
A Catwoman's Origin Story that makes sense.
Selina Kyle came from an affluent Gotham family. Her mother was a gifted
ballet dancer, and her name meaning "daughter of the moon" is an allusion to
Swan Lake, the ballet her mother was dancing in when her father saw her. Her
father's profession is never stated in
Catwoman's origin story, but it is mentioned in the Cat-Tales program
that she grew up on the upper west side, near the opera house.
While not as wealthy as the Waynes, the Kyles lived a life of luxury until
her parents were tragically killed in a car accident. After the death of her
parents, Selina was sent to live with a relative who was headmistress of an
exclusive boarding school on long island. Selina never fit into the
“dreary,” “gray” world and spent much of her time there exploring the
surrounding countryside. She began to spy on the nearby Falcone compound and
associated the wealth she glimpsed there - which came from crime - with the
love and security she had lost.
Reviews:
The series always implied Selina had a privileged childhood, and I never
understood how such a blatant thief could possibly from the upper class. And
now I read this. It just all comes together in such a beautiful way, and I
see that it's not only right, it's the explanation of why Cat-Tales succeeds
where so many Batman efforts fail. It's truly the way Chris Dee understands
the characters that makes your series so special.
Finally a Catwoman origin that makes sense. Cattitude demonstrates the one
aspect of Selina Kyle's past that all the comics and movies get wrong. Like
Bruce, she comes from money. She lost her family, she lost the wealth. Her
life since then has been leading either through choice or chance, toward
reaquiring wealth. maybe it's because she thought, subconciously, in a way
she didnt even realise till she started thinking back, that maybe if she got
that one more trinket... The love and security she'd known would return.
I am not exaggerating in any way when I tell you that this has been my
favorite Cat Tale so far. The insight into Selina's mind and background was
superb. I also enjoyed seeing how she got into crime. However, it was the
encounters with Batman that really crowned this for me.
Catwoman is the long term result of a thousand little buffers gently pulling
her into proximity with this cat, and that mentor, and this city, and that
rogue, subtly adding all the things she has needed, and has broguht her
here.
One of the things I love about this series is the excellent dialogue and
word play. Good dialogue is almost an ends unto itself. It can make
enjoyable reading out of a story where the most exciting thing that happens
is a fall from a horse, and or having your allowance cut back to 100 pounds
quarterly.
"If I had to choose just one story I'd say Catitude because its the best
written Catwoman origin story I've ever read."





