Catwoman: When In Rome by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

Graphic Novel time! Disclaimer: I am not a highly experienced comic book/graphic novel reader, but I really enjoy them. I love super heroes, but I know my knowledge is very limited compared to the many people who follow them seriously.

Since I was a little girl and I saw Batman Returns, I have loved Catwoman. She’s a total tough chick, but she’s still gorgeous and feminine and the men love her. She’s also smart enough to keep the Batman on his toes. That’s why I was really excited when I heard about this book.

Selina Kyle(Catwoman) is on a trip to Rome to find out the secrets of her past and find out who her parents are. While there she has some dangerous encounters with the leaders of Italy’s most influential families along with a few of Gotham’s noted villains. Character-wise, Catwoman is amazing. She’s clever and sarcastic, and very sexy, but she can still be embarrassed and funny when the situation calls for it. The book was actually pretty good for readers who don’t have extensive knowledge of the Batman universe. I think if you are a fan of the Batman movies, you would know enough to get through the book. It helps that the story takes place outside of Gotham city and away from the stories and characters that require prior knowledge. Artist, Tim Sale, does a really good job of making sure you see how sexy Catwoman is without making it sleazy like some artists do. Sex appeal is a huge part of Selina Kyle, but it’s not the only thing you see. The art does a fantastic job of characterizing every character completely. The colors and uses of light and shadow are absolutely beautiful. The cover art was all based on the art of Rene Gruau, and they bring the air of class and sophistication to the story. I really enjoyed this reading and would recommend it to anyone! This is obviously not a book for the classroom, but I think a teacher could use the art, especially the cover art in an activity somewhere.