Batman One Bad Day-Catwoman: “No Small Scores”

Catwoman (Selina Kyle) has a past, that is for sure. Come along as we witness Catwoman have a “bad day” dealing with part of her past.

Creative Team

G. Willow Wilson (Writer), Jamie McKelvie (Artist/Colorist/Cover Artist), Clayton Cowles (Letterer)

Marie Javins (Editor in Chief), Dave Wielgosz (Editor), Jessica Berbey (Assistant Editor),
Darren Robinson (Designer)

Published by: DC Comics

“No Small Scores”

Batman One Bad Day-Catwoman by G. Willow Wilson is just one of eight one-shot stories in the “One Bad Day” series. The basis for this series is to walk through the shoes of a Batman rogue as they have ironically a “bad day.” Within this Catwoman issue, we are following Catwoman (Selina Kyle) as she takes a trip down memory lane to a time when she was a little girl. Selina wasn’t raised in Gotham as Bruce Wayne was, wealthy and well off. She was poor, and it was often a struggle knowing when her next meal would be. Her upbringing plays a pivotal role in her persona as Catwoman.

This issue takes us on a journey with Selina as she is hunting down an old family relic that her mother (Magdalene Kyle) sold to a pawn shop just to cover rent. But the sale of that relic was botched because it was a fake. Which didn’t sit right with Selina and stayed with her into her adult years. Selina has now discovered the relic in a high-priced auction and sees her opportunity to reclaim what belongs in her family. Selina transitions into her Catwoman ego, and the story picks up pace.

Selina maneuvers her way into the auction to witness the relic when she is approached by a curator of the auction who shared that the relic is in fact real. It is after that conversation that Selina generates her plan to steal the item. After obtaining the item Selina reaches out to her sister (Maria Kyle) who is living a struggling life. Maria and Selina don’t have the greatest conversation, as Selina was hoping for. But Selina is determined to help her sister have a worry-free life and goes to sell the relic.

Selina is hit with a reality that she has already experienced when a young child, the relic is in fact a fake. Now furious, Selina is on the hunt again, but not for money or artifacts, but for the curator she met at the auction. Batman joins the story informing Selina that the woman she is after isn’t who Selina thinks she is. She’s a seasoned criminal that Batman has built a case on and is asking Selina to let it go. Batman already has things in line to take down this mysterious woman. But Selina doesn’t listen.

The final portions of this story take the reader through a very surprising intense fight between Catwoman and the mysterious woman. Catwoman is left in defeat as Batman arrives in a comedic fashion to tell her, “I told you so.” Selina swallows her pride and reaches out to her sister on her way home to try and make amends. This is an attempt to make something good come out of a “bad day.”

The Art of Batman One Bad Day-Catwoman

Jamie McKelvie has one of the smoothest art styles that I have ever seen. He uses crisp clean lines, and shadowing to bring out the finer details in every aspect of this story. The buildings, scene accessories, and characters are so defined. You can get a glimpse of what I mean in the page example provided. Jamie is also the colorist on this title and does a phenomenal job with his color selection. You will be very impressed if you’ve yet to see Jamie’s art before.

Thoughts on Batman One Bad Day-Catwoman

This is an amazing one-shot story by G. Willow Wilson. Her creative storytelling and dialogue help you feel the different emotions within this story. She really captures the true essence of Selina as not only Selina Kyle, but as Catwoman as well. Bringing to life an emotional past and colliding it with an angry current day. The Batman One Bad Day series is a perfect take on some of Batman’s most popular foes. Do yourself a favor, especially if a Batman fan, go get your hands on this special series of eight one-shot stories today.

Grade: 9/10

Batman One Bad Day Series: Batman One Bad Day

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