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Catwoman: One-Shots
Catwoman: Selina's Big Score
VOLUME 28
SELINA'S BIG SCORE
Original published September 2002
A mob train full of unmarked cash. A crew of professional thieves to take it down. Selina Kyle figured it was the perfect crime. But Selina was wrong.
SLAM BRADLEY: TRAIL OF THE CATWOMAN
Originally published in Detective Comics #759-762
August - November 2001
Hired to find Catwoman, Private Detective Slam Bradley's only lead is the knowledge that she was responsible for the death of Selina Kyle.
BATMAN #1
Originally published Spring 1940
When Robin goes undercover aboard The Dolphin, the mystery of a jewel theft leads him and Batman to their first encounter with the femme fatale known as The Cat.
SELINA'S BIG SCORE
Original published September 2002
A mob train full of unmarked cash. A crew of professional thieves to take it down. Selina Kyle figured it was the perfect crime. But Selina was wrong.
SLAM BRADLEY: TRAIL OF THE CATWOMAN
Originally published in Detective Comics #759-762
August - November 2001
Hired to find Catwoman, Private Detective Slam Bradley's only lead is the knowledge that she was responsible for the death of Selina Kyle.
BATMAN #1
Originally published Spring 1940
When Robin goes undercover aboard The Dolphin, the mystery of a jewel theft leads him and Batman to their first encounter with the femme fatale known as The Cat.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
About the author
Ed Brubaker
1,816 books3,055 followersEd Brubaker (born November 17, 1966) is an Eisner Award-winning American cartoonist and writer. He was born at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.
Brubaker is best known for his work as a comic book writer on such titles as Batman, Daredevil, Captain America, Iron Fist, Catwoman, Gotham Central and Uncanny X-Men. In more recent years, he has focused solely on creator-owned titles for Image Comics, such as Fatale, Criminal, Velvet and Kill or Be Killed.
In 2016, Brubaker ventured into television, joining the writing staff of the HBO series Westworld.
Brubaker is best known for his work as a comic book writer on such titles as Batman, Daredevil, Captain America, Iron Fist, Catwoman, Gotham Central and Uncanny X-Men. In more recent years, he has focused solely on creator-owned titles for Image Comics, such as Fatale, Criminal, Velvet and Kill or Be Killed.
In 2016, Brubaker ventured into television, joining the writing staff of the HBO series Westworld.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
December 5, 2018
Flat broke, Catwoman learns of a train carrying twenty-four million dollars of drug money, her ticket back to the big leagues. But she'll need help to pull off the heist, help of her old mentor, a planner named Stark. Can they trust each other and get the money without being killed?
So this was pretty bad ass. Darwyn Cooke writes a team-up between Catwoman and Richard Stark's Parker, for all intents and purposes. I have to think Darwyn Cooke had no idea he'd later be adapting The Hunter and this was an homage to the Parker books. It even does the cutaway sequences like the Parker books.
The art was Darwyn Cooke's signature style and well-suited to the task at hand, 1950's style but somehow gritty as hell. The writing felt just like one of the Parker books.
Cooke did a great job writing about Selina's complicated relationships with the men in the book, namely Stark and Slam Bradley. There were enough twists to keep things interesting. Right up until the end, I wasn't sure who'd walk away with the money.
Selina's Big Score was another winning entry in my post-mortem examination of Darwyn Cooke's body of work. Four out of five stars.
So this was pretty bad ass. Darwyn Cooke writes a team-up between Catwoman and Richard Stark's Parker, for all intents and purposes. I have to think Darwyn Cooke had no idea he'd later be adapting The Hunter and this was an homage to the Parker books. It even does the cutaway sequences like the Parker books.
The art was Darwyn Cooke's signature style and well-suited to the task at hand, 1950's style but somehow gritty as hell. The writing felt just like one of the Parker books.
Cooke did a great job writing about Selina's complicated relationships with the men in the book, namely Stark and Slam Bradley. There were enough twists to keep things interesting. Right up until the end, I wasn't sure who'd walk away with the money.
Selina's Big Score was another winning entry in my post-mortem examination of Darwyn Cooke's body of work. Four out of five stars.
May 28, 2016
Selina Kyle/Catwoman is living the high life abroad until a failed robbery leaves her tapped out - she needs money and that means going back to Gotham City. She just needs one big score to get her liquid again but that means hitting up the Falcone crime family for $24 million. Mee-yow - for that kinda cash, someone’s gonna get hurt, and not everyone’s lucky enough to have nine lives!
Selina’s Big Score is like a warm-up for Darwyn Cooke’s later Parker adaptations for IDW. Sure, Selina gets in costume once or twice, there’s a brief Batman flashback, and we’re in Gotham for a little while, but this one’s not really your usual DC superhero comic. Also, Selina teams up with a tough guy character called Stark for a train heist who’s Parker in all but name and who I’m certain is named after Richard Stark, Donald Westlake’s pseudonym and the author of the Parker books.
The Golden Age DC private eye character Slam Bradley also throws his fedora in the ring, completing the collection of hard-boiled crime story tropes: the femme fatale, a world-weary private dick, a career criminal/gun-for-hire, a fence, and the mobster and his moll. It’s even got a classic flavour to it with the train heist - no fancy schmancy vaults with lasers to break into! That’s something I’ve noticed with a lot of Darwyn Cooke comics: he’s great at working within the bounds of a genre but he doesn’t really add anything new or provide a fresh angle to it.
