Finding a 'Catwoman' comic that I enjoy is like finding a diamond in the rough - where the diamond is appealing, and the rough isn't so bad, and it reminds me why I should indeed like the feline antiheroine Catwoman. Luckily, 'Catwoman, Vol. 1: Dangerous Liaisons' by Tini Howard is one of those precious, enjoyable comics.
It's dark, gritty, intriguing, action-packed, clever, cool, sleek, polished, mysterious without being too frustrating, and is rich with femme fatale/female support. It is ripe for it. And yes, it is sexy, but it isn't obnoxious about it. There's no cheesecake, nothing pervy and fanservice-y - just natural humanity and human storytelling here.
How Catwoman/Selina Kyle is drawn, especially in some of her facial expressions when she's committed to a task, it's like she's purring off the page without actually having to purr; she's naturally sexy, but dangerous and not someone you'd want to cross casually. She's a heartbreaker and a bonebreaker.
'Dangerous Liaisons' might be the first 'Catwoman' comic I've read that acknowledges and factors in her bisexuality. She may be hung up on Batman (yeah, any real reason why didn't they get married, DC?), but she's explicitly into women, too, and she loves and cares for them, and wants to protect them. When she fails at that, she is devastated, and revenge will be her life's next goal, never forgetting what and who she is fighting for.
Her determination to defend the vulnerable in society - the poor, the female, the feline, the underdog - is her strength, her animal magnetism, more so than her sex appeal.
I've noticed that a lot of Catwoman's stories revolve around her avenging the murder of a prostitute friend/lover of hers. Why do comics (and films) keep doing this? It's a tired, sexist and degrading cliché at this point.
There are other LBGTQ+ elements and characters in 'Dangerous Liaisons', as well, and it manages to subvert the Bury Your Gays trope. Awesome. Keep at it, DC.
Although, I have to mention that the comic is noticeably, strictly focused on the gender binary, for something that came out in 2022. For all its feminism, it doesn't seem that inclusive and progressive, and in spite of the presence of Onyx Adams, a League of Assassins-trained killer and vigilante (and another of Selina's exes?), who is minor in the grand scheme of things, plus the lone female crime boss (and ditto an ex of Selina's) Eiko Hasigawa, whose importance also diminishes and is forgotten about by the end, the comic veers perilously close to white feminism turf/TERF. I ask DC Comics: Have they had the gemstones to include a nonbinary character yet - minor, superhero, civilian, or any other?
I'm not sure if this is a spoiler, but the main villain that Catwoman faces (heh) up against - in Gotham with its legion of organised crime families - is Black Mask. Wow is he one of the most evil, sadistic bastards in the DCU. And he's an outright misogynist, which makes him extra dangerous and loathsome. He's a villain you'll love to hate, and seeing him get his comeuppance by our heroine at the finale - the greatest wound to his toxic masculine pride and ego, by which he ties his whole identity - is very satisfying.
Others highlights in 'Catwoman, Vol. 1: Dangerous Liaisons' include:
• Selina receives a new pet cat called Duchess ('The Aristocats', much?), who is beautiful and mysterious, and possibly supernatural and cosmic.
• Catwoman pulls off some awesome martial arts and parkour moves, including a Chun-Li boot-pinning-to-the-chest. The comic also never forgets that she has a whip.
• On the subject of her attire, I only just now realised that her black spandex costume has holes cut at and under her armpits. It looks bloody strange. Is this a practical choice? For better movement and body circulation, and less sweat and sound? Or is this yet another way for the patriarchy to get away with showing fanservice without cleavage? Is side-boob the new cleavage? How long has it been going on?
• Why does Catwoman continue to wear high heels?!
• I like the Michelle Pfeiffer-esque Catwoman homage on the cover, however. She was truly one of the best Catwomen.
• Catwoman looks like Enid from 'Ghost World' in a few panels with her mask on.
• There is a nice, funny, and colourful two-issue Catwoman and Harley Quinn story at the end of the volume, that continues Selina's story (and her trips in and out of Gotham, which are constant). It is a girls' road trip comedy-action-drama, full of girl power, feminism, roller derby, car-and-motorbike chases, more female assassins, and the backs of the Bat Family in Gotham on the final page. As great as it is, I don't like when Harley suddenly gets mad at Selina near the end for no reason. Selina did nothing wrong, and she didn't keep anything from Harley! Despite this, they are an absolutely, ridiculously adorable duo, who love each other very much, and manage to stay platonic, as their hearts belong to other people. It's a treat to see how they are together, without Poison Ivy.
• The artwork all around is fantastic.
A 'Catwoman' comic recommendation by me, alongside 'Catwoman: Lonely City' and 'Catwoman: When in Rome'.
(Meow! Another 'Catwoman' review of mine containing no cat puns! Restraint!)
Final Score: 4/5
No comments:
Post a Comment