Winick & March forces too much on an otherwise decent story.
Judd Winick said that one of his goals was to make Catwoman a violent but sexy book. At first I really liked the idea and I was really anxious for this book's release. On the same note, I was aware that this was going to be a Judd Winick book which meant it could be really effective or it could fall all over itself. Actually, "Catwoman" #1 falls somewhere in between.
I love Catwoman and there are things to like in this first issue but both Winick and artist Guillem March make the same mistake. They go too far in their attempt to make the book sexy both storywise and visually. The story's attempt to make Catwoman sultry and voluptuous is done in such an overt, in your face way. It tries to pull it's sexiness from seductive shots of Selina and her skimpy but colorful bras instead of anything drawn fromwithin the character. Also the story lacks a good rhythm and never maintains a steady flow. At times it feels clunky and disjointed which is most evident by an ending which seems to come out of nowhere. I like the idea of the ending and it explores an ever-present tension that's I've always enjoyed, but it's just jarring how out of place it feels here.
March's art really shines on several pages, none better than a great restroom scene showing Catwoman's more violent side. And while sometimes forced, March does draw a beautiful and sexy Selina. But it's hard to overlook the occasional wacky and contrived full body pose or close-up cleavage shot. This problem may be a reflection of the writing, but March certainly accentuates the issue.
That sounds like a lot of criticism. While the issue does have it's problems I couldn't help but enjoy seeing a book focused on Catwoman. She's a great character and we do see some of that here. There are those cool Catwoman moments where we see her ant-hero attitude. And even though it's overdone, she is a sexy character and Winnick and March sell it well in several scenes. The next issue just needs to be tighter and well-knit. If they can do that, there is potential here for a really fun series. We shall see.
