‘Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale’ (review)

Written by Lauren Myracle
Illustrated by Isaac Goodheart
Published by DC Ink

I’m really loving these alternative young adult takes on classic DC Comics characters.

They are taking what is established and giving them a fresh coat of paint. It’s invigorating and interesting and I love the aesthetic. This is another fine take here and I am impressed.

Lauren Myracle decides to take a risk here and shows us a fifteen year old Selina Kyle.

When we first meet her, she professes how much her life sucks. We quickly get to see why she feels that way and it’s not a good thing for her.

Her mother has brought a new man home. He is abusive and generally not a nice person. This leads to some bad moments for Selina at the hands of her new stepfather.

There is a moment when he tells her to put her hand on a table. Her taunts her and takes out a knife. What follows is something you need to see to believe. It’s heartbreaking and scary.  And it’s only one of the many sick and twisted ways he shows his abuse towards Selina.

Myracle doesn’t hold back. This is some brutal, brutal stuff. We get to see Selina struggle through school. We get to see her have a hard time maintaining her teenage life. Then, The creative team decide to  give us the biggest heartbreak. That’s when Selina makes a decision and eventually becomes homeless.

Myracle gives us an honest look at the gravity of the situation. It’s not pretty. I applaud the bravery of the creative team in really digging deep but making the entire thing relatable. That’s where I was the most impressed.

I did enjoy the “spins” on the other characters in this book. The take on Bruce Wayne we see here is fantastic and the newer characters we get to meet, especially Tristan, are wonderfully realized. It’s a smart, witty, and human book.

Eventually, the plot gets us closer to the Catwoman we all know and love. But we get to learn a lot about Selina Kyle well before that. It’s wonderful.

I have not seen the artwork of Isaac Goodheart before this but this guy has a future. I love his work here and it’s stunning. This is a great read and I cannot recommend it enough. And it definitely is getting the most coveted prize of all here: an A plus rating.

RATING: A+