Catwoman #1

Catwoman starts off with what seems like blatant fan service - Selina Kyle pulling on her Catwoman top, thus showing us her breasts encased in a red, lacy bra.  We later see Kyle with her shirt unbuttoned and in a pinup pose as she tells a guy that she can give him what she wants.  While I don't read others' reviews before composing my own, I've already seen some complaints from readers that this entire issue is just fan service.  I have to disagree - I think Winnick has done a perfect job taking Selina's personality and how she would act given that she's an adult and uses all tools in her belt (including undoing said belt) to get what she wants.

In fact, I felt that the semi-nudity in Batwoman while more tastefully drawn was in fact more gratuitous.  There's no reason why she had to have that conversation with her cousin while changing.  She could have had it at any point in the day and it would have still been the same.  The first semi-nudity in Catwoman has purpose - she has been woken up in the middle of the night by some Bad Guys who aren't going to wait for her to get dressed to attack.  And most heroes probably dont' sleep in their costumes.  And the second act of nudity was perfectly in line with what was going on in the scene and how Selina could get that close to a certain guy.

NOW, I must say that the last few pages of the book are major fan service.  Everyone who's been following comics for a while knows about this relationship and, again, they're both adults, but it still came across as a bit fan service-y.  I've also heard some people make fun of this scene online.  On the one hand, it's hard to do that scene right (ie not so cheesily) without going hentai and/or giving the book a higher rating than DC would be comfortable with.  On the other hand, I wonder if the people who were making fun of the impossibility of the situation were .... shall we say sexually inexperienced?  The dude's pants are clearly loosened if you look at the creases on the upper leg.  And, as for Selina - let's just say that it kinds touches on a point that CV has been talking about for a couple months now - how do the costumed heroes/villians relieve themselves without having to disrobe?  So, without dragging this review any lower, let's just say Kyle used that same flap, zipper, etc.  (All of this, of course, neglects that maybe they didn't have intercourse, but maybe a HJ, BJ, ZJ, etc)

As to the story, it's interesting.  It's somewhat like Birds of Prey #1 in that the "twist" or cliffhanger is pretty generic for a comic.  Someone is after Catwoman.  That's all we know.  Oh, and we meet her friend who passes on work to her.  I DID like the fact that her friend was a full-figured woman, ie she looks like a normal person - kinda fat, kinda big thights, normal (not super-hero-sized) breasts.  In that scene we're introduced to the fact that Catwoman knows russian.  I wonder if that was a sly reference to the Catwoman from the Adam West Batman or if it was just a coincidence.

I did like Judd's writing, so I'll defiitely be sticking with Catwoman through the first story arc.  I can't say it's a MUST BUY, but it's a fun, decadent book that probably tickles all your Catwoman fanservice and shipping needs.
 
(Thanks to my brother for suggesting the alternate review title)