Monday, July 20, 2015

Catwoman #42


Why have all of my Catwoman covers been so silly lately?

I think Genevieve Valentine could write a really great Catwoman story. I wish DC Comics would put her on Catwoman!

This comic book is still suffering in much the same way Green Arrow suffered for so long. Both comics were written terribly by different writers for years. But then Green Arrow turned around when Jeff Lemire took over. It was written much better but it still didn't feel like a Green Arrow comic book. And now Catwoman is finally being written well but it's just not a Catwoman comic book. I suppose I could look at it as some kind of Catwoman Year One book. Maybe she grew up in the periphery of Gotham Mafia life while toying with being a super villain burglar by the name of Catwoman. Forget all the Nocenti "adventures" she had. Let's pretend she only had a few major capers, just enough to have built a bit of a relationship with Bruce. Perhaps we can forget about Winick's Catwoman #1 where Batman and Catwoman fuck because that really didn't go anywhere, right? So Bruce and Selina have enough of a flirtation going on that Selina now wants to hunt down Batman who has supposedly died. Her Gotham Mafia life she wasn't really interested in and was only thrust into when Rex found himself in prison is really beginning to fall apart due to her personal conflict with Black Mask. What better time then to don the Catwoman suit for good and truly become the Catwoman DC fans are hungry for? After this Gotham Mafia story arc ends, it will have built a history for Selina and built a better, fleshed out world for her individual adventures. We can understand better where she fits into the criminal underworld of Gotham City. Valentine has already set up a beautiful character sketch of Selina and her philosophy and morals. We have seen how she wants to help Gotham as much as Batman does but with a different set of tools and a vaguer sense of morality. Seen this way, I can truly appreciate what Valentine is doing. Right now, she's building up Catwoman's foundation and the framework of her life. With the disappearance of Batman as a catalyst, perhaps we're finally going to get some sheet rock put up so it really begins to look like the house we want Catwoman to live in.

That was such a bullshit strained metaphor! I'm such a terrible person for having written it! That's what happens when I write stuff that I truly believe instead of spewing my usual gobbledygook which I forget about as soon as I'm on to the next paragraph.


Keyes and Alvarez are still in this comic book doing mediocre police work.

Selina is too busy trying to get the crime families loyal to the Calabreses to accept the Falcones back into their fold to look for Batman. She'd better hurry though before he marries his new boss Mrs. Madison. I have a feeling Selina is going to discover Bruce's secret identity in her search for Batman. That'll help bring the two closer together.

If DC were smart, they'd allow Batman and Catwoman to trust and care for each other. It would be a much better relationship than Batman constantly lecturing her on her methods of helping Gotham. Let them have a relationship where they help and support each other even if they know that they can't completely commit to each other because of their love of the city and their need to keep it safe. Then DC gets the best of both worlds. You keep them at a distance so they're always in that tantalizing will they/won't they relationship and you get them actually caring about each other instead of being dicks to each other! It's not hard, DC Comics.

Selina is still meeting with The Penguin in secret as they try to figure out a way to bring down Black Mask without causing a gang war. Black Mask doesn't seem to care as much for subtlety. A Hasigawa assassin tries to murder The Penguin but Selina saves Oswald's life. Penguin kills the assassin so Black Mask will be none the wiser as to Cobblepot and Kyle's relationship. Of course he suspects it exists which is why the assassination attempt, I'd imagine. But even if Black Mask doesn't trust Penguin and his Forster Lane Crime Family, he can't act like he doesn't. This Mafia Crime stuff is so complicated!

Except it gets more complicated because the assassin was after Selina which, it's possible, The Penguin knew. Selina also doesn't fully trust Cobblepot with good reason. His loyalties kick in precisely at the moment he can see who will win. Until then, that bird is going to ride both trains to Winningtown.

Jesus Christ, what is wrong with my metaphor machine?! I think it's on the fritz because my head is overheating trying to pretend that I understand all of this underhanded Mafia business!

How about I forget about all the intrigue and concentrate on Catwoman's search for Batman? That's something I can understand!


She's under the sofa! Up in the springs!

Catwoman decides to search Bill Turner's place and runs into Spoiler who seems to be after Turner's Bat-Records too. Spoiler is a bit lost now that Batman is dead and her father is dead and Harper doesn't have her own comic book title. Spoiler thinks Catwoman needs a sidekick so she attacks Catwoman to prove her worth. But Spoiler isn't worth much yet so Catwoman just knocks her down, gives her some lousy advice, and leaves.

After the Spoiler spanking, Catwoman finishes her search of Turner's residence and finds a key hidden on the outside of the building where only Bats could find it. So she's on to something! Probably Batman's secret identity!

And then Catwoman offers to help train Spoiler. But not Catwoman Catwoman! Eiko Catwoman! That must mean she's going to get her own comic book soon and it will probably be called Catwoman Loves Spoiler.

Catwoman #42 Rating: +1 Ranking. Selina is moving further away from the Crime Family Business in small increments every issue. She spent much more time in the Catwoman suit this issue at the expense of leading the family. Antonia had to head up some a meeting of the crime families to figure out what to do with the Falcones and it seems she squared it all away. She can handle leading! Great! Now Selina can slowly let Antonia and Ward completely take over, right?

I have one last question: What is this a drawing of and why did this artist show it to The Penguin? Is it supposed to be Spoiler? Does this mean Penguin has people spying on Catwoman? Or is it something entirely different that I'm too stupid and confused to figure out?

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