I’ll abstain from giving examples, but you’ll know some of the more interesting turns of phrase when you encounter them.Įarly on Myracle establishes Selina as a caring figure who looks out for others, whether it’s a friend who is being teased or a stray cat that she encounters. It’s just some of the use of the language felt like it was done because they could use it in this story. Not to sound prudish, but there are quite a few hard swears used quite frequently that… well, they don’t necessarily feel out of place, because it is the way some people talk. Myracle is successful in making us sympathize with Selina, though some of her dialogue is jarringly profane. Dernell is a true pig of a man, expecting Selina’s mother to answer his every beck and call, while at the same time pelting Selina with verbal and physical abuse. Selina lives with her single mother, who seemingly has a new boyfriend every time Selina sees her, until the monstrous Dernell arrives and never leaves. Writer Lauren Myracle focuses first and foremost on Selina’s own tragic home life, in a manner that is occasionally moving but often frustrating.
That’s just a small part of the story, though. The scene where the two finally reconnect after years of misunderstood distance is one of the best, most honest scenes in the book, using what we know about Bruce Wayne’s tragic loss in a relatively fresh way. The only other recognizable character besides Selina is Bruce Wayne, who used to be a close friend until… something drove them apart. She’s a typical teenage girl, with a few close friends and a bit of an attitude to spare. As you’d expect, the main character is Selina Kyle, who is cast as a high school student rather than a world-class thief. The book is divided into three separate acts– “The Dark,” “The Light,” and “Under the Bright White Moon”– with each section containing its own sub-chapters. The real disconnect here is the treatment of some of the subject matter, along with some truly odd storytelling choices.
But I wasn’t the target audience for Mera: Tidebreaker either, and I still found quite a bit to enjoy there. With a target audience of teens, especially those who are “troubled” or feel misunderstood or outcast, it has elements that will no doubt resonate. Now, granted, I am not the target audience for this story, in… many ways. The intentions are noble and there are moments of individual greatness, but as a whole, this is a flawed work. It’s also a difficult book because, at least as a work of art, it doesn’t quite succeed. Those subjects are not easy to read, and they certainly can’t be easy to write.
It is a difficult book.įor one, it is difficult due to the hard, heavy subject matter, which includes domestic abuse, self-harm, and child runaways. Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale is the latest release from DC Comics’ DC Ink imprint, aimed at young adult readers.
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