To some, Batman (vol 1) 1 remains one of the most important comics to be ever published by DC, mainly as it features the first appearance of the Joker. However, the first issue didn’t just introduce one of the Dark Knight’s most famous villains, but two. Created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, Selina Kyle was a simple jewel thief and burglar, simply known as the Cat. Over time, her role developed as she adopted a purple cat costume, giving her the name Catwoman. For years, she was Batman’s only main female villain and her first television appearance in the Batman 1966 TV Series made her into a famous villain for Batman, while emphasising their apparent love for one another. As time went on, Catwoman became more involved with Batman, often teaming up with him to defeat enemies. Yet, with the changes in the DC Universe from Crisis on Infinite Earths, Catwoman’s character was vastly altered. Batman: Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli had turned Selina Kyle into a prostitute living in the slums of Gotham, until the appearance of Batman causes her to become sick of her lifestyle. She then became the thief we know today, who is not only hunted by Batman, but is also loved by him. After Batman: Year One, a miniseries was commissioned to explore Catwoman’s updated origin, taking influence from Miller’s work, while also making her character more independent…
Catwoman (vol 1) 1-4 was a miniseries published monthly from February to May 1989. It is written by Mindy Newell with art by J.J. Birch and Michael Bair, serving as a ‘Year
One’ story for Catwoman. I have read the story in the Catwoman: Her Sister’s Keeper trade paperback.
THE STORY
Behind a church in a dark alley, Sister Elizabeth finds an unconscious and beaten prostitute named Selina Kyle. As she is taken away in an ambulance, Sister Magdalene picks up a stray cat nearby, remembering that she once had cats at her old home. Later, a man named Flannery visits Selina in hospital, who asks her questions about what happened. Although Selina doesn’t confess anything, After Flannery gives her a phone number of somebody who can teach her to take care of herself, he leaves her to recover. Meanwhile, Magdalene prays in the church while her new cat scratches Elizabeth. Later, Selina arrives back home and meets her friend Holly, who warns her that Stan will beat her up again. Selina meets Stan, who sarcastically apologizes for what he did and tells her to put on a cat costume. Although she declines, Stan tells her that a guy wants to see her in the catsuit for a lot of money, forcing her to accept. Some time later, Selina takes Flannery’s advice and meets with Ted Grant, JSA hero Wildcat, and the two train together. Later, at night, Selina watches a disguised Bruce Wayne pick a fight with Stan, which Selina interferes with as he manages to hurt Holly. However, Bruce punches Selina, knocking her out before the police arrive and arrest Bruce. Selina then visits Ted again, asking him if he can teach her to use a whip. Nights later, Selina is woken up by Holly, who tells her that the police are destroying an apartment building, searching for Batman. Selina and Holly attend the scene, where they are attacked by a swarm of bats, while the Dark Knight escapes. Some time later, Selina finishes making a new catsuit, before putting it on and heading out to find and kill Stan…
In a dark alley, Stan is attacked by Catwoman with her whip, before she scratches his face. She then easily kicks stan down to the ground, knocking him out, before taking her mask off and screaming at him. Suddenly, a door opens, and Magdalene appears, staring at Selina. Later, Magdalene and Elizabeth visit Flannery, who is told that Magdalene recognised Selina as her sister. Although Flannery believes Selina is as mentally unstable as Batman, Magdalene threats to search for both Selina and Stan, who has been released without charge. Flannery orders her not to do so, threatening to arrest her. Meanwhile, Stan tends to his facial wound, while threatening to kill Selina. Later, Magdalene speaks to Holly, who tells her she shouldn’t talk to strangers. However, when Magdalene shows her a picture of Selina, Holly heads home. Later, Holly tells Selina about Magdalene, but she ignores it, instead she leaps out of the window in her new improved Catwoman costume. Meanwhile, Flannery catches Magdalene, but as he decides to let her go, Stan watches them from the shadows. Flannery drives away in her car with his friend Frank, who inadvertently gives him an idea. Later, Magdalene heads into the dark alley behind the church, where she meets Catwoman, who recognises her as Maggie, her sister. Although Maggie tells her sister that she has been looking for her, Catwoman tells her she is leaving. However, Maggie tells her that their father died two months ago. As Catwoman runs away, Stan appears, frightening Maggie. Elsewhere, Flannery meets with Ted Grant, asking for all the information he knows about Selina. Later, Flannery and Elizabeth visit Selina, who has come back after stealing jewellery. Flannery tells Selina that Maggie has gone missing, but she doesn’t reveal anything about how they are sisters, causing Flannery and Elizabeth to leave. Selina tells Holly that it was her fault that Maggie was taken, and she decides to look for her on her own. After meeting with Candyman, a gangster with connections to Stan, Selina comes home and finds Stan on the phone, threatening her. While Selina prays that she will find Maggie, Stan has her tied up in an unknown location…
