Saturday, July 28, 2012

My Top Ten Favorite Catwoman Stories

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
On July 20, 2012 the feature-length film The Dark Knight Rises will premiere. In honor of the new film from Warner Bros. I'll be doing a list of my top ten favorite comic book stories featuring the featured feline fatale herself, Catwoman!If you haven't already, be sure to check out History of Comics On Film Part 4, 10, 18,19, 33, 40 and 48 which all feature everyone's favorite dark knight detective!

10. Batman Confidential #17-21
"The Bat and the Cat"
Fabian Nicieza and Kevin Maguire
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
When Catwoman steals Commissioner James Gordan's coded notebook in the presence of his daughter Barbara, all bets are off and very soon Batgirl is hot on her trail. Catwoman certainly doesn't make it easy on her, and steers the chase straight into the Gotham Hedonist Society. Kevin Maguire's pencils convey the appropriately expressive embarrassed face of Batgirl as she refuses to be deterred by such a tactic.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Eventually after a bit of back and forth playing capture the flag with said notebook, Fabian Nicieza has Catwoman and Batgirl's first meet turn into an team-up between two rivals that is dripping with animosity.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Before you know it, Batman himself becomes involved and even the Riddler is hired by the Russian Mob as a Cipher for Gordon's secret notebook. Riddler leads Batgirl to Arkham Asylum where she goes through a gauntlet of inmates, only to find Catwoman waiting for her on the other side.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
There's some pretty nice foreshadowing of The Killing Joke and by the story's end Catwoman and Batgirl seem to at least share a grudging respect for one another. All in all, a pretty fun ride from start to finish.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

9. Catwoman (1993) #66-71
"I'll Take Manhattan"
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
It's always nice to get a female take on Catwoman and you definitely receive that from writer Devin Grayson. Even though Jim Balent might just be the consummate pin-up girl artist of the 90's, I certainly don't hold that against the artist who's probably penciled the most issues of Catwoman that I can think of. The beginning of this storyline takes place after the Cataclysm event in the Batman related titles where a massive Earthquakes left the city a veritable No Man's Land for the next two years of publications. After a brief one issue detour in Paris, Catwoman decides to switch locales at this point and takes her sly shenanigans to Wallstreet and the Big Apple.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Catwoman's not even there for very long and before you know it Selina Kyle is the CEO of a huge Wallstreet firm and looking to run for Mayor of New York City.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
My favorite part of Catwoman's little excursion is the relationship she develops with one James Jesse a.k.a. The Trickster. Con Artist extraordinaire and member of Flash's Rogue's Gallery, it's a wonder these two were never paired up before this!
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Most folks (this means you Loeb!) who take the easy route feel compelled to construct a leading man who is somehow comparable to Batman. I've always felt like this was a mistake because then you simply end up with a guy who has Bruce Wayne's good looks, but can never live up to the passion Selina shares with the Dark Knight Detective. With the Trickster you've got someone who can be a true match for Catwoman in the realm of con-artistry. In fact he surpasses Catwoman in a skill where Batman wouldn't even think to compete with her.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

8. Hitman #15-20
"Ace of Killers"
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
This pick may take some explanation. If you are familar at at with writer Garth Ennis' take on most super-heroes, you can easily tell he doesn't generally hold them in high regard. Especially if they aren't the lead character in the book he's writing at the time. All one need do is look to how Wolverine gets his genitals blown off at the hands of the Punisher for proof of that particular claim.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
This would be compounded in "Confederacy of Dunces" where not only did Wolverine end up on the "WHUT Train" (as I like to call it), but Daredevil, Hulk and Spider-Man made up the remaining dunces Punisher squares off against. And when you are the lead in a Garth Ennis book, no matter your background, you are virtually unstoppable.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
This brings us to Hitman. This excellently written book would follow the trials and tribulations of one Tommy Monogan, Gotham City hitman with telepathy and x-ray vision. You couldn't get past the first issue without Tommy throwing up all over Batman's boots.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Can't stand the innate stupidity of the Fraginist Fragola to ever Frag a Fragger? Hitman had your back.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
If you always harbored some grudge against Kyle Rayner for taking Hal Jordan's place as Green Lantern, you may have gotten a slight chuckle when Kyle is made out to be a classless douche with no wallet in the pages of Hitman.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Even Superman, in a way, is made a fool of...as Tommy cheers the Man of Steel up in a moment of doubt, only to carry out a hit on his Target a few moments later.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
So perhaps you'll come to appreciate how truly awesome the sex appeal and power of Catwoman can be, as when she guest appears in a Garth Ennis written Hitman storyline....Tommy and his buddy for life, Nat the Nat are tripping all over themselves. Catwoman is that rare exception to the Ennis rule of "you can't beat me or make me look like a fool in my own book!"
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
That's really all I have to say. Now go read some fucking Hitman already!