Maybe it’s because I’ve read Cooke’s Parker books but I wasn’t that impressed with Selina’s Big Score - Cooke’s done better heist comics elsewhere. But if the story was so-so, the artwork was the cat’s pyjamas! Turn to any page in this book - isn’t it gorgeous? Vintage Cooke, only this time with thicker lines and heavier inks for that brooding, stylized noir look.
Matt Hollingsworth’s colours are amazing too. I was heavily reminded of David Aja’s Hawkeye when reading this one - maybe it’s Hollingsworth’s colours (he worked with both artists and purple is prominent for both Selina and Clint) or maybe Aja’s style is more like Cooke’s than I realised, but I think if you enjoyed Aja’s work on Hawkeye, you’ll really appreciate Cooke’s art in this one.
The story is pretty unoriginal and feels a little played out to be that exciting but it’s definitely a readable comic and the artwork is glorious - Selina’s Mediocre Score!
Selina’s Big Score is like a warm-up for Darwyn Cooke’s later Parker adaptations for IDW. Sure, Selina gets in costume once or twice, there’s a brief Batman flashback, and we’re in Gotham for a little while, but this one’s not really your usual DC superhero comic. Also, Selina teams up with a tough guy character called Stark for a train heist who’s Parker in all but name and who I’m certain is named after Richard Stark, Donald Westlake’s pseudonym and the author of the Parker books.
The Golden Age DC private eye character Slam Bradley also throws his fedora in the ring, completing the collection of hard-boiled crime story tropes: the femme fatale, a world-weary private dick, a career criminal/gun-for-hire, a fence, and the mobster and his moll. It’s even got a classic flavour to it with the train heist - no fancy schmancy vaults with lasers to break into! That’s something I’ve noticed with a lot of Darwyn Cooke comics: he’s great at working within the bounds of a genre but he doesn’t really add anything new or provide a fresh angle to it.
Maybe it’s because I’ve read Cooke’s Parker books but I wasn’t that impressed with Selina’s Big Score - Cooke’s done better heist comics elsewhere. But if the story was so-so, the artwork was the cat’s pyjamas! Turn to any page in this book - isn’t it gorgeous? Vintage Cooke, only this time with thicker lines and heavier inks for that brooding, stylized noir look.
Matt Hollingsworth’s colours are amazing too. I was heavily reminded of David Aja’s Hawkeye when reading this one - maybe it’s Hollingsworth’s colours (he worked with both artists and purple is prominent for both Selina and Clint) or maybe Aja’s style is more like Cooke’s than I realised, but I think if you enjoyed Aja’s work on Hawkeye, you’ll really appreciate Cooke’s art in this one.
The story is pretty unoriginal and feels a little played out to be that exciting but it’s definitely a readable comic and the artwork is glorious - Selina’s Mediocre Score!
November 22, 2020
A gorgeous and surprisingly good hard-boiled crime heist
And this time I was re-reading Stark's, Swifty's and Crystal's baloons with the voices of Lee Marvin, Burgess Meredith and Pam Grier in my mind.
'Nuff said.
August 30, 2015
I think I've about had my fill of "noir comics" - maybe just Darwyn Cooke's writing. Reading about casual sexism isn't enjoyable to me at this point. Don't get me confused with humourless SJWs - I love me some tasteless/non-PC humour (just check out the ridiculous conversations we have on our podcast Sara and Mike On Comics).
What this feels like is either (a) slavish devotion to a lazily egocentric genre or (b) lazy misogyny that can't graduate to adulthood.
"But, but...it's NOIR, man! Noo-whar!" Yeah, that's the death rattle of devotion to something that doesn't stand up to rational conversation. I think it's time to retire "noir" don't you? We retired slavery and suffrage last century too, perhaps it's time to recognize we're more accountable to others than the average Ayn Rand emotionally stunted cult addict.
And the lines, oh the dialogue. "But God help me, it felt like the worst was yet to come." Hell, he even tried to get away with "It was a dark and stormy night" by tacking on "What do you want from me? I'm a detective, not a writer." It's not all bad - most of it passable - but a few stinkers laid along the way makes me wary where I step, rather than just veering wildly from page to page.
The lead up to the heist is fine, good job on the characterizations and drama. The heist itself has such poor layout that I have absolutely no idea what action actually occurred. I don't remember Cooke being this bad at face-paced action, so maybe he was just "experimenting" here, or he was suddenly pissed off at the editor.
What this feels like is either (a) slavish devotion to a lazily egocentric genre or (b) lazy misogyny that can't graduate to adulthood.
"But, but...it's NOIR, man! Noo-whar!" Yeah, that's the death rattle of devotion to something that doesn't stand up to rational conversation. I think it's time to retire "noir" don't you? We retired slavery and suffrage last century too, perhaps it's time to recognize we're more accountable to others than the average Ayn Rand emotionally stunted cult addict.
And the lines, oh the dialogue. "But God help me, it felt like the worst was yet to come." Hell, he even tried to get away with "It was a dark and stormy night" by tacking on "What do you want from me? I'm a detective, not a writer." It's not all bad - most of it passable - but a few stinkers laid along the way makes me wary where I step, rather than just veering wildly from page to page.
