda z tych postaci jest jakaś i naprawdę im kibicowałem. Dziwnym wyjątkiem jest Eiko, której poświęcono tu nawet jeden cały zeszyt, aby pokazać pewne wydarzenia z innej perspektywy. Było to zaskakująco dobre, zwłaszcza, że próżnia po mianie Catwoman została szybko zapełniona... Tak, ktoś inny harcuje teraz w stroju podobnym do tytułowej bohaterki, uzurpując sobie prawa do tej nazwy, co prowadzi do kilku zabawnych sytuacji, w których rządzą spotkania z Batmanem, nawet jeżeli można je policzyć na placach u jednej ręki.
Są zdrady, knowania, egzekucje, duże deale i sporo rozmów. Pani Valentine położyła nacisk na mówiony aspekt, więc tekstu mamy dużo i jest on dosyć wysokiego poziomu, co stanowi taką odskocznię do tego co było w trzech ostatnich tomach przygód seksownej i zwinnej złodziejki. Gdzieś w tle mamy ojca Eiko, który zarządza mafią o zabarwieniu rodem z Dalekiego Wschodu. Mamy Black Maska i Pingwina, którzy toczą tutaj własne gry. Selina nie będzie miała łatwo.
Jest to taki plus/minus. Dlaczego tak? To zależy od własnych preferencji. Tempo historii nie należy do najszybszych. Owszem, jest tu trochę akcji, ale autorka postawiła na kreowanie relacji, postaci Seliny i ogólnym nastoju. Więcej tu mówią czy planują niźli ktoś strzela. Osobiście uważam to za plus i odskocznię od tego co standardowo zaprezentowano nam w tym okresie New 52.
Gary Brown robi tu świetną robotę ze swoją kreską. Całość jest odpowiednio stonowana i brudna. Początkowo nie podobało mi się jak pokazano tu chociażby Sionisa, ale przeszło mi. W końcu mamy taką Catwoman na jaką zasługujemy. Jak na taką bohaterkę całość jest unikatowa i zmierza w dosyć zaskakujące tory, co przekłada się na moje pełne zainteresowanie. I odkupuje koszmar jaki przeżyłem przy okazji lektury poprzednich tomów.
Selina Kyle, córka ultra ważnego dona z rodziny Calabrese, "z racji stanu", aby ratować Gotham od widma wojny o władzę pomiędzy lokalnymi głowami rodzin mafijnych staje się niejako głównym donem. Jest to chyba jedna z niewielu moich bolączek jakie miałem z tym tytułem, bowiem średnio mi się chce wierzyć, że była "utytułowana" złodziejka staje nagle na takiej pozycji, tylko dlatego że pozostali pomniejsi donowie usłużnie pochylą głowy przed jakąś obcą kobietą. (mimo, że ojciec zza krat mógł po naciskać odpowiednie sznurki).
Ale nie samą Seliną ten tytuł w tym przypadku żyje. Ward, Antonia, Nick, Eiko. Każda z tych postaci jest jakaś i naprawdę im kibicowałem. Dziwnym wyjątkiem jest Eiko, której poświęcono tu nawet jeden cały zeszyt, aby pokazać pewne wydarzenia z innej perspektywy. Było to zaskakująco dobre, zwłaszcza, że próżnia po mianie Catwoman została szybko zapełniona... Tak, ktoś inny harcuje teraz w stroju podobnym do tytułowej bohaterki, uzurpując sobie prawa do tej nazwy, co prowadzi do kilku zabawnych sytuacji, w których rządzą spotkania z Batmanem, nawet jeżeli można je policzyć na placach u jednej ręki.
Są zdrady, knowania, egzekucje, duże deale i sporo rozmów. Pani Valentine położyła nacisk na mówiony aspekt, więc tekstu mamy dużo i jest on dosyć wysokiego poziomu, co stanowi taką odskocznię do tego co było w trzech ostatnich tomach przygód seksownej i zwinnej złodziejki. Gdzieś w tle mamy ojca Eiko, który zarządza mafią o zabarwieniu rodem z Dalekiego Wschodu. Mamy Black Maska i Pingwina, którzy toczą tutaj własne gry. Selina nie będzie miała łatwo.
Jest to taki plus/minus. Dlaczego tak? To zależy od własnych preferencji. Tempo historii nie należy do najszybszych. Owszem, jest tu trochę akcji, ale autorka postawiła na kreowanie relacji, postaci Seliny i ogólnym nastoju. Więcej tu mówią czy planują niźli ktoś strzela. Osobiście uważam to za plus i odskocznię od tego co standardowo zaprezentowano nam w tym okresie New 52.