7. Catwoman (2002) #20-24
"Wild Ride"
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
"Wild Ride" is my second favorite arc on Brubaker and Stewart's run on Catwoman. It's basically Selina and her sidekick Holly's road trip around the DC Universe. First up in "Other Cats", Holly gets some training from Ted Grant, otherwise known as the Justice Society of America member Wildcat.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Then it's off to Keystone City in "Cold Day In Hell" for a caper with Captain Cold at the Flash Museum.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
The next chapter "Meanwhile" focuses on a meeting between the two men in Catwoman's life while she's out of town, Private Investigator Slam Bradley and Batman. Slam Bradley's also another great choice as a leading man for Selina Kyle that doesn't scream poor man's Bruce Wayne. Even though he's got a soft spot for the dames, Slam's gruff, streetwise and a scrappy fighter.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
In "Opal At Night" Selina and Holly are visiting Starman's hometown Opal City.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Finally in "History" their last stop is in the town of St. Roch, home to the Hawks, Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Wildcat introduces Selina to his fellow Justice Society pals so Catwoman can get the benefit of Carter Hall's archaeological know how. However while Hawkman doesn't exactly take to a girl like Selina who's not exactly on the up-and-up, Kendra Saunders (the current Hawkgirl at the time) and Selina do share a night of female bonding on the town together.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

6. Batman #355
"Never Scratch A Cat"
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
The first time I read this story was inside the second volume of the Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told, which focused on villain movie moguls of the day Penguin and Catwoman.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
The minutia of the comic from writer Gerry Conway and the supporting cast members such as Mayor Hill, Rupert Thorne and Artero Reeves may offer a slightly skewed familiarity to fans who grew up with Batman The Animated Series. However, Catwoman on the other hand is a jilted lover and hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Jealous of Bruce Wayne's new relationship with Vicki Vale, Selina proceeds on a dangerous offensive against them both. The issue is also notable for acknowledging that somewhere along the way in the Pre-Crisis continuity that Catwoman discovered that Bruce Wayne is Batman.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
After this point it was commonplace to see Catwoman drop by the BatCave for tea and scones. Well, not exactly, but you get the idea.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

5. Catwoman: Selina's Big Score/Catwoman #28-30
"Larceny Loves Company"
"Thieves"
"The Great Plane Robbery"
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
This listing is one of those cop-out two way tie listings. But as far as I'm concerned Chuck Dixon's and Jim Balent's three-part caper story where Catwoman has a group that she needs to work with Ocean's 11 style is really her first "Big Score" anyway. Darwin Cooke's original graphic novel is pretty great as well, so I just decided not to choose between the two and include them as the same listing.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
In the Dixon penned story, wealthy lawyer Troy Cavanuagh hires Catwoman to head up a team of thieves to retrieve the information in a select safety deposit box that will give all the participants ten million dollars apiece. Once Catwoman agrees to the job, she is introduced to the rest of her motley crew.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
I like the handle Dixon has on action based stories and since this is billed as the first time Catwoman has ever operated with any kind of crew on a heist I figure it's a story that rates a mention. It's fast-paced and entertaining, even if Slyfox is some kind of shady clone of Wildstorm's Grifter.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Conversely in "Selina's Big Score", Selina herself is putting together the crew to pull off one huge heist that should set them all up for life. This money will put Selina back into the game in Gotham City after her fall from grace at the conclusion of her previous series. Of course I might say that the character Stark, the gruff old hitman who has a thing for Selina, at least shares that much in common with Dixon's Slyfox. Though Stark seems to have more of a moral code guiding his actions than Slyfox ever did.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
This original graphic novel would introduce long-time DC character Slam Bradley into the world of Catwoman. Introducing the classic hard-boiled P.I. into Selina's world is probably the single best thing that happened to the character in a long while. While the heist aspect is part of the allure of the story, I think the back stories of all the various cast of characters is the most engaging aspect of this piece. It also makes it hard to leave off this list just because Catwoman has run a heist with a crew of colorful characters before.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