Arriving home from shopping, Stan unties Maggie, before grabbing her and ordering her to talk. Meanwhile, Catwoman breaks into the apartment of a rich former prostitute who once worked for Stan. Catwoman tells her to give her the location of Stan, which she does out of fear, before Catwoman escapes. Meanwhile, Batman investigates Stan’s apartment, which is empty. However, he finds a cuff link, which Batman recognises from the last time he met Stan. Meanwhile, Holly answers the phone, believing it to be Selina. However, it is Stan, who wants Selina to speak to him. While the call is being recorded by Flannery, Selina arrives home, and Holly gives her the phone. Selina warns Stan that she is coming for him, but Stan hangs up the call after being threatened by her. Selina then becomes Catwoman, but Holly tells her that her reputation as Catwoman is bad, meaning that she is wanted by the police. Therefore, Selina leaves the house without the catsuit, but she is quickly arrested by Flannery and Frank. Inside the police station, Flannery threatens her, telling her that the lives of innocent civilians are more important than Selina’s games. Then, Flannery tells Selina that she owes him for Ted Grant’s help, before leaving. He then lets Selina go, but Flannery’s officers easily track her. However, using her agility, Selina manages to trick the officers and escape from them. Meanwhile in a warehouse, Stan manages to trick Maggie into forgiving him and as he threatens to kill her, Catwoman arrives, causing Stan to push Maggie off a platform. Catwoman fights Stan as Maggie holds onto a rail. However, Stan produces a knife, threatening to stab Maggie, but Catwoman uses her whip to take the knife from him. Stan then pushes Catwoman away and stamps on Maggie’s hands, causing her to fall. Catwoman then lunges to grab Maggie, but fails, causing Stan to trip and fall to his death. Luckily, Batman arrives and catches Maggie. However, Catwoman believes that she killed Stan and (continued)
that people like him deserve it. She then leaves, with Batman telling Maggie that he needs to know the truth…
Later, Flannery and Frank watch as Stan’s body is taken away, but they aren’t aware that Maggie survived. Holly then arrives and stands on Captain Ethan Strunk’s car, before the captain appears and drags her off of it, telling her that she is in trouble. However, Flannery tells Strunk to let her go and that Selina is who they should be looking for. Meanwhile, Batman speaks with Maggie, telling her that as Catwoman, Selina has become a danger to Gotham. Batman then takes Maggie to Flannery, telling him that she needs help. Some time later at church, Selina speaks with Maggie, who tells that she was in hospital for weeks and that she felt anger towards her. Selina then gives Maggie a bag, which has the Catwoman suit inside of it. Selina is then reminded that she didn’t kill Stan, but Selina believes its better if Catwoman remains retired. Then, Holly appears with cuts and blood all over face, shocking Selina. Holly tells her that Captain Strunk did it, causing Selina to leave and meet with Flannery. However, Flannery tells Selina that it would be impossible for Strunk to hurt anybody or commit a crime, making him believe Holly was just lying, annoying Selina. Later, in the church where Holly is sleeping and being healed, Selina becomes Catwoman. Maggie then appears, telling her sister that she will tells Flannery everything as she has broken her trust by becoming Catwoman again. However, as Catwoman leaves, Batman appears, surprising Maggie, who tells him that Strunk was the one who attacked her. Batman promises that Strunk will face justice for what he has done, before leaving. Later, while taking out the bins, Strunk is met with Catwoman, who captures him with the whip. However, Batman arrives and throws a batarang, sending Catwoman’s whip out of her hands and knocking Strunk unconscious. Batman orders Catwoman not to kill Strunk as he is sick, but she defends herself by saying that she has already killed. Batman then reminds her that she didn’t kill Stan and that he simply tripped. Batman states that as he is friends with Captain Gordon, Strunk should get a fair investigation and trial. Batman then tells Catwoman that they are both enemies and that he swears he will capture her. Catwoman then kisses Batman, before knocking him out with the whip. As she escapes, Batman gets up, pledging to hunt her down. Sometime later, Holly lives with Maggie and she is told to go to sleep to prepare for school. The two then stare out the window, believing that Catwoman will never come back. As the two head away, Catwoman watches from a rooftop.