The lead up to the heist is fine, good job on the characterizations and drama. The heist itself has such poor layout that I have absolutely no idea what action actually occurred. I don't remember Cooke being this bad at face-paced action, so maybe he was just "experimenting" here, or he was suddenly pissed off at the editor.
March 22, 2019
This is basically issue zero for Cooke's later Parker novels. Barring a couple of flashbacks, you could barely tell this was even set in the DC universe. This is a full on, hard-boiled, crime caper. Selina even teams up with Stark (which I'm positive was a homage to Richard Stark's Parker novels). It's got that same retro feel most of Cooke's work does. Matt Hollingsworth's colors turn Cooke's artwork up another notch.
November 29, 2021
Writer/Artist Darwyn Cooke gained even more popularity later in his career creating graphic novel adaptations of Richard Stark's Parker novels and it feels like this nifty little story was the precursor to all of that! In an epic revitalization of the Catwoman character, Cooke had the awesome idea of reimagining master cat burglar Selina Kyle not as simply a sexy foil to Batman, but as a crime noir antihero similar to Parker. When this graphic novel opens, Selina (and her Catwoman identity) is presumed dead and she's been traveling for three years pulling burglaries around the world, but now her money has dried up. Desperate for some cash, she decides to get out of her comfort zone and pull a big heist, putting together a team of veteran thieves from Gotham to rob a speeding money train full of mob cash coming down from Canada. But of course things don't go as planned.
I loved this one, and kept wondering why no one had this idea previously. This is a whole new spin on Catwoman. There's no traditional catsuit and barely a mention of Batman or other superheroes. Just vintage, atmospheric art, brooding criminals, double-crosses, hard-ass private dicks, and hard-boiled one-liners. And it all fits the Catwoman vibe perfectly. Even if you don't read comics but you're still a fan of hard-boiled crime and Stark's Parker series, just jump into this quick and dirty caper story as soon as you can!
I loved this one, and kept wondering why no one had this idea previously. This is a whole new spin on Catwoman. There's no traditional catsuit and barely a mention of Batman or other superheroes. Just vintage, atmospheric art, brooding criminals, double-crosses, hard-ass private dicks, and hard-boiled one-liners. And it all fits the Catwoman vibe perfectly. Even if you don't read comics but you're still a fan of hard-boiled crime and Stark's Parker series, just jump into this quick and dirty caper story as soon as you can!
December 28, 2020
This is one I keep going back to. I've actually lost count how many times I've read this book. It's that good.
Bridging the gap between the alleged death of Selina Kyle and Catwoman's new (at the time, anyway) ongoing series (written by Brubaker, see Trail of the Catwoman and No Easy Way Down), Selina's Big Score is a heist story worthy of Hollywood. In the fun department, it's right up there with the Ocean's Eleven remake with George Clooney.
Selina, Stark, Jeff, Swifty, and poor, poor Chantel. I like their preparation for the heist and its subsequent execution, as well as the unforeseen events that alter their perfect plan. And let's not forget Slam Bradley, who gets his share of moments! I like that Darwyn Cooke based Stark on writer Donald Westlake's alias' Richard Stark's Parker character and had him look like Lee Marvin, who originally portrayed Parker in Point Blank. That was a nice touch. Darwyn Cooke would later adapt some of Richard Stark's books: The Hunter, The Outfit, The Score, and Slayground. In fact, you can really tell Darwyn Cooke has a lot of affection for these stories, as Selina's Big Score is structured almost exactly like a Parker novel.
If you've not had a chance to read this book yet, check it out. Action, drama, humour, suspense. This one's got it all. Highly recommended.
Note: This out-of-print stand-alone graphic novel was included in the following collections: Batman: Ego and Other Tails and Catwoman Vol. 1: Trail of the Catwoman. Sweet!
Bridging the gap between the alleged death of Selina Kyle and Catwoman's new (at the time, anyway) ongoing series (written by Brubaker, see Trail of the Catwoman and No Easy Way Down), Selina's Big Score is a heist story worthy of Hollywood. In the fun department, it's right up there with the Ocean's Eleven remake with George Clooney.
Selina, Stark, Jeff, Swifty, and poor, poor Chantel. I like their preparation for the heist and its subsequent execution, as well as the unforeseen events that alter their perfect plan. And let's not forget Slam Bradley, who gets his share of moments! I like that Darwyn Cooke based Stark on writer Donald Westlake's alias' Richard Stark's Parker character and had him look like Lee Marvin, who originally portrayed Parker in Point Blank. That was a nice touch. Darwyn Cooke would later adapt some of Richard Stark's books: The Hunter, The Outfit, The Score, and Slayground. In fact, you can really tell Darwyn Cooke has a lot of affection for these stories, as Selina's Big Score is structured almost exactly like a Parker novel.
If you've not had a chance to read this book yet, check it out. Action, drama, humour, suspense. This one's got it all. Highly recommended.
Note: This out-of-print stand-alone graphic novel was included in the following collections: Batman: Ego and Other Tails and Catwoman Vol. 1: Trail of the Catwoman. Sweet!