4. Batman #392
"A Town On The Night"
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
If you were ever a fan of Catwoman and Batman as a crime-fighting duo or as a couple in the Pre-Crisis era, this story form Doug Moench and Tom Mandrake would be the one for you.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
A cute tale of the myriad attempts of the two to have a nice quiet romantic night on the town, but coming across crimes in progress every step of the way. Ironically the narration sets the story immediately after the events of Crisis On Infinite Earths, but I guess the creative team hadn't gotten the memo that things were eventually going to return to the status quo of bad girl tempting good guy. By story's end even Commissioner Gordon is convinced of Catwoman's merits to the cause.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

3. Detective Comics #569-570
"Catch As Catscan" and "The Last Laugh"
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
So as I mentioned in the previous listing, the loving and healthy relationship that Batman and Catwoman had finally realized after many years was soon to be on the chopping block. Frank Miller's Batman: Year One would be coming out shortly and editorial decided that keeping Catwoman as a law abiding partner and lover of Batman would simply confuse the kiddies. This two-part story from Mike W. Barr attempts to rectify the situation by having the Joker hire Dr. Moon to brainwash Selina back into living her old criminal lifestyle.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
I have to admit that I was sad to see the Batman-Catwoman partnership dissolved in such a manner, but it's a real privilege and treat to see Alan Davis pencil Catwoman in what is my very favorite costume of hers.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

2. Catwoman (2002) #12-16
"Relentless"
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Again we return to the writer/artist team of Ed Brubaker and Cameron Stewart and my personal favorite story from their run on Catwoman. Catwoman's supporting cast from Leslie Thompkins to Holly Robinson are excellently developed and a boon to the comic book. Slam Bradley kicks so much ass, it's not even funny.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Invariably Catwoman's territoriality over the East End of Gotham put these people she loves and cares about in serious jeopardy. Even her long lost sister Maggie who has recently returned to Gotham isn't safe from the machinations of Black Mask.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Catwoman's first major confrontation with Black Mask would shape so much of the title for the remainder of its run, from planting the seeds of Holly taking the mantle of Catwoman to a certain lead character abandoning the mantle because she was with child. I never really took Black Mask very seriously before this book. But here, he is made over into such a reprehensible villain and you just can't wait for Selina to clean his clock.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

1. Brave & The Bold #197
"The Autobiography of Bruce Wayne"
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
If this excellent piece from writer Alan Brennert and artist Joe Staton wasn't the number one pick on my Catwoman Top Ten list, you can be damn sure it would have had a place on my Batman Top Ten list. I first read this story as part of the Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told compilation, but I liked it so much that I went out and tracked down the original Brave & The Bold issue it hailed from anyway!
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
I've made no secret that I have a fondness for when the hero and the "bad girl" get their happy ending, and the bond between the Catwoman and Batman of Earth-2 certainly is solidified here if anything else. Ironically it's the fear gas of the Scarecrow that makes Batman believe all his allies have vanished, however in turning to his old foe for help in his time of need he would discover his future wife!
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

Thursday, July 19, 2012

My Top Ten Favorite Bane Stories

On July 20, 2012 the feature-length film The Dark Knight Rises will premiere. In honor of the new film from Warner Bros., I'll be doing a list of my top ten favorite comic book stories featuring the man who broke Batman, Bane! When telling friends about my plans for a Top Ten Bane list, a common reaction was "Really? There are that many Bane stories?!?" If it makes you feel any better, think of this as a Must Read or Bane Essentials list. If you haven't already, be sure to check out History of Comics On Film Part 4, 10, 18,19, 33, 40 and 48 which all feature everyone's favorite dark knight detective!
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us


