Catwoman Lonely City #1 Review

by Carlos R. on October 20, 2021

Catwoman Lonely City #1 Cover Image featuring Selina jumping from a building shadowed by the variations of costumes she's worn in the past
Written, drawn, colored, and lettered by: Cliff Chiang
 
If by the title page, you’re not immediately drawn in to explore further, this one may not be for you. But honestly, it’s for everyone!
 
It’s a gorgeous piece and reveals so much about Selina’s emotional journey through this tale. A splash page of Selina, bundled into her jacket, walking down a tight, pitch-black alley, with signs of life and the city still a bit of a distance from her. And I could go on about this page, because it’s that dang eye-catching and if you had to crack this book open for anything it’s definitely to check out Chiang’s phenomenal colorwork.  
 
This first chapter finds Selina released from prison ten years after the events of Fool’s Day. An event so significant it led to the fall of Joker, Batman, Nightwing, and Jim Gordon; and the rise of Mayor Harvey Dent and his Batcops.
 
Cliff Chiang tackles every creative aspect of this book, and every panel and line shows just how much care he put into this title. I love how self-aware Catwoman is, the opening line from her perspective is “Ten years shouldn’t make a difference, but it does” this speaks volumes of what kind of state she’s in and how much has changed. One aspect I love about this book has to be the breaths Chiang takes, the pacing is even, and you’ll definitely burn through it quickly because it’s such an entertaining read. But there are moments where Chiang adds in an extra panel that focuses on Selina throwing something away or looking away from a Batcop. These small instances that add to her emotional state and emphasize her just nature.


I know I’ve mentioned the colorwork, but seriously! Crack this book open and tell me it isn’t some of the best art you’ve ever seen. The switch from more muted tones to the vibrancy of Gotham when Selina is in her Catwoman outfit or doing acrobatics is just stellar and lends to this feeling of nostalgia for Selina’s youth, though I’m aware we could totally pick up a current Catwoman book it says so much that Chiang can convey this feeling.


I won’t give much away about the book, but it deserves so much praise. If you’re a fan of Selina this is a must-have in your collection.
 

Our Score:

10/10

A Look Inside