MY THOUGHTS
Now, some of you may be wondering why I decided to pick this Catwoman story when there are loads of others that can be picked. I’m going to be honest. This is the only Catwoman ‘solo’ story I really own. I mean, if I had it, I could have reviewed Catwoman: When in Rome by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. However, that would require me to review Batman: The Long Halloween and Dark Victory, two great lengthy stories. Don’t worry, I’ll get to them eventually. But the main reason I’ve really picked this miniseries for Catwoman is because this is the origin of the modern age depiction of the character, which is pretty much the same as from Batman: Year One. This Catwoman is the one we know today and as it is a pretty in-depth character analysis, I think it’s a good choice. The story and plot pretty much change the whole character of Selina Kyle, turning her from a upper class rich jewel thief into a street prostitute that is forced to dress as a cat to entertain others. To me, this change is actually good as it allows the character to not only be different, but also develop in a new way. From 1940 to 1987, Catwoman’s character had always been the same rich thief that flirts with Batman. In most stories, she didn’t really have much of a character and was only really known as Batman’s only main female villain, along with Poison Ivy. Batman: Year One and this miniseries change that, since her character is more cunning, secretive and sly. However, she is still a fighter and throughout the story, that evolves further. Out of the four issues, the first three really are the main story, with the fourth part acting like an aftermath of sorts. What starts out as a feud between Selina and her abusive boyfriend Stan turns into a revelation as Selina reunites with her sister, who is later kidnapped by Stan. First of all, this plot has been done to death in so many things and while it is far from original, I think here it is acceptable, mainly because I think it introduces us to all the characters in the story. The first scene with Selina being found beaten up is certainly impactful and, in many ways, it sums up the character at the very start of the story. She is beaten and treated like a slave. On the other hand, the last page of the story features Catwoman looking down at the city, signifying that she has risen from her old life and by committing crime, she has become richer. This parallel works really well and while it may not have been intentional, that’s just my interpretation of it and I think it works. Anyway, Selina’s transformation into Catwoman is aided by many factors, one of which is Ted Grant, aka Wildcat. Now, his inclusion in the story is rather strange, since he has never really had much of a link to Catwoman (apart from both dressing like cats), but I think he works well here as a mentor to Selina Kyle, training her to fight Stan. In fact, that’s the whole reason why Selina decides to become Catwoman, which is to fight Stan. I like (continued)
this idea as its different from other origins and we learn in the story and others that Catwoman just became addicted to being a thief. The story of most of the miniseries is pretty good as its simply Catwoman finding her sister, Maggie, who has been kidnapped by Stan. That story in itself usually works, and it can be overused, but like I said, I think it introduces us to the characters. Speaking of which, Selina’s sister, Maggie, is quite an important part of the story, but I find her character to be rather shallow and bland, but more on that later. In terms of the main story, nothing else really to say. The character of Flannery is often the voice of the law, warning both Selina and Maggie not to investigate anything. Yeah, because he’s clearly doing a good job of that isn’t, he? In the first part, two specific scenes are lifted from Batman: Year One. The first being a disguised Bruce fighting Stan and the second being Batman using his legion of bats to escape the police. In that story, these moments are somewhat important to Selina as Batman’s influence causes her to turn to crime and become Catwoman. Therefore, those scenes that feature are very good not just because they are from Batman: Year One, a great story, but also because it is relevant to Catwoman. Last but not least, Batman. He doesn’t feature in the miniseries much, but should he? This is Catwoman’s story, but I would be lying if I claimed that he wasn’t relevant to it. Perfectly, the two characters meet at the end of the story, which not only ties the story to a close, but it also establishes the romance between the two characters, a famous aspect of their relationship. This works well as it isn’t overdone, and it certainly sets the scene for future stories…
Like I mentioned before, the main plot of the miniseries spans the first three issues and that part is fine. The last part, apart from the ending scene as mentioned before, is pretty empty and wasted. The story featuring a dodgy cop beating up Holly is over and done with incredibly quickly and nothing else really happens. The story with Stan does sort of continue, but in a rather pathetic way. Basically, Selina believes that she killed Stan and her entire personality changes. For starters, not only is she constantly told that she didn’t kill him, but why does she really care. I mean, this is a guy who abused her and kidnapped her sister. Surely, she wouldn’t feel that bad about it. This is dragged out for the last 20 pages and I just think its unnecessary. Of course, Selina’s sister, Maggie, is an incredibly important part of the story, but to me, she lacks character and is only there to be kidnapped by Stan. Throughout all this story, she either prays or lectures Selina about being Catwoman. It gets pretty boring and while there is obvious history between Selina and her sister, it just gets overlooked by Maggie’s pretty dull character. I also find Holly, a character introduced in Batman: Year One, to be pretty annoying and pointless. She never has any real relevance to the plot and when she does in the last part, she is incredibly underused, making her character seem very one-dimensional as if she was just a background character. Apart from that, there are several times in the story where it appears nothing happens and it can often feel slow, particularly in the middle when Selina spends loads of time just talking to different people about Stan. Really, there isn’t as much of the Catwoman aspect in this story as I would have liked, but when there is, it can be very good.
