The Many Lives of Catwoman
The Felonious History of a Feline Fatale
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher 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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Hanley (Investigating Lois Lane) tackles the complicated history of one of the most famous villains in comics. In this detailed and thoroughly enjoyable work, he follows the atypical route Catwoman has taken over her almost 80 years: "Because of her felonious history, Catwoman is a perpetual outsider, and her existence on the periphery of society led her to avoid both the tropes and triumphs typically associated with the evolution of female characters." Hanley relates her murky origin as created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger in the 1940s (she was first called Cat, then Cat-Woman, with the hyphen dropping in the mid-'40s); her disappearance from comics for 12 years before being revived in the 1960s Batman television show; and her current incarnations in comics, video games, and movies. He gives special attention to Catwoman's feminism and sexuality, and how depictions of her have often sparked controversy (illustrated by men, she had "a more than ample chest and rear, and a tiny waist"). Hanley's writing is comprehensive and straightforward, and fans and newbies alike will take great pleasure in reading about Catwoman's journey.
