More importantly, characters look their age, which is a common issue for many artists.

Backgrounds and environments are well rendered, clothes are stylish and realistic looking, and expressions are sharp. The art by Goodhart is sharp and above average for a comic series. I could see young boys and girls reading this and be sucked in by the character and also learn something. By the end, you’ll feel inspired by this character who is a survivor of abuse, self-harm, and homelessness. She’s a tragic hero, and what I’ve described is only the first third of the book! From there Selina meets interesting friends (watch the trailer above for more on that), takes on a cat-persona of sorts, and has a certain Bruce Wayne always there on the outskirts of her life. You get the sense that if her life didn’t spiral out of control, she wasn’t forced to escape her abuser, and she stayed in school she’d end up being a person to enact positive change. She has one major friend and she’s a defender against bullies. Myracle puts the work in to make Selina a believable and well-rounded person. This man makes Selina’s life a hell as he bullies her and torments her. Eventually, her mother takes in a rough and burly man who may be the worst yet. There’s a cycle of abuse that Selina’s mother can’t get away from and that abuse spills down on Selina. She’s your typical high school girl, but underneath it all, we find out her mother has had a rotating number of men who have entered and left her life. As I was wondering this, Myracle’s dialogue and well-paced story drew me in and made me feel for Selina. Speaking as a person who reads a lot of superhero comics I read this wondering, “Okay, but when does she get the costume?” Spoiler alert, she doesn’t, or at least doesn’t get the costume you might be imagining.

Running 208 pages, this is a story that sneaks up on you. It’s a more realistic look at a possible Selina Kyle. This is a good read for young adults, duh, but it’s also a good read for folks who want a deep and meaningful story without heroes in tights. Can she find her humanity and reconcile toughness with her desire for community … and love?įrom Lauren Myracle, the New York Times best-selling author of books like ttfn and ttyl, comes a new graphic novel that tells the story of a teenage Catwoman, as she struggles to find her own identity while living on the streets of Gotham.Age range: Teen Why does this matter? She rejects human cruelty, but sometimes it seems as though brute force is the only way to “win.” And if Selina is to survive on the streets, she must be tough. When fifteen-year-old Selina Kyle, aka the future Catwoman, becomes homeless, she must confront questions of who she is and who she will become. Listen to the latest episode of our weekly comics podcast!

Under the moon a catwoman tale