Member Reviews
I really had a lot of trouble with the file, so I wasn't able to read a lot of this book. However, what I did read was weird and not my favorite.
I really enjoyed the art in this title. The way the artist conveys a cat burglar who is actually a catman is a lot of fun. I also like the designs of the cat gang.
I bought the first issue when it came out but couldn't get into it. Decided to try the whole story on here and still couldn't get into it. Nothing about it is bad, just not my thing.
Who knew that I craved reading a murder mystery where the characters are cat inspired criminals.
My favourite parts of this graphic novel were definitely the art style and the unique characters. It also was not as predictable as I anticipated, which only adds to my positive rating.
Thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for providing me with the ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Felix is a cat burglar, a very good one, but he has had a run of bad luck and owes money to the Nero family. Also, he has been avoiding his grandmother for the past nine years. Then there is the strange calls he has been getting offering him a job to rob his grandmother. So much family history that poor Felix never learned which will cost him a lot. Constantly on the run, threatened with death, accused of murder, will Felix the cat burglar land on his feet or will he end up on the trash heap? Plenty of action, backstabbing, and revenge! A fun caper comic!
Thanks Netgally and IDW for the chance to read this title!
I recently got to enjoy the Cat Fight trade paperback from IDW Publishing. It was really fun story that, at the end of the day, I think could be an even better movie with the right casting.
Cat Fight follows master thief Felix Lamarr as he goes on a journey from being an independent burglar — in debt to the wrong people — to fighting against and alongisde his grandmother’s old thieving crew.
Felix’s grandmother Nana aka Kitty Midnight was an excellent thief and built one of the world’s best crews: The Kit Kat Crime Syndicate. They’re cat burglars. Get it? After Kitty is assassinated and the blame placed on Felix, goes on the run to survive, following old bread crews left by Nana. With mysteries and tempers rising, Felix must not only figure out who is behind everything, but he also has to figure out how to survive being attacked by “friend” and foe alike.
I will admit that I wasn’t a huge fan of the artwork at the beginning, but it grew with me throughout the story. By the end, I think it works with the story very well, and my appreciation for the style grew.
I did like the book, and I think you should check it out if you can. As I said in the opening, I think this story could be a great movie with the right casting. I would definitely watch it.
Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
I liked how this book ended, but some of the details at the start of it were a little bit confusing. I did end up enjoying the twists and turns. The art style was very detailed, which was pretty cool to look at. I had a hard time keeping track of the characters at first though.
Kitty Midnight is the most glamorous gray-haired woman you could imagine. You would never know that she runs the Kit Kat Crime Syndicate, a group of the world’s most skilled and notorious thieves. Her syndicate has rules, though. They can only take from those who have too much. They can never hurt an innocent. Most importantly, they also share what they take with those who need it.
Unfortunately, someone just killed Kitty Midnight.
Kitty Midnight may have led the coolest crime syndicate, but she wasn't a saint. She lived richly and traveled the globe. Her grandson, Felix, never knew about the Kit Kat Crime Syndicate. All he knew was that his grandmother, his only family, was never at home.
Cat Fight follows an adult Felix after someone has set him up for Kitty's murder. Not only is he reeling from her murder and dealing with his complicated grief, but Felix also has members of the Kit Kat Crime Syndicate trying to kill him. Who killed Kitty Midnight? Who set up Felix? And where is the real Red Rosette gem?
Cat Fight is a beautifully fun romp. It's a story of family, found family, and beautiful thieves. Luciana was my favorite character in the syndicate, and she was criminally underused. I wish there had been more cats and a few more kisses, but this was delightful. With its retro style and off-kilter humor, Cat Fight is perfect for Kingsman fans. I also think it's great for those who enjoy John Wick, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Bourne Identity, James Bond, and Oceans Eleven.
Art:
First, don't let the art on the cover of the collected volume put you off of this comic. That's not my favorite cover in this series. I loved the retro color palette, styling, and art in Cat Fight. It's neo-noir, but unique in its approach and look. I also liked the facial expressions and body design of the characters in the comic. The characters were sexy, super stylish, and perfectly matched my impression of what high-class super-thieves should be. As a huge Star Wars fan, I'm excited to see that the artist of Cat Fight, Ilias Kyriazis, has worked on the Star Wars Adventures series. I will absolutely be looking up his comics in that line.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Thanks to IDW for providing me with an advanced review copy. All the above thoughts are my own.
