BATMAN: ONE BAD DAY: CATWOMAN #1 - graphic novel


 It has been years since I last read and reviewed a 'classic' superhero graphic novel (was it my 2019 review of a Green Lantern graphic novel?!) but I've been noticing an increase in Batman/Catwoman advertising and memes on social media, and it's got me interested in reading some comics or graphic novels again.

I see that there's a series of Batman books titled "One Bad Day" featuring different enemies of the Dark Knight.  I'm not entirely sure why this particular book is a Batman story ... he features very little in the book and frankly his appearance was the least interesting part of the story.

Selena "Catwoman" Kyle  is on the hunt for an old brooch. The item in question once belonged to her mother - a woman who struggled to live hand-to-mouth with two very young daughters in tow. Selena remembers her mother pawning the brooch - a family heirloom, one of the few items passed down through generations and came from the old country - just to try to get enough money for the rent.  Now, that same brooch is being auctioned off to Gotham's rich and elite and will likely sell for millions.  

The Catwoman wouldn't hesitate to steal in a normal situation and here, this brooch belongs in the family and so seems less like stealing and more like returning to the rightful owner. Selena tries to let her sister know that the brooch can be back in the family, but her sister doesn't seem interested.

During her casing of the venue, Selena meets an older woman who happens to know the history of the brooch as well as a few things that will come as a surprise and will have Catwoman seek her out. This is when Batman will appear, asking Catwoman nicely to not approach the woman because he's been watching her and building a case against her and doesn't want her getting spooked and disappearing. But Catwoman will do what she wants to.

I was invested in the story and, as mentioned, cared less for Batman's involvement.  The book does 'end' with more questions than answers so it's clear to me that there will a second volume.  This is a tad disappointing because this Volume 1 is a mere 64 pages. If this were doubled we're still on the short end of a page count for a typical graphic novel.

Although I grew up reading comics, I haven't been a regular comic book or graphic novel reader, so I don't know the history of all the characters. Coming from this background, I really appreciated the snapshot background for Selena. it's amazing how this little bit helps explain some of her current self.

There's a bit of romance between Catwoman & Batman and this is part of what I've been noticing lately. It isn't explained and this is something I feel needs a little context for those of us not in the know.

The artwork is generally fine.  This is not a book I'd pick up based on the artwork, but I didn't find it distracting (which happens) or bad (which also happens).

The immediate story of the brooch and its history and what happens to it is a self-contained story here (which explains the relatively short page count) but as a graphic novel reader I do wish this was filled with more story.  Do they call a short graphic novel a a graphic novella?

Looking for a good book? Batman: One Bad Day: Catwoman #1 is a short graphic novel that reads well, offers some good character history, doesn't actually feature Batman (not sure why it's a bad day) much, and offers plenty of unanswered questions to keep a reader interested.

I receive a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

3-1/2 stars

* * * * * *

Batman: One Bad Day: Catwoman #1

author: C. Willow Wilson

artist: Jamie McKelvie

series: Batman - One Bad Day

publisher: DC Comics

ISBN: 9781779520333

hardcover, 88 pages

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