In terms of the art by Birch and Bair, it’s just pretty standard art from the late 1980s. Its scratchy, moody and looks a quite like Denys Cowan, but a lot more organised. The darker panels and lighting do work very well and many instances, as it not only reflects the mood of the story but can add menace to characters like Stan. However, the inks are fairly bland and while the finished art can look very detailed, it just looks rather bland and generic for a comic of its time. That same goes for the covers, which are also done by Birch and Bair. I mean, its not Richard Case boring as there is still some style, but there isn’t much…
VERDICT
Overall, Catwoman: Her Sister’s Keeper is a decent story that while it can have its moments of emptiness and blandness, it also updates the character of Selina Kyle for the modern age. The main plot for most of the miniseries works and there are some memorable characters in there. However, the story for part four feels very dull, as if Newell had run out of ideas. The same goes for characters like Holly and Maggie, who don’t really add anything new. As I said, the art is pretty standard as well. That being said, this story does deserve more coverage as along with Batman: Year One, it establishes a new portrayal of Catwoman which is still around today…
Story: 6.5/10
Art: 6/10
In the last of three short reviews focusing on the three Batman characters celebrating their 80th anniversary this year, I will obviously be focusing on what I believe to be one of the greatest stories featuring Catwoman. The romance between Batman and Catwoman has been around since the two first met in Batman (vol 1) 1. Yet, they seem to have always been enemies, until recently obviously. With Tom King’s recent run on Batman (vol 3), the two grew emotionally closer and eventually married in Batman (vol 3) 50, well, sort of. Anyway, this wasn’t the first time that the two tied the knot, since long ago (the 1980s) on another Earth, the two lived happily ever after…
The Brave and the Bold (vol 1) 197 was published in April 1983. It was written by screenwriter Alan Brennert with art by Joe Staton and George Freeman, featuring a
great Jim Aparo cover. I have read this issue in the Tales of the Batman: Alan Brennert hardcover.
THE STORY
On Earth-2, an old Bruce Wayne looks back at his career as Batman, remembering Robin, the Justice Society of America and of course, Catwoman, who he married. In 1955, Commissioner Gordon summoned Batman to the police station to investigate a strange box. However, Gordon sees Batman die, causing him to panic. However, Batman appears uninjured, explaining that the box Gordon is carrying holds fear gas created by Jonathan Crane, the Scarecrow. The next day, Bruce Wayne attends the wedding of a friend who was once liked, making him hate his playboy persona as it has caused the loss of a number of his friends. During the ceremony, a large number of snakes and spiders appear, attacking everyone present. As Bruce and his ward, Dick leave, the Scarecrow arrives, unleashing fear on everybody. Batman and Robin then arrive, along with Batwoman and they chase after the Scarecrow. However, Batman is altered by one of the Scarecrow’s bomb, making him hallucinate that Robin and Batwoman have vanished. Batman then runs back to Wayne Manor, where he discovers that Alfred is also missing. He then decides to enlist the help of Selina Kyle, who is in prison and has also pledged to never be Catwoman again. However, when Batman tells her that he feels alone and there is nobody else he can turn to, she accepts to help. Two hours later, Batman and Catwoman arrive at Gotham University, where Crane once taught. When entering, Batman is attacked by a statue of a lion which has come to life. However, by using tranquilizing powder, Catwoman defeats the lion. They then head inside the university, where through a voice recorder, Crane lectures to the two heroes about the fear of a natural phenomenon. Suddenly, Batman and Catwoman are attacked by giant stars and planets from a machine, which ends when Batman is shot by a flaming arrow and Catwoman destroys the machine. Tending to his wounds, Catwoman asks why Batman became a vigilante. He explains that his parents were killed when he was ten and that fighting crime releases his anger. The two then decide to head out in order to find the Scarecrow. However, outside, the Scarecrow fires gas which temporarily causes Batman and Catwoman to experience the effects of different phobias, causing them to head back into the university to find cover. Inside, Catwoman explains that she was once married to a rich man who used to beat her. When she divorced him, he attempted to use connections to financially ruin her. This caused her to become Catwoman as she raided his office and his safe. However, she regrets what she did and now wants to live a normal life, like Batman. The two then focus on the mission and outside the university, they find the Scarecrow. In rage, Batman beats the Scarecrow to near-death, with Catwoman trying to stop him. Then, Batman hallucinates that Catwoman is also disappearing, but when she takes her mask off, the hallucinations cease and the two kiss. Some time later, Bruce and Selina marry and then they live the rest of their lives together.
