Batman / Tarzan: Claws of the Cat-Woman [Paperback]

Ron Marz (Author), Igor Kordey (Author)

Book Description

Series: Batman | Publication Date: October 10, 2000

Batman. Tarzan. Two orphaned noblemen who have honed their minds and bodies to the peak of human performance. Two fearless warriors who have sworn to protect their respective homelands. Now, a new evil has surfaced, one that will bring these two legendary heroes together for the first time; one that threatens both of their "jungles". A mysterious Catwoman is not about to let the ancient, priceless treasures of a hidden empire be plundered by the malevolent archaeologist known as Dent. Who better to enlist in her cause than Batman and Tarzan? In a rousing adventure that reaches from the shadowy spires of Gotham City to the dark forests of deepest Africa, all the skills and instincts of the Dark Knight and the Lord of the Jungle will be needed to save an opulent lost civilization from destruction. Co-published with DC Comics.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Dark Horse; 1st edition (October 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569714665
• ISBN-13: 978-1569714669
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #452,890 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars One crossover that should not have happened, October 16, 2006

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Batman / Tarzan: Claws of the Cat-Woman (Paperback)

When Bruce Wayne attends the opening of the new Wayne Wing of the Gotham City Museum of Natural History, he meets Lord Greystoke, Tarzan. And when he meets an African Princess, who goes about disguised as a cat, he begins to learn that the man acquiring artifacts for he Wayne Wing is an unscrupulous adventurer. So, Batman, Tarzan and Catwoman set off for Africa to stop the evil treasure hunter before he can do any more damage. But, will they be in time.

Overall, I thought that this book did a good job of capturing the true characters of both Batman and Tarzan. Both characters operated as you would expect, fighting the evils that infect their respective jungles and doing what it takes to set things right. The illustration work is well done, but always darkly colored, no matter what setting.

My real problem with this book is the simple problem of settings. Tarzan's presence on the rooftops of Gotham is never explained (don't even get me started on the rooftop Masai warriors!), and Batman seemed so terribly out of place in the jungles of Africa.

No. Sometimes crossovers are great, providing some interesting moments, and chances for expanding existing character. But, this is one crossover that should not have happened. Overall, I do not recommend this book.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic Serial Material, March 16, 2001

By 

Brandon K. (WA, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Batman / Tarzan: Claws of the Cat-Woman (Paperback)

I have to admit, I was a little hesitant to buy this. As a fan of Edgar Rice's Tarzan novels, and NOT the silly movies that have come out over the years, I was all too ready to have Tarzan be a stupid ape and not the intelligent, if slightly-uncivilized, British Tarzan of the novels. However, kudos to Ron Marz for getting it right. There are some classic lines in this series, and both Batman and Tarzan get their share of the spotlight. Using a 50's Batman model and Burroughs' Tarzan proved a great decision and makes for a campy read reminiscent of old serial shows. In my opinion, this is a must-get for Tarzan or Batman fans.

3.0 out of 5 stars Good story with two classic pulp characters, November 4, 2009

By 

Scott D. Parker "sdparker7" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Batman / Tarzan: Claws of the Cat-Woman (Paperback)

One definition of a forgotten book is forgetting you even have a copy. As I leafed through all of my graphic novels, I stumbled upon Batman and Tarzan: Claws of the Cat-woman. Since I've read and written about the first three Tarzan novels, of course I'd select this book.

In comicdom, Dark Horse Comics owns the rights to Tarzan nowadays. Ten years ago, they teamed him up with DC's Batman. Hmm: two rich guys, both lost their parents early on (at least Bruce knew his), both patrol their respective "jungles," what's not to like? I have to say, going in, I was wondering how much of the Burroughs world was going to make it in the book. A good amount, really.

The story takes place in this kind of nether world: the time is vague, Batman exists in Gotham, and John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, aka, Tarzan, is a famous figure, having had his exploits written by "a writer" (that'd be your ERB wink). Bruce Wayne has financed an expedition to Africa and Finnigan Dent (note the name) brought back some rare artifacts to be displayed in the new Thomas and Martha Wayne wing of the natural science museum. Later that night, a person dressed as a cat breaks into the museum and Batman stops her. And then Tarzan, decked out in a white (!) loincloth *in Gotham*(come on, at least let it be leather; and why a loin cloth? You'd think he's just take off his shoes or something.) waylays Batman. No sooner does Tarzan figure out who Batman really is (can't hide your scent) than a band of Masai warriors attacks them. Battle ensues.

Here's where we get the typical posturing when two characters meet for the first time. If you've read the Tarzan books, you know he kills his enemies if that's the only way to protect those around him. In Gotham, he's about to throw a warrior off the roof when Batman stops him. "No murder in my city." (You know where this is going, right?) The different dynamic duo win and discover the "cat woman" is Princess Khefretari of the hidden city of Memnon. Mr. Finnigan Dent (there's that name again) looted the city and plans to return to finish the job. To the Batplane, Tarzan!

Predictably, Batman and Tarzan have to travel on foot to get to the hidden city. There are some humorous (and weird) episodes along the way. When they first land, Bats is taken aback with Tarzan's pet lion. I mean, really! If Bats knows who Greystoke is, then he's got to know the man is at home with wild animals. Cut to a later scene when Bats thinks the bull ape is friendly...and gets himself nearly beaten to death. It takes Tarzan's fighting abilities to save the day.

Naturally, Finnigan Dent tries to kill our heroes but not before said lion rends one half of Dent's face. Yes! Now I know where I know the name. Dent now has, say it with me: two faces. There are enough escapes and fights to make any fan of pulp fiction happy. The best one is when our heroes are chained together and thrown into the alligator pool. After their escape (giving nothing away here), you have the single best frame of the book. Tarzan, bleeding from a shoulder wound, is stopped by Bats for a field dressing. Igor Kardey's art shows Tarzan, eyes rolling, head tilted, assenting to Batman's ministrations, with one line, "Very well." This from a man who had part of his scalp torn from his head in the first book. Next, Tarzan compliments the field dressing. Batman's reply: "I've had practice." So much said in so few words.

It's a fun story although far from earth-shattering. The art is well done. Kordey gives Batman black eyes most of time, a neat take on the standard white. Tarzan is rendered fantastically, all muscles yet haunted eyes. You have a lot of little moments (like the field dressing scene) that pay homage to various things in each character's past. I remember reading it back in the day but, as I mentioned before, forgot I even had it. Come Christmas, I'll probably forget it again. But, as part of my All Things Tarzan mode I've been in, I enjoyed it and would like to read another adventure with these two quintessential heroes. (excerpted from [...]