October 21, 2017
There was a lot I really liked about this: I love Catwoman, and I was intrigued by her relationship with Stark, and the history that went along with that. She's a fascinating character. I also liked Slam Bradley, especially in 'Trial of the Catwoman'.
I was torn about the artwork style, I didn't really like it at first, but it kind of grew on me. I did enjoy the story more that the art though, hence three stars not four.
I was torn about the artwork style, I didn't really like it at first, but it kind of grew on me. I did enjoy the story more that the art though, hence three stars not four.
March 15, 2019
Very crime noir!
September 9, 2025
Darwyn Cooke reimagines Selina Kyle in this slick, pulpy heist tale that feels straight out of classic crime noir. Stylish, moody artwork pairs with sharp storytelling as Selina pulls together a crew for a high-stakes score that’s equal parts grit and glamour. It’s a perfect standalone caper that sets the stage for her modern era, showcasing Cooke’s gift for both character and atmosphere.
July 22, 2015
This is why I love Catwoman books, this book is a distilled, concentrated shot of what makes Selina such a fun character to read.
The current New52 Catwoman has been so bad for so long that my palate needed some cleansing from the shit that is New52 Selina Kyle. That's why I decided to go back to the Catwoman I grew up with so that I can love this character again. Thank the comic gods for Darwyn Cooke (and Ed Brubaker in the main series):
World: This is post No Man's Land and post Selina killed by Catwoman so this was a new direction that Cooke was taking the character. All the baggage that Selina had from series 1 was pretty much dealt with (or swept under the rug) leaving a new world and a new tone for this new Catwoman. Gotham and the different locals like Vegas, Miami and New York are great, the give this book a much grander landscape for Selina to play on and wow does she every play. This world is awesome. On and the art, it's Darwyn Cooke, it's stylish, the line work is amazing, the framing superb, it's Darwyn Cooke. Let's not also forget Hollingsworth and his amazing colors. This book and it's world is simply gorgeous.
Story: A classic well written Catwoman story, a caper. This is a caper and it's a fun one. It's nothing more, it's nothing less, it is what it is and it does it so well that all you care about is the caper. There are bigger forces working here as it does lead into the main series and also dealt with the events of Detective Comics but this story pretty much stands on it's own. It's fun, it's smart, the pacing is superb, the dialog is fun, don't even get me started on the characters (I'll talk about them below). It's just a fun read.
Characters: This is why I love Cooke so much (not just is art, and storytelling skills), his characters are dense, complex, approachable and also full of personal voice. The fact that each issue in this mini series starts with huge chunks of story told in different perspectives is wonderful, you really get the sense of each character's personality, and then there's Selina. Man is she ever awesome. Her personality, her dialog, her internal dialog is all wonderful, making her deep and complex. Just read this for her and you will fall in love with her.
I love this character and I love this series, reading this mini again reminds me that in the right hands Selina is an amazing character to read.
Onward to the next book!
The current New52 Catwoman has been so bad for so long that my palate needed some cleansing from the shit that is New52 Selina Kyle. That's why I decided to go back to the Catwoman I grew up with so that I can love this character again. Thank the comic gods for Darwyn Cooke (and Ed Brubaker in the main series):
World: This is post No Man's Land and post Selina killed by Catwoman so this was a new direction that Cooke was taking the character. All the baggage that Selina had from series 1 was pretty much dealt with (or swept under the rug) leaving a new world and a new tone for this new Catwoman. Gotham and the different locals like Vegas, Miami and New York are great, the give this book a much grander landscape for Selina to play on and wow does she every play. This world is awesome. On and the art, it's Darwyn Cooke, it's stylish, the line work is amazing, the framing superb, it's Darwyn Cooke. Let's not also forget Hollingsworth and his amazing colors. This book and it's world is simply gorgeous.
Story: A classic well written Catwoman story, a caper. This is a caper and it's a fun one. It's nothing more, it's nothing less, it is what it is and it does it so well that all you care about is the caper. There are bigger forces working here as it does lead into the main series and also dealt with the events of Detective Comics but this story pretty much stands on it's own. It's fun, it's smart, the pacing is superb, the dialog is fun, don't even get me started on the characters (I'll talk about them below). It's just a fun read.
Characters: This is why I love Cooke so much (not just is art, and storytelling skills), his characters are dense, complex, approachable and also full of personal voice. The fact that each issue in this mini series starts with huge chunks of story told in different perspectives is wonderful, you really get the sense of each character's personality, and then there's Selina. Man is she ever awesome. Her personality, her dialog, her internal dialog is all wonderful, making her deep and complex. Just read this for her and you will fall in love with her.
I love this character and I love this series, reading this mini again reminds me that in the right hands Selina is an amazing character to read.
Onward to the next book!
August 19, 2023
Catwoman is a character I enjoy but not always her own comics. Now this is the run to be considered the best, the Big Score then into Ed Brubaker's run. Is it good though? Let's talk about it.
We have Salina having to team up with people to, well, complete a huge score. Luckily this has a very fun tone throughout with dark elements. I think that's the best way to write a heist like story with multiple scumbag characters. And while Salina is the star here, the sidecast is given a lot of love and time too. Some major deaths and twist I didn't expect but enjoyed non-the-less. I also really enjoyed the art, while cartoony and looks like a kid TV show, it somehow works really well.