MY THOUGHTS
Alan Brennert may have written very little in comics compared to other titans such as Dennis O’Neil, but his Batman stories are some of the best stories from the 1980s, without a doubt. To Kill A Legend from Detective Comics (vol 1) 500 is fantastic and his Brave and the Bold stories, featuring heroes such as the Creeper, Hawk and Dove are classics. This story is no different, except that we are no longer following the Dark Knight of Earth-1. Much of Brennert’s work has featured the multiverse and this story is an example of that. The greatest thing about this story is the characters of Batman and Catwoman and how they have both changed. You have to remember that this story takes place on Earth-2, meaning the continuity is different and the events that have taken place. The origin of Catwoman is depicted in a less adult way, as although she was beaten, she wasn’t a prostitute like later versions. Throughout the story, Batman grows closer to Catwoman as she is the only one who he can now rely on, since the Scarecrow’s fear gas has made Batman believe Alfred, Robin and Batwoman have vanished. Because of this and the fact that that Batman and Catwoman share their origins and pasts with one another, the two grow closer in a way which wasn’t possible in the regular comics at the time, since the Earth-1 Catwoman was always going to be a thief. The introduction and outro to the story perfectly tells the story, with an elderly Bruce Wayne telling us what happened. This format works incredibly well as not only can this alternate version of Batman age, but he can also die, as the ending depicts his funeral. This may have shocked some, but some years before in 1979, the Batman of Earth-2 died in Adventure Comics 462. Anyway, the story here is very good and Brennert writes the Scarecrow as a more evil and cruel villain, using snakes and spiders to attack people, which is very reminiscent of the characters first appearance in World’s Finest Comics (vol 1) 3. Other than that, the characterisation of Bruce Wayne is great here as he is clearly fed up with acting like a playboy and retirement is now on his mind. This is why Catwoman is so integral to the Earth-2 Batman’s life, as she saves him from death. Batman mentions that he is getting older and without Catwoman, he may have died fighting the Scarecrow or another villain. That said though, Robin still looks about 12 years old, but its great to see him again in his 1940s look. The same goes for Batwoman as well, really showing that Brennert wanted to make this story feel as retro as possible. The only problem I really have with the story is that we never see Batman reunited with his friends, which we assume he does, but its never really shown.
Now, I’m not usually a fan of Joe Staton’s art, mainly because I think its very cartoony, animated and doesn’t usually mesh with the mood of some of the titles. There are exceptions of course, and this is one of them. Staton’s work on Adventure Comics with the JSA made him into a more well-known artist and since then, he has been known to draw Earth-2 stories. With this one, he recreates the original golden age look of all the
characters, giving Batman a square chin and Robin a pretty basic face, just how artists like Robinson and Kane did it. The inks by George Freeman can look a bit scratchy, which while it isn’t something from the golden age, isn’t the worst thing in the world. Overall, though, I think Staton’s art actually works well here, which is surprising as I’m so used to reading Brave and the Bold stories with Jim Aparo’s art. Still, he does draw a great cover...
VERDICT
Overall, The Brave and the Bold 197 is a great issue which celebrates the life of both Batman and Catwoman. It delivers a perfect story featuring a menacing villain while also being just as entertaining as a golden age story. The characters are also written really well, showing that Brennert really knows his stuff. Even the art by Staton and Freeman is good, which is a surprise since I’m not usually a fan of either of the artists. That being said, they are drawing in a golden age style, so that may have something to do with it…
Story: 9.5/10
Art: 8/10
Next Week: Deadman: What Makes A Corpse Cry? (Strange Adventures 205-213). Written by Arnold Drake, Jack Miller and Neal Adams, with art by Carmine Infantino, George Roussos and Neal Adams. Expected to be published on 10/04/2020.
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