Catwoman: Lonely City by Cliff Chiang

Catwoman: Lonely City

by Cliff Chiang

In a world without Batman…will Selina Kyle’s old wounds tear Gotham City apart? Cliff Chiang writes and illustrates the ultimate Catwoman masterpiece!

Ten years ago, the massacre known as Fools’ Night claimed the lives of Batman, the Joker, Nightwing, and Commissioner Gordon…and sent Selina Kyle, the Catwoman, to prison.
 
A decade later, Gotham has grown up—it’s put away costumed heroism and villainy as childish things. The new Gotham is cleaner, safer…and a lot less free, under the watchful eye of Mayor Harvey Dent and his Batcops. It’s into this new city that Selina Kyle returns, a changed woman…with her mind on that one last big score: the secrets hidden inside the Batcave! She doesn’t need the money—she just needs to know…who is “Orpheus”?  
 
Visionary creator Cliff Chiang (Wonder Woman, Paper Girls) writes, draws, colors, and letters the story of a world without Batman, where one woman’s wounds threaten to tear apart an entire city! It’s an unmissable artistic statement that will change the way you see Gotham’s heroes and villains forever!
 
This volume collects Catwoman: Lonely City #1-4.

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4.5 of 5 stars

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Summary:

What happens to Gotham if Batman dies? What happens to Selina Kyle? In Catwoman: Lonely City, we're about to find out! Ten years after the horrible event, the city is falling apart, Selina is only just released from prison, and things need to change.

The question is, can Selina give up her costumed days? Or will she find a reason to continue doing what she does (used to do) best? Given that she still has one more promise to keep, we all know the likely answer to that question.

Review:

Oh wow. Catwoman: Lonely City is probably one of the better alternate timeline series I've read recently. It's dark and unafraid to play with characters and possibilities – precisely what we need.

Obviously, the whole "what would happen if Batman fell" bit isn't new, but I really enjoyed Cliff Chiang's take on it. Moving the timeline to ten years later was bold, adding a new depth (aging heroes/villains). I also think it was pretty clever, as it helped to make it stand out on its own.

In addition to an interesting plot, the chosen characters and their development were a great choice. Given that this story comes from the same person who brought us Paper Girls, I'm not surprised at the situation's complexity.

All things said and done, I really love the points made during Catwoman: Lonely City. It felt pretty on point for most, if not all, of the characters. And it makes you stop and think about Batman, saving the city, and the right thing to do.

Highlights:
DC Comics
Alternate Timeline
Superheroes Getting Older

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 11 February, 2024: Finished reading
  • 11 February, 2024: Reviewed