CATWOMAN

An iconic character morphs from panels to prose and back to panels.

Based on the 2018 Maas novel of the same name, Simonson’s graphic adaptation faithfully follows its predecessor, introducing readers to Selina Kyle, a gifted student and gymnast who has an abusive mother and a younger sister, Maggie, who has cystic fibrosis. Selina turns to a life of crime with the League of Assassins in order to pay the astronomical bills for Maggie’s medical treatments. When Selina arrives in Gotham City (disguised as socialite Holly Vanderhees) she meets wealthy and enigmatic neighbor Luke Fox. Both Luke and Selina harbor secret alter egos, but their chemistry—both with masks and without—is palpable. When Maggie’s condition takes a turn, Selina launches her own dangerous scheme to save her, bumping elbows with recognizable characters such as Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and the Joker. Dodge’s shadowy black-and-white art, accentuated with well-placed bursts of color, perfectly captures the tenor of crime-laden Gotham. Simonson’s reimagining switches points of view from Selina to Luke, clueing its audience in by speech bubble colors. With the popularity of high-octane franchises like the DC Extended Universe and Marvel Cinematic Universe, this should have wide appeal based on name recognition alone, even if this offering feels somewhat diluted. Most characters, including Selina, appear White; Luke reads as Black, and Harley and Poison Ivy have a romantic relationship.

Total catnip for this feline’s fans.