Cooke, D. (2002).
Catwoman: Selina's Big Score.
New York: DC Comics. ISBN 9781563899225
Plot Summary
Selina Kyle, perhaps better known to readers as Catwoman, has just completed what is to be her last heist in Morocco, only to discover that the idol she has stolen is a fake. Now, returning home to Gotham City she performs small jobs until she learns of a train carrying an enormous sum of money to be laundered and funneled into the heroin trade. Figuring this as good a final target as any, she must recruit previous associates who may not trust her to pull off such a big job. Complications arise though, and Selina must decide whether her initial motivations for the job are what she will do it for in the end.
Critical Evaluation
This graphic novel follows a very crime noir framework. Characters are of dubious morals, but the reader is intrigued by their flaws and motivations. The fact that the idol Selina steals is a fake is likely an homage to The Maltese Falcon where characters put themselves through terrible stress and do equally terrible things for an idol they cannot even prove is real. This graphic novel takes many of the themes in that book and puts them into a popular medium of the day. The tension and double-crosses keep the reader entertained and are foreshadowed long in advance, as per the genre, but with characters so duplicitous, it is still impossible to guarantee what to expect.
Reader's Annotation
What was supposed to be her last big heist turned out to be a sham, but perhaps just one more and Selina can life a straight life after all.
Author Information
Darwyn Cooke is a prolific comics writer and illustrator. Aside from his work on Catwoman, he is likely best known for the mini-series The New Frontier which ambitiously reintroduces comics readers to DC characters they already know, but this is an elaborate retelling set in the 1950s. Cooke also worked in animation, storyboarding on Batman: The Animated Series and working as a director on Men in Black: The Animated Series. His graphic novel success has lead to much freelance work and short spots on other titles for main publishers (Wikipedia).
Genre
Fiction, graphic novel, adult title crossover
Curriculum Ties
Reading and Language Arts
Booktalking Ideas
Speak as Selina describing her motivations for one last heist, to do one more job in order to get away from a life of crime forever.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Older teens would ideally read this. The plot is complicated as heist plots can tend to be, but this is a particularly vibrant book which would be appealing to younger teens as well, even if they did not follow the story completely.
Challenge Issues
Violence and murder are addressed.
If challenged, I would first suggest being familiar with the work in order to speak about it directly. Then, listen the challenger's complaint, show them to positive reviews, and refer to the collection policy, stating a need to include a variety of works that may not be suitable for all, but should contain something for everyone. As a last resort, turn to the ALA Bill of Rights or First Amendment defense, but try not to let things get there; listen and reassure the patron.
If challenged, I would first suggest being familiar with the work in order to speak about it directly. Then, listen the challenger's complaint, show them to positive reviews, and refer to the collection policy, stating a need to include a variety of works that may not be suitable for all, but should contain something for everyone. As a last resort, turn to the ALA Bill of Rights or First Amendment defense, but try not to let things get there; listen and reassure the patron.
Reason Selected
Graphic novels that appeal to or that are geared to young women are not uncommon, but it is uncommon for a major publisher like DC to release a comic that is well-written and the female characters are not hyper-sexualized. Here, Catwoman, is shown as Selina Kyle, before she wore the mask and the story is more realistic, and at times heartfelt. I feel it important to include not only a graphic novel for young women, but also one from a major publisher that does not always support this demographic.
This book was also selected by Wizard Comics as the Best Graphic Novel of 2002.
Graphic novels that appeal to or that are geared to young women are not uncommon, but it is uncommon for a major publisher like DC to release a comic that is well-written and the female characters are not hyper-sexualized. Here, Catwoman, is shown as Selina Kyle, before she wore the mask and the story is more realistic, and at times heartfelt. I feel it important to include not only a graphic novel for young women, but also one from a major publisher that does not always support this demographic.
This book was also selected by Wizard Comics as the Best Graphic Novel of 2002.
References
Darwyn Cooke. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved March
13, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwyn_Cooke
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