Toronto writer and graphic artist, Darwyn Cooke, delivers the best portrayal of Selina Kyle a.k.a. Catwoman ever. Catwoman: Selina’s Big Score brings Catwoman back from the “dead”, broke and in need of some cash, she’s looking for a gig. Swifty, friend and owner of Swifty’s Pawn Shop makes an introduction and Selina finds herself involved in something bigger than a jewel thief may be able to handle.
With the help of tough guy and thief Stark, Cooke’s nod to Richard Stark’s Parker character*, the plan begins to come together. Enter Slam Bradley, P.I. hired to find Catwoman, by the mayor who never believed she was dead. Bradley discovered Catwoman’s secret – that she was Selina Kyle and couldn’t bring himself to turn her in. In the end he may be the only friend Selina has.
With references to the Saint Lawrence River, guys named Henri and Jean-Marc, how much more Canada can one expect to find in a DC comic book?
Cooke draws Catwoman in a retro sixties style, cute and buxom but not overly so, unlike so many female images in the comic book world. This is a great read, even for those who don’t consider themselves comic book or graphic novel fans.
*A review of Darwyn Cooke’s adaptation of Richard Stark’s, pseudonym of Richard Westlake, The Outfit, to come.
Catwoman: Selina’s Big Score, DC Comics 2002, ISBN Soft Cover: 1-56389-922-1