Tim Hanley

This review is for the audio CD version of The Many Lives of Catwoman, written by Tim Hanley and read by Rachel Dulude. I am generally a person who prefers print nonfiction books for both note-taking and references. This is no exception since it is rich in detail and nuance. That said, as an audio book designed for casual listening this is a remarkable edition.

For starters, the research and analysis is thorough yet does not bog down the main text of the book. Hanley's insights are both show more compelling and interesting and brings a wonderful new perspective to both the character of Catwoman as well as the Batman franchise. There are both fun facts any fan will enjoy and detailed analysis to illustrate the changes over the years.

I usually prefer a reader to be the same gender as the writer, for instance I was disappointed that Molly Haskell's book on Steven Spielberg was read by a male, the voice seemed wrong. In this case, however, Dulude adds to the strength of the book. Because so much dialogue is incorporated into the text her ability to read the parts in character provided an additional level to the argument Hanley was presenting. This is by far one of my favorite nonfiction audiobooks.

I highly recommend this to anyone interested in comic books in general, Batman in particular, and gender roles in comic books both within the narrative and sociologically. For those who might want to study or use this in further research I would recommend adding a physical copy as well. I hope to do so at some point.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via LibraryThing Early Reviewers. show less

Fascinating look at a character whose moral ambiguity is interesting in a way that early writers perhaps did not intend, and which contemporary writers still struggle with today. I was particularly interested by the history of her devolution into a sex object, and how later writers were able to rehabilitate her into a more complex character. I'd love to know Hanley's opinion on the current depiction of Catwoman in the ongoing Batman series.

THE MANY LIVES OF CATWOMAN: The Felonious History of a Feline Fatale by Tim Hanley is the second study of a comic book icon I have read in the past few months. The other was about Wonder Woman. In both cases they have a long history and are fascinating studies of the writers, inkers, pencilers, and in the case of Catwoman, the actresses who have portrayed her on the big screen, television, and as voice characters for the various animated series she has been apart of.
Unlike WW, Catwoman is show more not a hero character. She has been portrayed as everything from a cat burglar, prostitute, mob boss, heir to a mafia fortune, seductress, lunatic and more. She has fared well on both the big screen and small (sorry Halle Berry, but your take on the Cat was off the mark and I think it had less to do with you than those around you) but in the books, not so much.
I’ve noticed that many of the writers seem to have used her to unleash their inner demons or desires and turned her into something other than a regular foe for the Batman. But no matter how they have abused her, the Catwoman seems to have come out all the stronger for it. After all, name any other female opponent to a super hero that has stood the test of time. Female characters in comic books come and go, usually fatally, but Selina Kyle has managed to come back, time and again, no matter what the interpretation has been.
Mr. Hanley draws many conclusions in this work and is free with his opinions. You can argue the entire book point by point, attempt to refute his understanding of the material, but I liked it. He has managed to look at every incarnation of Ms. Kyle, whether in the books created by Bill Finger (even though Bob Kane got the credit), the POW! BAM!, KABLOOIE! of the television show, the cartoons, the figurines, and any other versions you could think of. His determination to reveal Catwoman’s entire being and, moreover, her impact on both the Batman and his devoted readers, shows through in every chapter.
I listened to this in the MP3 format and was delighted byRachel Dulude’s reading. She brought the necessary joy to the material while also giving a certain amount of formality to this view into the Queen of Comic Villains. Her performance enhanced my experience.
I won this book through LibraryThing. show less

A detailed and unflinching look at the creation, exploitation, and evolution of one of Gotham's most iconic super villains. Like so many other talented people laboring in obscurity, the original creators of Batman spent most of their lives relatively unknown. Meanwhile, the man who claimed all rewards and total ownership lived a life of relative ease - farming out all his artistic responsibilities to a string of underlings. Beginning as a complicated and shadowy figure serving as a love show more interest for Batman, Catwoman has been reinvented countless times. Throughout most of her career she has been little more than a busty cutout used to give the story sex appeal or a needed emotional punch. Still her fanbase endures and continues to grow as more recent writers have refreshed her character.

A fascinating little history lesson about comic books, movies, and role of the untamed woman in American culture. show less