Though the plot feels stretched at times, it's overall a really fun time, and worth checking if you like Catwoman at all. A 4 out of 5.
We have Salina having to team up with people to, well, complete a huge score. Luckily this has a very fun tone throughout with dark elements. I think that's the best way to write a heist like story with multiple scumbag characters. And while Salina is the star here, the sidecast is given a lot of love and time too. Some major deaths and twist I didn't expect but enjoyed non-the-less. I also really enjoyed the art, while cartoony and looks like a kid TV show, it somehow works really well.
Though the plot feels stretched at times, it's overall a really fun time, and worth checking if you like Catwoman at all. A 4 out of 5.
December 26, 2017
Probably 2.5 stars
July 24, 2013
Cooke offers up what was probably a very daring take on Catwoman at the time: it's fully noir with just the slightest mention of Catwoman existing in a super-universe. The result is entirely enjoyable, with a great cast of characters, and terrific artwork (also by Cooke). However, Cooke really *nails* the ending, which is superb.
February 22, 2025
Te dwie historie o Catwoman idealnie pokazuja jaka jest sila dobrego scenariusza. Bo jest on idealny i rysunki Cooka nie daly rady tego zniszczyc. Po prostu nie znosze takiego rysowania ale dla dobrej historii warto bylo sie przemeczyc.
February 20, 2020
It's "Catwoman meets Ocean's 11" when the feline fatale assembles a crew of hardboiled heavies to rob a train full of mob money! And just like an Ocean's movie, Selina's Big Score is slick, self-consciously stylish, vapid, and instantly forgettable.
First published in 2002, Selina's Big Score is part of the "faux feminism" trend in commercial entertainment that emerged around the turn of the millennium, in which female characters were "upgraded" from such reductive twentieth-century archetypes as the "Girl Friday," damsel-in-distress, and femme fatale to badassed action heroines in their own right -- which mostly meant making them just as violent and amoral as their male counterparts, but in form-fitting black leather! (See: Underworld, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Trinity in The Matrix, the Huntress in the 2002 Birds of Prey TV series.) In the 2000s, "strong female lead" became the new reductive archetype, as this pop-cultural artifact goes to show.
But, hey -- if Selina's Big Score is pointless and (gender-politically) dated, at least Darwyn Cooke's Dick Tracy–style sequential illustration was a nice change of pace from the then-recent Rob Liefeld/Todd Macfarlane era of steroidal superheroes bursting from the confines of double-page spreads devoid of background detail. If only the story had been worthy of the art.
First published in 2002, Selina's Big Score is part of the "faux feminism" trend in commercial entertainment that emerged around the turn of the millennium, in which female characters were "upgraded" from such reductive twentieth-century archetypes as the "Girl Friday," damsel-in-distress, and femme fatale to badassed action heroines in their own right -- which mostly meant making them just as violent and amoral as their male counterparts, but in form-fitting black leather! (See: Underworld, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Trinity in The Matrix, the Huntress in the 2002 Birds of Prey TV series.) In the 2000s, "strong female lead" became the new reductive archetype, as this pop-cultural artifact goes to show.
But, hey -- if Selina's Big Score is pointless and (gender-politically) dated, at least Darwyn Cooke's Dick Tracy–style sequential illustration was a nice change of pace from the then-recent Rob Liefeld/Todd Macfarlane era of steroidal superheroes bursting from the confines of double-page spreads devoid of background detail. If only the story had been worthy of the art.
August 26, 2022
(Zero spoiler review)
I'm reading this as part of the Brubaker and Cooke Catwoman omnibus, with this being the opening tale (pun intended). To say I was gagging for this book would be an understatement. A thick book, featuring my thicc girl, with one of the best writers today carefully crafting some noir inspired narratives. All day and twice on Sunday, please sir. Yet, upon delving into Selina's Big Score, something just didn't feel right. And the more I read, the more my initial misgivings turned to a very real, very tangible sense of concern. This just didn't feel like my boy Ed. Or at least, A very weak and watered down Ed. Like he just took a C grade noir tale he didn't know what else to do with, through Selina Kyle in there and called it a day. Well, There was a pretty good reason why this didn't feel like an Ed Brubaker story, and that's because it wasn't. Artist Darwin Cooke wrote this one. And whilst that didn't make the fairly average tale any better, at least it didn't mean I had to get angry at my boy. Now, as far as Mr. Cooke's contribution went, I can forgive the somewhat flat and uninspired tale. It wasn't terrible, and average noir is better than a lot of good other stories, but this really, really just didn't feel like a Catwoman story. If you're going to give me Selina, then I'm going to be extra picky, and not only was the story so so, but Darwyn's Cooke's art, of which this is my first foray, didn't really suit a Catwoman story either. I know I'm gonna cop dogs abuse from some for that opinion, but hey, it's how I feel. He's a fantastic artist, but it just didn't work here. His panels are lush with atmosphere but short on detail. Add to that 8-12 panel pages, and you get a washy, muddy look, that aids the storytelling little. Again, a phenomenal artist, but here, the art and the writing fell short, unfortunately. And Selina Kyle with short hair.... Sacrilege! 3/5
OmniBen.