Gary Brown robi tu świetną robotę ze swoją kreską. Całość jest odpowiednio stonowana i brudna. Początkowo nie podobało mi się jak pokazano tu chociażby Sionisa, ale przeszło mi. W końcu mamy taką Catwoman na jaką zasługujemy. Jak na taką bohaterkę całość jest unikatowa i zmierza w dosyć zaskakujące tory, co przekłada się na moje pełne zainteresowanie. I odkupuje koszmar jaki przeżyłem przy okazji lektury poprzednich tomów.
October 6, 2017
Picked this up in pursuit of reading everything I can find that Genevieve Valentine wrote, so it's Vol 6 in a plot I know nothing about-- but that doesn't stop the story from being easy to pick up and super fun. I enjoyed the mob drama of Selena Kyle stepping in to rebuild Gotham as heir to the Calabresa family, and all of the identity fuckery that superheroing and new alternate identities imply.
Other great things:
1) so many quotes from letters famous powerful ladies in history (Liz 1, Lucretia Borgia, Ching Shih's) holding shit together, that Selina ruminates on.
2) SO MANY LADIES in EXCELLENT FASHION
3) When the Calabresas are fighting to keep their name on rebuilding the city, they donate $ to the arts. The exchange is something like "can we afford these 7 figure donations?" "Can we afford not to?" I like the dig. The arts are important, and museums and cultural places make up a lot of the scenery in the comic.
4) Layers of power games, always exciting. And the art direction is good enough that I'm never lost as to who is doing what, which can be easy in a larger cast with complicated games.
Other great things:
1) so many quotes from letters famous powerful ladies in history (Liz 1, Lucretia Borgia, Ching Shih's) holding shit together, that Selina ruminates on.
2) SO MANY LADIES in EXCELLENT FASHION
3) When the Calabresas are fighting to keep their name on rebuilding the city, they donate $ to the arts. The exchange is something like "can we afford these 7 figure donations?" "Can we afford not to?" I like the dig. The arts are important, and museums and cultural places make up a lot of the scenery in the comic.
4) Layers of power games, always exciting. And the art direction is good enough that I'm never lost as to who is doing what, which can be easy in a larger cast with complicated games.
June 18, 2020
I liked the sketchy style of Garry Brown (reminded me somewhat of Tim Sale). The Jae/June covers were more good than not (Personally I didn't like a couple of them but all are stunning). The story was interesting, in some ways more, some ways less, than the previous arc. I have no idea what volumes of this series is supposed to be in the "new52" verse, the Catbird stuff seems utterly disconnected from Dollhouse, etc. in vol. 1-3, and Race in vol 5, and now vol 6 w Selina as a kingpin, none of it seems to go together (which is fine but jarring to see an entirely different take on the character emerging from one issue to the next).
July 9, 2020
Catwoman odbija się od dna, jednak wraca zmieniona po wydarzeniach z Batman Eternal. Tak naprawdę trzeba ten tom traktować jako 4 część BE, inaczej nic nie będzie miało sensu.
Selina jako spadkobierczyni mafijnego rodu próbuje zaprowadzić porządek w chaotycznym podziemiu. Silny charakter i giętki kręgosłup dają jej przewagę nad konkurencją, ale żeby odgrywać historyczne władczyni z powodzeniem, musi wyzbyć się emocji i skrupułów.
To nie jest komiks superbohaterski, więc większość czytelników może od razu się odbić od ilości dialogów i złożonych postaci, wyglądających jak zwykli ludzie. Styl artystyczny idzie w szarobure ślady Gotham Central, więc komiks ciągle twardo stąpa po ziemi.
Selina jako spadkobierczyni mafijnego rodu próbuje zaprowadzić porządek w chaotycznym podziemiu. Silny charakter i giętki kręgosłup dają jej przewagę nad konkurencją, ale żeby odgrywać historyczne władczyni z powodzeniem, musi wyzbyć się emocji i skrupułów.
To nie jest komiks superbohaterski, więc większość czytelników może od razu się odbić od ilości dialogów i złożonych postaci, wyglądających jak zwykli ludzie. Styl artystyczny idzie w szarobure ślady Gotham Central, więc komiks ciągle twardo stąpa po ziemi.
August 14, 2022
Batman Eternal threw Catwoman much deeper into Batman’s world than the new 52 had allowed up to that point and it was the best writing of their relationship in this era.
Now the kingpin of crime in Gotham, her own title has a new creative team and a new direction. This is the first act of an epic crime drama starring a much smarter and savvier Selina than the previous volumes offered.
Selina fighting Black Mask for control. Rats and traitors. Batman fighting for Selina’s soul. A new Catwoman picking up the mantle in her absence. Penguin sticking his beak in. This is the stuff. More please.
Now the kingpin of crime in Gotham, her own title has a new creative team and a new direction. This is the first act of an epic crime drama starring a much smarter and savvier Selina than the previous volumes offered.
Selina fighting Black Mask for control. Rats and traitors. Batman fighting for Selina’s soul. A new Catwoman picking up the mantle in her absence. Penguin sticking his beak in. This is the stuff. More please.
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