Catwoman: Lonely City offers a beautiful and heartbreaking take on the nine live of Selina Kyle
Since her first comic book appearance in 1940, Catwoman has been a staple of Batman lore. Equal parts hero, villain and love interest to the Dark Knight, over the years Selina Kyle has evolved as a character, becoming more than just a counterpart to Batman and really standing on her own as a fully realized and key part of the DC universe.
In Catwoman: Lonely City, Selina is put front and center in this smart and gorgeously illustrated new graphic novel that collects the four issue mini-series originally published under DC’s Black Label imprint.
Written and drawn by Cliff Chiang (who is perhaps best known for his artwork on the popular Image series Papergirls), the end result is a modern classic for fans of the feline femme fatale.
The Story
The plot takes place in a near future Gotham City in which an aging Selina Kyle is released back onto the streets of Gotham after almost a decade in prison. We learn that 10 years earlier an event known as “Fools’ Night” occurred, in which the Joker launched an all-out attack that resulted in the death of Batman, Nightwing, Commissioner Gordon and the Clown Prince of Crime himself. In the aftermath, Catwoman was arrested and placed behind bars for her involvement in the incident.
The Gotham City Selina returns to, however, is a far cry from the gritty, crime-drenched streets she’s known in the past. The new Gotham is safer now than it’s ever been, thanks in large part to Mayor Harvey Dent, who has overcome his Two-Face alter ego and developed an authoritarian surveillance state enforced by an army of high-tech Batcops who monitor the population and tamp down on both crime and dissent.
Selina, however, has other things on her mind. Chief among them is trying to understand what Batman meant when, with his dying breath, he uttered the words “Orpheus.” The answer, she believes, is in the Batcave, so she decides to pull off one last heist, breaking into the Dark Knight’s lair, which is now protected by an army of troops clad in high-powered Bat Armor.
To pull off the job she enlists the aid of a few familiar faces from Batman’s past, including Killer Croc, the Penguin and Barbara Gordon, who is now running against Harvey Dent in the upcoming mayoral election.
And while Selina may be older and slower that we’ve seen before, she still has a few tricks up her spandex sleeves as she sets out to uncover the secrets of Orpheus and try to take down Dent’s iron fisted rule of Gotham.
The Writing
While Chiang may be primarily known as an artist, his writing in Catwoman: Lonely City is incredibly sharp. The plot is well paced, the dialogue is snappy, and his take on an older-but-wiser Selina Kyle is absolutely brilliant.
In many ways the book feels like the spiritual successor to Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, which featured its own take on an authoritarian DC dystopia. Yet at the same time the book doesn’t wallow in the same existential angst of DKR. Instead, the writing is full of drama, humor, action and genuine character development. Chiang really does show his chops as a writer and it’s not hyperbole to say that what he’s created is easily one of the most memorable Catwoman story arcs of all time.
The Art
There’s no doubt that Cliff Chiang is an incredibly gifted artist, and in Lonely City his work has never been better. His unique pop art-style of color and design is absolutely stunning. Each panel seems to practically leap out of the page and the action scenes are especially well done. That being said, some of his best work in the book occurs in the more introspective, quieter moments, and Chiang brings a real sense of emotion and depth to his characters.
It’s also worth noting that the costume designs are great. From an aging Killer croc and power hungry Harvey Dent, to the Batcops and the various incarnations of Selina Kyle’s Catwoman suits, Chiang’s fresh take on some familiar characters perfectly matches the story.
Final Verdict
While Catwoman: Lonely City definitely owes a nod to Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, it’s more than just a copycat. Instead it’s a book that lands on its own feet. With a smart and unique story and breathtaking visuals, the end result is easily one of the greatest Catwoman stories ever told.
Catwoman: Lonely City collects issues #1-4 of the series in a new hardcover. You can pick it up now from your local comic shop or order it on Amazon.
9/10 Rating
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