I'm reading this as part of the Brubaker and Cooke Catwoman omnibus, with this being the opening tale (pun intended). To say I was gagging for this book would be an understatement. A thick book, featuring my thicc girl, with one of the best writers today carefully crafting some noir inspired narratives. All day and twice on Sunday, please sir. Yet, upon delving into Selina's Big Score, something just didn't feel right. And the more I read, the more my initial misgivings turned to a very real, very tangible sense of concern. This just didn't feel like my boy Ed. Or at least, A very weak and watered down Ed. Like he just took a C grade noir tale he didn't know what else to do with, through Selina Kyle in there and called it a day. Well, There was a pretty good reason why this didn't feel like an Ed Brubaker story, and that's because it wasn't. Artist Darwin Cooke wrote this one. And whilst that didn't make the fairly average tale any better, at least it didn't mean I had to get angry at my boy. Now, as far as Mr. Cooke's contribution went, I can forgive the somewhat flat and uninspired tale. It wasn't terrible, and average noir is better than a lot of good other stories, but this really, really just didn't feel like a Catwoman story. If you're going to give me Selina, then I'm going to be extra picky, and not only was the story so so, but Darwyn's Cooke's art, of which this is my first foray, didn't really suit a Catwoman story either. I know I'm gonna cop dogs abuse from some for that opinion, but hey, it's how I feel. He's a fantastic artist, but it just didn't work here. His panels are lush with atmosphere but short on detail. Add to that 8-12 panel pages, and you get a washy, muddy look, that aids the storytelling little. Again, a phenomenal artist, but here, the art and the writing fell short, unfortunately. And Selina Kyle with short hair.... Sacrilege! 3/5
OmniBen.
April 2, 2015
I really loved this one! I really loved what Darwyn Cooke has done with the character. I like that it's more of a Selina Kyle story rather than a Catwoman story.
Selina was presumed to be dead after the events of the main comic book. Now she's broke and tries to pull one of the biggest heists of her career, with the help of some interesting characters, and start a new life.
I'm also obsessed with the artwork. It has this noir-esque feeling to it which I absolutely love.
Selina was presumed to be dead after the events of the main comic book. Now she's broke and tries to pull one of the biggest heists of her career, with the help of some interesting characters, and start a new life.
I'm also obsessed with the artwork. It has this noir-esque feeling to it which I absolutely love.
January 12, 2023
I found Cooke's art to be great as usual but I didn't connect with the story.
April 1, 2017
Wciągający, lekki, utrzymany w klimacie czarnego kryminału komiks o powrocie Catwoman do pierwszej ligi. Historia jest napisana znakomicie, ma barwnych bohaterów i kilka dobrych zwrotów akcji. Rysunki Darwyna Cooke’a są obłędne i doskonale budują tę opowieść — zwłaszcza wtedy, gdy porywa się na eksperymenty.
Ciekawe są także dwa dodatki. Pierwszy to poboczna historia z perspektywy detektywa śledzącego ruchy Catwoman. Nieźle uzupełnia wątki głównej fabuły i ponownie jest doskonale narysowana.
Drugi dodatek to typowy dla kolekcji komiks z zamierzchłych czasów. Tu pada na debiut Catwoman, który dawno temu czytałem. Teraz komiksów już się tak nie pisze, ale trzeba przyznać, że to i tak perełka.
Tłumaczenie miejscami mogło by być lepsze. Razi zwłaszcza nieumiejętne przekładanie slangów, wiszące zaimki czy wszędobylski wołacz. Ale poza tym w porządku.
Ciekawe są także dwa dodatki. Pierwszy to poboczna historia z perspektywy detektywa śledzącego ruchy Catwoman. Nieźle uzupełnia wątki głównej fabuły i ponownie jest doskonale narysowana.
Drugi dodatek to typowy dla kolekcji komiks z zamierzchłych czasów. Tu pada na debiut Catwoman, który dawno temu czytałem. Teraz komiksów już się tak nie pisze, ale trzeba przyznać, że to i tak perełka.
Tłumaczenie miejscami mogło by być lepsze. Razi zwłaszcza nieumiejętne przekładanie slangów, wiszące zaimki czy wszędobylski wołacz. Ale poza tym w porządku.
October 23, 2021
Wow, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised since it’s Darwyn Cooke but Selina’s Big Score was ridiculously good. It’s a straight up heist story that fans of crime capers and Gotham alike can enjoy, featuring excellent art and a captivating story by Cooke.
September 3, 2020
Stylish and energetic artwork and a hard-boiled rebirth for Catwoman. The bonus inclusion of #1 of Batman from 1940 that includes the first ever appearance of 'The Cat' is a great bonus.
April 11, 2023
“A long time ago, before I put on this mask, I was afraid of everything.”
June 6, 2022
Obviously a copy of a Parker novel with a Parker analogue named Stark teaming up with Catwoman to do a heist. Slam Bradley also serves as Philip Marlow-like detective in the story. Despite this, it's still a pretty good read. If the art had been mediocre, I would have considered it a pointless rip-off, but Darwyn Cooke was great.
August 11, 2018
I love that Darwin Cooke, a fan of Richard Stark’s writing and from whom Cooke clearly pulls inspiration from, not only created a Parker-like character for Selina’s Big Score, but named the character “Stark”.