*** The review on Back Shelf Books will go live at the link below on March 6, 2024.
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher IDW Publishing for an advance copy of this graphic novel about a crime cartel of cat-named criminals, and the heaviness of dealing with family responsibilities, and legacies.
When I was young I was addicted to these very large, very spooky books by Alfred Hitchcock, well his name was on the cover, filled with crime, criminals, and those that pursued them. I remember one volume had a slim gentlemen, with a mask over his face and a small bag, and top hat. Underneath was a name I can't remember with the statement Master Cat Burglar. I remember thinking how much money could one making stealing cats? Shouldn't he be stealing more expensive things? I was not the most brilliant of children. Since than I love a good theft, a clever heist, especially in French movies without dialogue, and a tension level as strong as a vault's lock. Raffles, Boston Blackie, Catwoman, Black Cat, Bernie Rhodenbarr, and of course just the Cat have been some of my many favorite thieves, elegant, calm, making the impossible look easy, even when it is not. Though as this graphic novel proves, sometimes it might not all be fun and games. Cat Fight is a story about a family of thieves, a man who wants to make his own mistakes, which he makes plenty of, and the crimes they love to commit, written by Andrew Wheeler and illustrated by Ilias Kyriazis.
Felix Midnight is suave, debonair, and owes a lot of money to a lot of people. Felix comes from a long line of thieves, cat burglars, who specialize in only the rarest, most difficult, and against the most annoying of people. Felix is alone in the world, thieving cost him his parents, and his Nana and Felix are currently feuding, making it hard for Felix to make a profit. Phone calls have been coming Felix's way from a voice called Schrödinger with a deal. Lots of money if he joins a new crew, one that is planning on robbing his Grandmother. To Felix that is a nonstarter, but things changes as soon his family is attacked and Felix is on the run from a group claiming to once work for his grandmother, Schrödinger new group, a death cult, and anyone else who wants to make a quick dime. Felix must avoid these threats, while dealing with all the things is family has done wrong, starting with himself.
A very flash story, set in a world that is kind of now with cell phones and technology, and kind of retro, with people wanting to take trains, and the preponderance of luxury that seems to be around. The characters, and there are a lot of characters all have cat names and ids, so the puns are strong in this one, all seem unique and different, though I hate saying some of the female characters took me a minute to remember who they were. There are a few heists, which are fun, and a lot of action. Also there are a lot of betrayals, maybe one or two too many. The art is great, very bright and colorful with a strong kinetic feeling. Punches seem to hurt, though like nine lives and a cat must of them get by ok. The backgrounds are great, and there is a strong international sense to the stories. This feels like Europe, right down to the cars, building and just the feel.
Recommended if one likes heist stories, or people having fun, stealing things, getting in fights and more. A fun adventure.
I am not familiar with the creative team on this book, but they had me at John Wick meets Kill Bill meets Cats. I was expecting more gore, but I think my high schoolers will enjoy it. It was a fun story with very James Bond type vibes. The use of color was excellent, I love the deep purples.
3 stars
All the puns! Yes, please. Cat Fight is literal and figurative. High crime, high action, high cat puns. When bodies start dropping, things get more serious. Twists and turns abound. Even if you have nine lives, you need to know who you can trust. All claws are out as survival becomes a daily effort.
This book was pretty much all crime drama and not much to do with cats. I wanted to read it because of the cats, but all I got was a weird crime drama anime you’d see on adult swim at 3am. Not my thing but I can see how it will appeal to some people, particularly teenage boys or just masculine people in general. I think I’m the whole wrong audience for this.
Love the diversity and the story telling. You never really see black main characters in comics. Can’t wait to read more.
Kitty Midnight is dead - or is she? Her grandson is taking the pain of the local criminals thinking he killed his grandmother and going after him. I originally read this title due to the cover and the title itself. I was intrigued with the storyline, a crime syndicate family looking for justice for their fallen leader. And though the last page they tried to justify the title, other than that and the silly names of the characters, nothing else tied into felines unfortunately. This was entertaining but it isn't something I will want to buy for myself.
John Wick meets Kill Bill, meets…CATS?!
This was really weird but in a great way. I've read a lot of comics in my life and this was one of the few that made me literally laugh out loud. Well done!
The premise sounded interesting but this comic did not work for me. I did not like the art that much and there kept being plot twists and reveals. Too much going on.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy of the graphic novel. I did not actually enjoy this book, I found the art style to be inconsistent and the story was not intriguing. There was also an "advanced reader copy" sticker that appeared on all the pages and made it extremely difficult to read text on some of the pages.