Review: Catwoman Vol. 1- Copycats

Quick Summary

Pros: The entire volume grabs interest quickly and works as an introduction for the series. Catwoman’s personal story has some great emotion and her adventures are entertaining. The artwork looks beautiful and adds to the story.

Cons: The pacing is a bit rapid and makes it hard to fully connect with everything that is happening.

Overall: This volume works very well as an introduction, even if it has some problems. It has charm, excitement, emotion, and a story that will keep readers hooked the whole way through. Plus, the visuals are beautiful and add to the entire experience. Unfortunately, the pacing prevent it from being a truly great book but it still works as the first volume in a new series. All in all, anyone interested in seeing more of Catwoman should consider picking up this collection.

Story

Catwoman Vol. 1: Copycats, by Joëlle Jones, is a great introduction to a new Catwoman series. This comic moves Catwoman to a new location and immediately hits her with a string of problems. All of this is interesting and watching it play out is fun as well. The only problem is that everything goes by so quickly that it makes it hard to appreciate some of the characters and their actions. However, as a whole, the book works well as an introduction to the new series.

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Copycats is chiefly successful in drawing in interest. Simply changing up the status quo for Selena starts this process. However, the reintroduction of her sister and a conflict with an extremely disturbed political family takes it even further. I closed the book immediately ready to pick up the second volume.

It also helps that the main conflict within the book is entertaining. Catwoman jumps from dangerous situation to dangerous situation. Meanwhile, she is also dealing with emotions she still feels over walking out on her wedding and the life she used to have. Together, these factors make Catwoman’s story one to watch.

Unfortunately, the pacing in the book can feel a bit rapid. Over the course of only a few issues, readers learn Catwoman’s current situation, meet her friends, discover she is in town to visit her sister, and see her get in a conflict with a family of villains. This is just the introduction. From here, there is an entire battle between Catwoman and the villainous family, in which a lot also happens. This works in introducing readers to this series and explaining what it will be about. However, it also dilutes the impact of most of the comic’s events.

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Art

The artwork in Copycats is wonderful all the way through. Joëlle Jones creates scenes that look beautiful while also reading well. The unique and stylized visuals help set the comic apart immediately. Then, creative character designs and expressive costumes continue this trend. It also helps that the book is laid out in a way that helps emphasize the drama in tense moments or that adds energy to action scenes. Overall, the visuals in Copycats make this a better and more enjoyable read.

Continuity

Catwoman Vol. 1: Copycats starts a brand new Catwoman series; the last one ended with Catwoman Vol. 8: Run Like Hell (Review). This series takes place after and deals with the aftermath from Batman: The Wedding (Review) (Reading Order).

The story here continues in Catwoman Vol. 2: Far From Gotham (Review).

This volume also references and continues the stories from other comic books, detailed below:

• The story surrounding Maggie, her husband, Catwoman, and Black Mask is told across the “Catwoman: Relentless” story arc, collected in Catwoman Vol. 2: No Easy Way Down.