DC Finest: Catwoman: Vengeance and Vindication

DC Finest: Catwoman #1994-1996

by Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, Jo Duffy

Catwoman’s solo stories continue in this collection of her ferocious and stylish 1990s adventures!

DC Finest presents comprehensive collections of the most in-demand and celebrated periods in DC Comics history, spanning genres, characters, and eras!

Following directly from previous volume DC Finest: Catwoman: Life Lines, which collected the earliest Catwoman solo stories from the late 1980s and early 1990s, DC Finest: Catwoman: Vengeance and Vindication continues to propel Selina Kyle forward in her own ongoing series with art by Jim Balent, joined by writers Jo Duffy and later, Chuck Dixon.

In these quintessential stories, Catwoman is blackmailed into committing international robbery on behalf of a shadowy organization, utilizing her natural talents as a globetrotting thief! Plus, Selina crosses paths with major DC Universe events including Zero Hour, Contagion, and Underworld Unleashed.

This volume collects Catwoman #0, #13-32; and Catwoman Annual #2-3.

Genres: Dc Comics, Graphic Novels, Comics, Batman

624 pages, Paperback

First published June 10, 2025

About the author

Doug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight and Deathlok. Moench has worked for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics and many other smaller companies; he has written hundreds of issues of many different comics, and created dozens of characters, such as Moon Knight. In 1973, Moench became the de facto lead writer for the Marvel black-and-white magazine imprint Curtis Magazines. He contributed to the entire runs of Planet of the Apes, Rampaging Hulk (continuing on the title when it changed its name to The Hulk!) and Doc Savage, while also serving as a regular scribe for virtually every other Curtis title during the course of the imprint's existence. Moench is perhaps best known for his work on Batman, whose title he wrote from 1983–1986 and then again from 1992–1998. (He also wrote the companion title Detective Comics from 1983–1986.)

Moench is a frequent and longtime collaborator with comics artist Paul Gulacy. The pair are probably best known for their work on Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, which they worked on together from 1974–1977. They also co-created Six from Sirius, Slash Maraud, and S.C.I. Spy, and have worked together on comics projects featuring Batman, Conan the Barbarian and James Bond.

Moench has frequently been paired with the artist and inker team of Kelley Jones and John Beatty on several Elseworlds Graphic Novels and a long run of the monthly Batman comic.

Reviews

[Del · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly solid entertaining run of the 90s series.

Highlights include the issue 0 penned by Doug Moench, arguably the best issue of the collection. The Chuck Dixon penned issues were all fun heist stories. One of the best was Catwoman being hired to steal a screenplay from a film producer, and a 3 part heist run where Selina teams up with characters such as mouse, which was a fun read. The art by Jim Balent is solid throughout.

But unfortunately, the collection is hindered by some crossover events, the worst was the shadow of the bat 3 parter, with some of the worst art I have come across by Barry Kitson and Pat Garroway, really shockingly bad stuff. And the final 2 issues were from the contagion crossover event, with Catwoman in part 4 and 9, it felt mostly cohesive, but it was a pretty weak end for the collection.

So, this isn't as good as it's predecessor finest, lifelines, which is fantastic throughout, but I can still highly recommend this as a fun collection of Catwoman 90s comics. Not Purrfect this time, but it's highly entertaining for the majority of it.

[Kyler Polson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I forgot this starts midway through the storyline started last volume. I was so confused. This run continues to be great. What's Chuck Dixon/90s comic writers' fascination with sending superpowered people to the jungles of South America?! Most of the first half of Marc Spector: Moon Knight is the same thing.

The latter half of this volume is starting to get into the crossovers of the 90s which... potentially bog down an otherwise great run.

[Doug Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

good book, I didn't personally enjoy it as much as the first volume but I still enjoyed it. none of the stories really stood out too much in either a good or bad way, but it was consistent and enjoyable with good writing and art throughout.

[Ralph Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catwoman, one of my favorite comic characters.

[Matt Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Catwoman collection the only thing holding it back were the crossover issues. Covers 1994-1996.