Book of Interest: The Many Lives of Catwoman

I have so many favorite characters and Catwoman is one of them. Over her 75+ years, different writers have moved Selina Kyle away from being a standard run of the mill Batman villain to someone who is neither hero nor villain. She's known as the protector of the East End looking out for the residents there. Yes, Selina is still one of the best burglars in the world of DC Comics but she's more on the line of Robin Hood giving away money to help others. Although she does keep quite a few jewels, cash and items for herself, I never said she was a hero.

This is a must read for me, I can't wait to get this book, The Many Live of Catwoman to see how the author researched the character and what insights he brings to it.

Anyone else planning on reading this, let me know?

Book: The Many Lives of Catwoman: The Felonious History of a Feline Fatale by Tim Hanley

Publication: July 1, 2017

Description:

For more than 75 years, Catwoman has forged her own path in a clear-cut world of stalwart heroes, diabolical villains, and damsels in distress. Her relentless independence across comic books, television, and film set her apart from the rest of the superhero world. When female-led comics were few and far between, Catwoman headlined her own series for over 20 years. But her unique path had its downsides as well. Her existence on the periphery of the superhero world made her expendable, and she was prone to lengthy absences. Her villainous origins also made her susceptible to sexualized and degrading depictions from her primarily male creators in ways that most conventional heroines didn't face.

 

For good and ill, Catwoman serves as a stark counterpart to the typical evolution of the history of women in comics, and in popular culture generally. Her adventures have charted an inimitably varied journey of empowerment and exploitation. Exploring the many incarnations of this cultural icon offers a new perspective on the superhero genre and showcases the fierce resiliency that has made Catwoman a fan favorite for decades.