‘Under the Moon’ Shines as a Brand New Catwoman Origin Story

Writer: Lauren Myracle / Artist: Isaac Goodhart / DC Comics If you’re a Catwoman fan like me, the idea of a teenaged Selina Kyle either feels like we’re about to enter into some major squick territory or, you know, that one attempt we’d like to forget about. Thankfully, Lauren Myracle and Isaac Goodhart’s YA graphic novel Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale delivers a version of Gotham’s most infamous cat burglar that blends the classic character with an authentic teen perspective (with the added bones of a mercifully small number of feline-based puns).

One of the things I immediately admired about the book comes from its approach to Selina’s history as not just a tragic backstory but a series of choices, some within her power and some enacted despite. Under a veneer of matter-of-fact description we learn about Selina’s attempts to cope with a mother struggling with codependency, an abusive stepfather, bullying peers, and the frustratingly limited agency that comes with not yet being an adult. Despite the world showing her very little justice, Selina still remains doggedly determined to help the disenfranchised at every turn and to me this speaks very clearly to the spirit of activism and awareness we see so clearly embraced by the current generation. In fact, one of the more subtle but especially important aspects about this book is how it emphasizes art as a tool for positive change with three full pages of support and resources for suicide prevention, stopping domestic violen…