May 4, 2017
Com acrobacias e piruetas, Selina inicia a história no Marrocos. Com um roteiro de Ed Brubaker, é de se esperar algo bom... mas com traços não convencionais. Para um grande roubo, uns amigos antigos; o desfecho, nem sempre é o esperado.
Há também um pouco de um detetive, que não é morcego... Slam Bradley; há até referência ao terremoto de Gotham (Cataclismo).
Demorou, mas sempre estão lá: os erros de linguística/de edição/de revisão... que seja!
Há também um pouco de um detetive, que não é morcego... Slam Bradley; há até referência ao terremoto de Gotham (Cataclismo).
Demorou, mas sempre estão lá: os erros de linguística/de edição/de revisão... que seja!
August 31, 2012
This was a very good crime noir style graphic novel. As usual, I love Cooke's artwork which works very well in the Catwoman universe but his story is pretty tight and gives some nice background to Selina Kyle's life. Slam Bradley makes an appearance which is always a plus. And beyond all of that, the book finishes with 8 posters of Catwoman by different artists.
July 16, 2025
”Book One: Selena” has Catwoman explaining that she was declared dead (but isn’t) and is in Morocco to steal a golden cup, which when she gets away she finds out is fake. So she’s got to return to Gotham. Broke.
She meets with Swifty, an old guy running a pawn shop that has kept a few things for her and has a line on a score that’s not really her style, but she’s desperate.
Selena meets Chantel and they get to know each other enough to be able to work together to rip off the Falcone family.
She flashes back to old times when she met a man named Stark who taught her some things. She also mentions learning from Ted Grant (Wildcat).
She figures she’ll need Stark to pull of this current job with Chantel. It could be worth millions. 24 million in cash in fact.
Well, it’s a great setup. Well written. I’m not crazy about the art, but it does work and I suspect it’ll grow on me. 5 stars as a start!
”Book Two: Stark” has Selina in Miami meeting a guy named Stark. They have some bad history, but she has a score too big for her lonesome so she needs his help despite their history. He gives her a hard time.
”I just wanted to see if you’re still a lying tramp.”
A flashback shows that Stark taught her some tricks of the trade, though his style was more ‘tough guy’ than hers.
Stark isn’t going to let her play him again, but this job does sound worth going after.
Next time Selina goes to Swifty’s pawn shop, it’s been trashed. Swifty says it’s a P.I. named Slam Bradley looking for Selina!
She says she’ll take care of the P.I. but first she’s got to go to Las Vegas with Stark to meet a mastermind.
They all coordinate their work. Stark is a little old-school. Stark picks up the weapons.
”Crap, I just found out what email is. ”
Jeff gets a military grade rocket sled.
Selina ‘femme-fatal’s’ Slam Bradley.
Later they meet in the desert and detail the plan to rob the train. Very cool stuff! 5 stars.
”Book Three: Slam” starts with a flashback detailing how Slam Bradley was hired to find out if Catwoman was really dead.
”I’m fifty years old and that woman has me acting like that Nancy-boy Batman. ”
So Falcone is onto Selina’s heist but doesn’t know all the details. He has called some people to keep an eye out for it.
Sam Bradley decides he wants to find out what’s going on and doesn’t mind busting some heads while he does it.
He remembers the first time Catwoman showed up in Gotham and betrayed Stark for a big haul of diamonds.
5 star stuff. Though I have to say this type of art does not support a full page portrait.
”Book Four: Score”
The job goes off with only minor glitches.
They rocket sled to the train, jump on it. Break in and gas everyone as fast as they can.
Of course, they don’t know that their final getaway has been compromised.
You can hear the saxophones while you’re reading! 5 stars.
She meets with Swifty, an old guy running a pawn shop that has kept a few things for her and has a line on a score that’s not really her style, but she’s desperate.
Selena meets Chantel and they get to know each other enough to be able to work together to rip off the Falcone family.
The writers are using the Selena the whore origin which I’ve never liked, but I’ll admit makes a lot more sense that the original bored rich girl origin.
She flashes back to old times when she met a man named Stark who taught her some things. She also mentions learning from Ted Grant (Wildcat).
She figures she’ll need Stark to pull of this current job with Chantel. It could be worth millions. 24 million in cash in fact.
Well, it’s a great setup. Well written. I’m not crazy about the art, but it does work and I suspect it’ll grow on me. 5 stars as a start!
”Book Two: Stark” has Selina in Miami meeting a guy named Stark. They have some bad history, but she has a score too big for her lonesome so she needs his help despite their history. He gives her a hard time.
”I just wanted to see if you’re still a lying tramp.”
A flashback shows that Stark taught her some tricks of the trade, though his style was more ‘tough guy’ than hers.
I know this is a different artist than the Gotham Central artists, but the style if familiar and initially rubs me the wrong way, but I’ve gotten more open minded about it. OMG! It looks like Brubaker is the writer! Not a surprise actually. It’s got his stink all over it!
Stark isn’t going to let her play him again, but this job does sound worth going after.
Next time Selina goes to Swifty’s pawn shop, it’s been trashed. Swifty says it’s a P.I. named Slam Bradley looking for Selina!
Last time I read him was in the 1938 Detective where Robin was introduced! I think he was in a Batman TPB a well!