10. JSA Classified #17-18
"The Venom Connection"
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
A fairly interesting dynamic takes place when you bring together the former addict to the drug Venom and a super-hero whose abilities last only for the hour after taking the drug Miraclo. It's a way for Rick Tyler, the legacy Hourman, to see a twisted version of his methods and his very nature.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Though prior to this point Bane had conquered his addiction to the Venom drug, currently he has been exposed to a new version that becomes lethal to the user after withdrawal. His investigations lead him to Bannerman chemicals where Rex Tyler, the golden age Hourman, and inventor of Miraclo used to be employed. It turns out that Miraclo formed the basis from which Venom was originally created and Rick must team-up with Bane to stop this super-lethal and highly addictive version of Venom from running rampant in his Santa Prisca home.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
So first up on the agenda is breaking into Dad's former workplace Bannerman Chemicals. There is a pretty amusing exchange between Bane and a security guard who nearly was killed that Bane chose to save.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
By the second part of the story the action ramps up allowing Scott McDaniel's pencils to shine and *SPOILERS TURN BACK NOW* Bane only wishes to eradicate anyone who ever had a hand in the creation of Venom! Of course that includes Rick and his father! Overall, a pretty clever connection created between Bane and the Hourman Legacy by Tony Bedard that makes for some enjoyable reading.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

9. Batman: Legends of The Dark Knight #16-20
"Venom"
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Now technically this story from Denny O'Neil doesn't even really feature Bane at all. So why am I including this on a Top Ten list of favorite Bane stories? Because this is the first tale that introduces the reader to the previously mentioned drug that was the source of Bane's strength and power. It's a well told story and gives fans of Bane an added insight to his homeland and development that they otherwise wouldn't be privy to.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
I recall when the press got a hold of this story the idea of Batman taking drugs and dealing with their addictive properties was played up to the hilt. But don't worry kids. Batman got off the smack even if he did end up looking like Alan Moore when all was said and done.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

8. Birds of Prey #26
"The Suitor"
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
A fun little romp from Bane Co-Creator Chuck Dixon and artist Butch Guice that details the first encounter Bane ever has with the Black Canary. The cover may be a bit more goofy than the actual interiors.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Bane's looking to destroy one of the many Lazarus Pits that Ra's Al Ghul has stationed around the globe. It just so happens that the Canary is doing reconnaissance on that same location for her partner Oracle.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Bane is still healing from the heartbreak delivered to him by Al Ghul's daughter Talia. Bane hopes Black Canary can fill that void, but unfortunately for Bane and his nads, the feeling is hardly mutual.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

7. Vengeance of Bane
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
You'll probably be seeing a lot of comics from the creative team of Chuck Dixon and Graham Nolan as they were the creators that most strongly influenced the direction of this character. Of course nothing could be more influential than the origin of the man who would go on to break the Batman. Born into prison life, we see the development from young boy into an adult force of nature.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Along with Sword of Azrael, a great lead-in to the Knightfall event which sets up the conflict between Batman and Bane.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

6. Vengeance of Bane II
"The Redemption"
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
This sequel by Chuck Dixon and Graham Nolan to the original Vengeance of Bane is set after the conclusion of Knightfall that sees AzBats finally defeat Bane. As a result Bane has been incarcerated in the walls of Gotham's Blackgate Penitentiary.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
The issue features many of Batman's sane adversaries such as the Electrocutioner, Rat-Catcher and KGBeast. Basically this is an outlandish episode of the HBO prison drama Oz, not that Oz is far off from being outlandish. I can just hear the Oz music cue in my head as I read this...
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
One might also say that it's Escape from Alcatraz with Super-Villains. It's fairly easy to get caught up in Bane's determination and the way he eventually commands such respect from his fellow inmates.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

