I'll definitely recommend this one to our library patrons. It's always cool to start a new volume and series of a beloved character.

As a quick disclaimer, I’m not reviewing this based on story continuity as I’m new to the realm of comic books and can’t talk accurately about that. I’m purely assessing the story and the art style.

Catwoman Volume 1: Copycats is a no-holds-barred, action-packed story featuring a grotesque villain and a fight to overcome her grip on the city. Between the epic fight scenes, we see a more vulnerable side of Catwoman than you’d expect.

In general, I found the story to be extremely compelling. The author alternate between the current predicaments and Selena’s past. The panels shed light on how she came to be Catwoman, and the trauma that led her sister to a breakdown. There’s a lot to unpack as we watch her struggling to deal with the issues of past volumes. She isn’t herself at the beginning, hiding away in a storage unit, unable to sleep or fully live her life. We see a deeper side and it fuels her actions as she tries to recover.

The villain was especially terrifying to me. There’s an unexpected reveal that’s a bit jarring, and that’s exactly what you want in a comic book villain. She has a dark past filled with betrayals and power grabs, making her the perfect monster for Selena to overcome.

I loved the art style and the wide variety of panels. Kyle’s movements and fighting style are drawn with precision, creating impressive fight scenes. I was most impressed with the full-size and multi-page panels with their intricate details and action-advancing techniques.

Overall, Copycats was an interesting place for me to begin within the Catwoman storylines. It’s a new start for Selena and I look forward to following her through the remaining volumes.

Review will be published on 4/16/19: https://reviewsandrobots.com/2019/04/16/catwoman-volume-1-copycats-book-review