New 52 Review – “Catwoman #1”

Another member of the Bat family gets a solo title. This time, we get the first clear change of status quo that I’m aware of.

General Information

Title: Catwoman #1

Author: Judd Winick

Illustrator(s): Guillem March (art) and Tomeu Morey (colours)

Cover Date: November 2011

Cover Price: $2.99

Buy the digital edition.

Premise

Selina Kyle is a theif. When her apartment is firebombed, she needs a new job and a new place to stay. When she’s lining up her next job, she stumbles across a couple of people she used to know. Parents take note: this is easily the most sexually suggestive title I’ve seen in the relaunch to date.

High Point

This change to the status quo in the Batman corner of the DCU is one that has my full support.

Low Point

A group like that, and none were armed?

The Scores

This feels original in the line. There are a couple of villain-centric titles, but this is less about bad-assery and more about unrestrained self indulgence. I haven’t read previous incarnations aside from the odd crossover issue, so I can’t really comment on whether they are similar or not. I give it 4 out of 6.

The artwork is excellent. We know who the characters are, can easily tell them apart whether they wear costumes or not, and get a lot of emotions from the characters. The colour palettes chosen rotate from scene to scene, giving each location a distinct feel. I give it 5 out of 6.

The story is off to a strong start. Selina has been forced into a corner in several ways, and we immediately see how she copes and adapts on short notice. I give it 6 out of 6.

The characterization is very strong. We know exactly who Selina is today, and a bit of how she got there. I give it 6 out of 6.

The emotional response is strong. Selina’s basic hedonism is a refreshing change from most comic book title characters, giving a very different feel from the outset. We also get something of a feel for the people she steals from, which helps make her a sympathetic character. I give it 5 out of 6.

The flow is very smooth. Selina seems very impetuous, and that comes through as the story moves quickly from one point to the next. I give it 6 out of 6.

Overall, this is another pleasant surprise in the new lineup. I give it 5 out of 6.

In total, Catwoman #1 receives 37 out of 42.

The New 52

Here are handy links for the reviews of all 52 new #1 issues:

  1. Action Comics
  2. All-Star Western
  3. Animal Man
  4. Aquaman
  5. Batgirl
  6. Batman
  7. Batman and Robin
  8. Batman: The Dark Knight
  9. Batwing
  10. Batwoman
  11. Birds of Prey
  12. Blackhawks
  13. Blue Beetle
  14. Captain Atom
  15. Catwoman
  16. DC Universe Presents
  17. Deathstroke
  18. Demon Knights
  19. Detective Comics
  20. The Flash
  21. Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.
  22. The Fury of Firestorm
  23. Green Arrow
  24. Green Lantern
  25. Green Lantern Corps
  26. Green Lantern: New Guardians
  27. Grifter
  28. Hawk and Dove
  29. I, Vampire
  30. Justice League
  31. Justice League Dark
  32. Justice League International
  33. Legion Lost
  34. Legion of Super-Heroes
  35. Men of War
  36. Mister Terrific
  37. Nightwing
  38. O.M.A.C.
  39. Red Hood and the Outlaws
  40. Red Lanterns
  41. Resurrection Man
  42. The Savage Hawkman
  43. Static Shock
  44. Stormwatch
  45. Suicide Squad
  46. Superboy
  47. Supergirl
  48. Superman
  49. Swamp Thing
  50. Teen Titans
  51. Voodoo
  52. Wonder Woman

3 replies on “New 52 Review – “Catwoman #1””

  1. How has the status quo changed? She’s always been a thief who becomes a supervillain. I really liked the 80s prostitution origin, but DC backtracked on that roughly every other week. And she’s often been kinda hedonistic.

    • She learned Batman was Bruce Wayne during Hush, and he’s known she’s Selina Kyle for longer than that. It’s made very clear that she doesn’t know who he is anymore, and that she has no reason to believe that he knows who she is.

      • Ah, that. But that was status quo a lot longer than the more familiar, recent situation where they know each others’ identities. However, I see what you mean. It’s status quo in the way that Clark and Lois’s marriage was status quo, or Luthor as a rich businessman is status quo.

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