5. Azrael #36-40
"Angel and the Bane"
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
After some dealing with some conflicting loyalties, Azrael takes on the mission that will bring about the rematch between himself and Bane, Denny O'Neil and Roger Robinson bring us the first Azrael-Bane confrontation since the conclusion of Knightfall. However Bane's plans go deeper than simple-minded revenge. Bane's vengeance against the man who brought about his original downfall will be both deliberate and precise. After capturing Azrael, Bane plans to take Jean-Paul to his home island in Santa Prisca. Bane intends to have Azrael succumb to the very same Venom addiction that brought about his own original downfall.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
I also enjoy and appreciate that Denny O'Neil didn't let Bane's associate from his Knightfall days slip through the cracks. Bane breaks the falcon trainer, Bird, out of a medium security prison in Florida, so he may again function as a servant of Bane.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Azrael fights off the effects of the drug and goads Bane into a one-on-one showdown on the island. Overall a highly anticipated return bout which certainly does not disappoint.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

4. Bane of The Demon #1-4
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Yet another piece from the creative team of Chuck Dixon and Graham Nolan, this time in the form of a four-issue mini-series. A complex game of cat and mouse brings together two of Batman's most formidable foes. Ra's Al Ghul the Demon's Head and Bane, the man who broke the Batman.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Bane of The Demon is an interesting precursor to the Legacy storyline from the ongoing Batman titles. Al Ghul's daughter Talia, who is known to have romantic designs on the Batman, takes a brief interest in Bane. Soon enough though, the reader comes to see a crueler side of Talia then they ever would with Batman. She quickly comes to view her time with Bane as a dalliance, rather than a relationship with any serious meaning.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
However, Bane is craftier and more clever than either father or daughter give him credit for. My favorite scene is where they finally realize he can understand all that they've been saying "behind his back" in their native tongue and a variety of other languages.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Much like the feelings of Ra's Al Ghul in this mini-series, Bane continues to amuse and fascinate me.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

3. Batman #491 - 500 and Detective Comics #659 - 666
"Knightfall"
by Alan Grant, Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Norm Breyfoyle,Jim Aparo, Jim Balent and Graham Nolan
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
It's difficult to see how you could leave Knightfall off any Top Ten list of Bane comic books. Knightfall does, after all, contain Bane's claim to fame, the breaking of the Bat, as it were.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
From his execution of Film Freak, to his humbling of Killer Croc, Bane became a major player in the Gotham City crime scene right away. The storyline set up the character as an implementer of brutality, but in a frighteningly controlled and concise manner. Soon enough Bane becomes so familiar with the nature of his chosen adversary, that he only need look at him once as a civilian to discern his true nature.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Even though this was done in the style of many of the ham-fisted events of the 90's, I feel like Knightfall still holds up to many current day readers as Bane took time and, even in some sense, respect in the manner with which he handles his prey. In opposition to his more obsessed fans (I'm looking at you Bruce Timm!), the way that you handle Batman is with finesse.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

2. Gotham Knights #33-36,47-49
by Scott Beatty
Mike Collins, Roger Robinson, and Charlie Adlard
"The Devil You Know..."
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Batman and Bane have a pretty cool rival fusion going on in the pages of Gotham Knights. Initially they team-up to bring an end to the last of Ra's Al Ghul's Lazarus Pits, but ultimately questions regarding Bane's parentage and possible ties to the Wayne family keep them close together for two major arcs in the title.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
While "Tabula Rasa" covers the above mentioned arc, "Veritas Liberat" focuses on Bane's actual parentage. I realize that not everyone is a fan of the continuity or stories in Gotham Knights,but for a long time this comic was the only book out there that read like a true Batman book to me. The stories with Bane, among others, played a large part in contributing to that feeling.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

1. Secret Six #9
"A Debt of Significant Blood"
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
This very special issue of the Secret Six by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott ties into the Battle For The Cowl storyline that went on in the Batman book in 2009. With Batman presumed dead, everybody and their brother was out looking to fill the caped crusaders shoes. Even Catman and Bane, now part of the villain-for-hire group known as the Secret Six, end up getting in on the action.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Honestly this is probably one of the best comics I read in 2009. It's whimsical, funny and deathly serious all at the same time. It reveals layers of character between the interactions between Bane, Catman and Ragdoll. Not only is this single, done-in-one, story a terrific comic book, but the entire thirty-six issue run of the Secret Six is worth checking out in my humble opinion.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us