The Time Is Right for a Batman and Catwoman to Get Married

WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for Batman #50, on sale July 4 from DC Comics.

There are a couple reasons why readers are unhappy with the build-up to DC Comics' Batman #50 aka the marriage of Batman and Catwoman. Sure, they're disappointed the New York Times spoiled the wedding issue which would have seen Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle tie the knot, a huge twist to Tom King and company's year-long storyline that kicked off with a proposal in Batman #24.

But there's also the outrage stemming from what's going to happen: Catwoman is opting not to marry the Dark Knight as she feels he won't be the same crimefighter once he's buckled down and happily hitched. Given the fan reaction to this twist, which surely would have come this Wednesday anyway when the book's out, one thing is perfectly clear -- fans want to see Bruce and Selina get hitched.

Now's as good a time as any simply because of where the Batman is at this point in time. Settled and centered? Yes. Still hungry for justice? Definitely. This insatiable appetite to prowl rooftops won't ever go away, for either of them (although one would have hoped Catwoman wouldn't be a thief anymore, being Mrs. Bruce Wayne and whatnot). That said, the present would have been the perfect time for this union as there was so much potential from a storytelling standpoint, pushing Bruce further up the ladder as someone more than a a superhero as well as a father.

For decades, it was inconceivable for Batman to be a biological father, yet DC worked Damian Wayne into his life, not just as an offspring but as a partner and future bearer of the Bat-mantle. When Bruce died, his first adopted son, Dick Grayson, took over the cowl and trained Damian, only for the elder Wayne to return and reassume the position of Bat-familiy patriarch. And so, we got tons of exciting father-son stories, even culminating with the death and eventual rebirth of Damian, engineered by the mind of Grant Morrison.

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The key to the Bruce/Damian relationship is family chemistry, and so far, Catwoman has that in abundance, basically becoming part of Bruce's everyday world effortlessly. She has a natural rapport with him and this dynamic could have gone the route of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, completing her redemption, adding more warmth and yes, love, to the Dark Knight's life, both in and out of costume. They've already had so many great exchanges with Batman's rogues such as the Joker, as well as experiences with Superman and Lois (on an endearing double date), as well as with the Bat-family itself.

Catwoman's role as a mother figure to Damian would have also been super intriguing, given she sometimes crosses a moral line just like the young hero does. Her presence alongside Batman would also add additional intrigue to Bruce's relationships with with officials like Jim Gordon and the Justice League. At the end of the day, he would have had to justify loving a criminal until death do them part.

Adding marriage to the mix would create a beautiful chaos in Bruce's world, whilst giving him something he lost as a kid in Crime Alley: a sense of becoming whole again. His romance with Selina has him more trusting these days. Fans have recognized and are invested in how Catwoman kept him cautious, but still loose in terms of control, allowing his peers to flourish.

A Bruce Wayne who's still a watchdog, but not necessarily so hands-on anymore, could easily be used for bigger events, and in the meantime, we'd have gotten a Batman who's, well, fun. Enjoying and living his best life with the woman of his dreams, a peace Catwoman has sought all her life as well. It'd be a shame if Batman's reduced to someone who emerges darker and bitter due to being left at the altar, so to speak, especially as both of them were, and may still possibly be, each other's saving grace -- making each other better.

Hopefully, robbing them of marital bliss doesn't revert them to who they were before, or leave either party wallowing in self-pity. Apart from feeling stagnant and repetitive, this would undo the months of growth and character development fult(from Batman's revelation of suicide attempts to the 'Sanctuary' he's helping oversee for those who need mental help). Luckily, King has confirmed that this is merely the halfway point of his plans for both Batman and Catwoman, so this may very well end up being just a bump in the road toward the pair's (hopefully) inevitable nuptials.

Ultimately, this was a big opportunity to freshen the identity of the man under the mask and in the public eye, and more so, provide a happy ending for people who deserved it. A wedding felt like something Bruce needed, and overall, a reward the man who's helped saved the universe countless times truly deserved. Let's just hope we get to see it by the time King writes his final chapter.