the Balent show

back in the 90s, deep in the Bad Girls phenomenon in comics (edgy comicbook anti/heroines who were drawn in skimpy costumes and/or exaggerated anatomies), it was really hard to stand out among the crowd since almost all the girls looked the same and mainstream comics went that route, sacrificing substance on the altar of fanboy drooldom. there were a few that did make a mark, such as Catwoman (yes, the übersexy thief and unrequited Batman lover butchered by Hollywood). drawn by relatively-under-the-radar Jim Balent, who stayed on for a relatively lengthy 77 issues (quite a roll there), Catwoman drew raves as some of today's noted comic writers (Jo Duffy, Chuck Dixon, Devin Grayson) cut their chops mapping Selina Kyle's adventures in Gotham City and beyond.

Balent, like most of his peers who drew somewhat overstated luscious female characters, wasn't spared the scorn of critics. however, there was something about his covers that lent a classy bent to what might normally be dismissed as pure eye candy. maybe the inside artwork wasn't up to par, but hell, can he draw covers. especially balloons. water balloons.

this is my salute to the Balent show, who's running his own studios nowadays. and still drawing water balloons.

back in 1993, DC greenlighted a Catwoman series (thank you, Michelle Pfieffer), with #1 showing Selina with her famous cat o'nine tails - this is a long way from Lee Meriwether and Julie Newmar. very bad, indeed.

it didn't take long for Selina to show some skin - its just issue #2! fanboys riot.

if there's such a thing as a Night Nurse (a Marvel concept) to handle daily superhero injury anonymously, there's always a Night Tailor/Seamstress who handles costume repair and sales. does not apply to armored Avengers.

despite the perfect curves, this one's a little stiff. by the way, what's with the changing tag lines?


with two white tigers, one of whom would later ruin an established gay Las Vegas magic act duo.


1994's Zero Hour crossover necessitated a #0 Origin issue, written by the legendary Doug Moench. you can say this thing jumped out at the fanboys.


Catwoman is both the Barbie and anti-Barbie of the DC Universe.


now if she landed face-first, there'd be a couple of popped balloons ...


truth to tell, Balent's Catwoman rarely smiled (on the covers). here, i guess the thought of being tied up really made her pissed.


by now, Balent can draw Catwoman blindfolded, in perfect curvy glory.

a classic cover combination of elements, and one that works - the air of vulnerability goes well with that defiant attitude.

i wouldn't call this tittilating, but it was pushing the vulnerability envelope. at least she was kicking ass.


now we see her smiling! strangling Robin can elicit that response (she actually gives him a chaste peck on the cheek in the end).


okay, here Balent mines Japanese manga and those cheesey Robert E. Howard sword-and-sorcery epics.


an armored Catwoman? why not? its the 90's, baby!!! (note bad Batman stand-in Azrael, a poster boy for "edgy" heroes)


a little lower ... lower ... (and you'd have the public in an uproar).


now we see Selina's eyes are green. cool!


duelling in the desert (though i can't figure out the skid marks)


hey, watch it! don't rip the water balloons!!


that pose is quite unnatural. and painful.


Cybercat?! holy shit! they finally discovered the internet and cyberspace! and liquid metal!


note: no one has ever ripped her costume around the chest area. that part is 3x hardier than the rest of her costume.


another painful pose - note right knee and foot.


creepy crawlies make our fave thief squirm!


this reminds me of a paper clip you bend absentmindedly into weird shapes.


why have only one purple-clad babe when you can have two? yes, yes.


love hurts! and kills! she'd be better off with the Bat.


shades of Tom Cruise, only sexier and much more appealing. and she's not a Scientologist.

covers like these merited Balent inclusion in DC Cover Girls (one of my better purchases this year). mrrrrrrrooowwwwwww!

ok, don't tell me it was the weight of the water balloons.


i don't recall Uma Thurman or Michelle Pfieffer looking this hot.


despite being stuffed with straw, Catwoman still looks fab.


hell hath no fury like a cat messed around with.

from the looks of this, it would be a disgrace not to re-introduce her to the next few Batman films. ScarJo, anyone?

the code of Mona Selina


a cat taking the bull by the balls ... heh. bull. balls. (see, she smiled!)


having nine lives is cool. having Jim Balent draw you is cooler.


i don't know about you, but this cover is smoking.


Balent's last cover, #77, wasn't as spectacular as the body of his Cat-work.

again, why have one when you can have two? a crossover of Bad Girls! fanboys go into frenzied spasms.

well, let's ask Selina what she thinks of 77 issues (or so) being made to pose the Balent way? uh, Selina ... ?



all these Cat-covers makes me want to buy a statuette. hmmmmm ...