She says she’ll take care of the P.I. but first she’s got to go to Las Vegas with Stark to meet a mastermind.
They all coordinate their work. Stark is a little old-school. Stark picks up the weapons.
”Crap, I just found out what email is. ”
Jeff gets a military grade rocket sled.
Selina ‘femme-fatal’s’ Slam Bradley.
Later they meet in the desert and detail the plan to rob the train. Very cool stuff! 5 stars.
”Book Three: Slam” starts with a flashback detailing how Slam Bradley was hired to find out if Catwoman was really dead.
I love the dialog in this book.
”I’m fifty years old and that woman has me acting like that Nancy-boy Batman. ”
So Falcone is onto Selina’s heist but doesn’t know all the details. He has called some people to keep an eye out for it.
Sam Bradley decides he wants to find out what’s going on and doesn’t mind busting some heads while he does it.
He remembers the first time Catwoman showed up in Gotham and betrayed Stark for a big haul of diamonds.
5 star stuff. Though I have to say this type of art does not support a full page portrait.
”Book Four: Score”
The job goes off with only minor glitches.
They rocket sled to the train, jump on it. Break in and gas everyone as fast as they can.
It’s done in really cool two page spread where you read the panels all the way across the top. This is done well. I’ve seen it in other comics where it’s confusing. This isn’t.
Of course, they don’t know that their final getaway has been compromised.
One of the reasons I don’t like art in this style (or like that in Gotham Central) is that it’s not as kinetic when there are action scenes - which is a pretty standard feature of most comic books. Else, why be a comic book? All that do say that this does a pretty good job of it.
You can hear the saxophones while you’re reading! 5 stars.
July 2, 2021
No había esperado mucho de ella y de hecho creía que me iba a gustar menos de lo que me gusto pero la verdad es que supero mis expectativas. Aun así no fue el mejor comic del año ni nada por el estilo claro esta, sino que fue una historia entretenida, de acción y que creo que podrías leer en el caso de que te gustase saber mas acerca de el personaje de Selina Kyle, alias Catwoman debido al hecho de que creo que aquí se la puede ver dentro de su mejor.
Me parece que lo que mas me gusto de todas formas en si fue todo lo referente a la investigación de Slam Bradley, creí que me iba a aburrir bastante en ese segmento pero la verdad es que fue super interesante ver como el iba poco a poco desentrañando todo lo referente a Selina, como pasaba de pensar que podría no estar muerta a pensar de que era Catwoman. Sus interacciones con Bruce Wayne quien me sorprendió que actuara de esa manera pero supongo que Catwoman le pidió que lo hiciera así porque, a final de cuentas Selina esta declarada judicialmente muerta, así que tendría sentido que Bruce quien a los ojos del público tuvo una relación afectiva con el se sienta devastado por su muerte.
Otra parte de la historia que me gusto fue la narrada por Stark. Fue interesante ver los comienzos de Selina dentro del mundo de los larones, como al principio ella era muy unida con Stark pero luego al meterse mas en el papel de la gata ladrona ella termino robando hasta quien era su mentor y demás. Lo que le sucedió al final a Stark fue algo triste si, pero no tanto como me esperaba ya que personalmente no logré que me importara tanto el personaje. Si que esperaba que hubiera tenido otro final ya que el hecho de que le sucediera eso en si mismo si fue impactante.
Los personajes secundarios creo que estuvieron bien, aunque si que les hubiera dado un poco mas de relevancia. Sentí que solamente algunos estaban ahí para ser miembros de parte del grupo del robo de Selina y que no tenían su propia trama u objetivos.
Creo que este comic sería una buena película animada para poder pasar un buen rato con la misma, y verla rápidamente ya que la lectura si fue ligera.
Me parece que lo que mas me gusto de todas formas en si fue todo lo referente a la investigación de Slam Bradley, creí que me iba a aburrir bastante en ese segmento pero la verdad es que fue super interesante ver como el iba poco a poco desentrañando todo lo referente a Selina, como pasaba de pensar que podría no estar muerta a pensar de que era Catwoman. Sus interacciones con Bruce Wayne quien me sorprendió que actuara de esa manera pero supongo que Catwoman le pidió que lo hiciera así porque, a final de cuentas Selina esta declarada judicialmente muerta, así que tendría sentido que Bruce quien a los ojos del público tuvo una relación afectiva con el se sienta devastado por su muerte.
Otra parte de la historia que me gusto fue la narrada por Stark. Fue interesante ver los comienzos de Selina dentro del mundo de los larones, como al principio ella era muy unida con Stark pero luego al meterse mas en el papel de la gata ladrona ella termino robando hasta quien era su mentor y demás. Lo que le sucedió al final a Stark fue algo triste si, pero no tanto como me esperaba ya que personalmente no logré que me importara tanto el personaje. Si que esperaba que hubiera tenido otro final ya que el hecho de que le sucediera eso en si mismo si fue impactante.
Los personajes secundarios creo que estuvieron bien, aunque si que les hubiera dado un poco mas de relevancia. Sentí que solamente algunos estaban ahí para ser miembros de parte del grupo del robo de Selina y que no tenían su propia trama u objetivos.
Creo que este comic sería una buena película animada para poder pasar un buen rato con la misma, y verla rápidamente ya que la lectura si fue ligera.
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