Catwoman’s Costumes in Batman #44, Explained

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for Batman #44, by Tom King, Mikel Janin, Joelle Jones, June Chung, Jordie Bellaire and Clayton Cowles, on sale now.

Love is in the air, and before long, the wedding bells will begin to toll for Batman and Catwoman. It’s a moment that’s been years in the making, and one that even came to fruition once before, albeit on Earth-2, where the pair was married and had a daughter. Before Bruce and Selina officially tie the knot, though, Tom King, Mikel Janin and Joelle Jones accompany the future Mrs. Wayne on a trip down memory lane that highlights just how much the bride-to-be’s style has evolved through the ages, and also reveals just how much pre-Flashpoint continuity the Rebirth era is embracing.

Batman #44 begins with Selina sneaking out of Wayne Manor for a legally dubious late-night excursion -- she needs a wedding dress, after all, and she's not exactly the type of person to pay for one. However, it doesn’t take long for the story to shift gears, transporting us to the first of several flashback sequences.

Here, we see a retelling of Selina’s first appearance in June 1940’s Batman #1, back when she was simply known as The Cat. Sporting a plain green dress, Selina extends her leg as Batman prepares to remove a bandage from around her ankle. For those unfamiliar with the original issue, hidden beneath the bandage is a luxurious emerald necklace Selina had stolen, though we return to the present-day before seeing the Caped Crusader discover this for himself.

The next flashback comes from December 1950’s Batman #62, where Batman is in hot pursuit of a Catwoman who’s now sporting a purple dress and cat-like cowl, along with a flowing green cape. Having just broken out of prison, Catwoman does her best to avoid being recaptured by the Dynamic Duo. But when she notices some falling debris, she abandons her escape plan and saves Batman’s life before being knocked unconscious by a brick. The story ends with Selina helping Batman and Robin take down the villainous Mister X and officially retiring from her career as Catwoman.

After a brief return to the present, we once again revisit the 1950s – this time, Detective Comics #203, from January 1954. Having given up her life of crime, Selina, now wearing a plain red dress, is confronted by Batman after an article is printed in the Gotham Gazette recounting how he triumphed over the former Catwoman. Due to this story coming to light, an irate Selina decides to return to her criminal ways. However, unlike the previous flashbacks, which featured the Earth-Two iteration of Selina, the version we see in this flashback is from Earth-One.

Page 2: [valnet-url-page page=2 paginated=0 text='Catwoman%27s%20Memories%20Show%20the%20Depth%20of%20Her%20and%20Batman%27s%20Relationship']

Our next venture into the past brings us to a scene from December 1967’s Batman #197. Catwoman, who’s now wearing a green bodysuit and a domino mask with cat ears, vows to win Batman’s heart by making Batgirl – whom she believes is her competition – appear to be an inferior partner. Eventually, though, we learn Selina’s true motive isn’t just to win Batman’s heart, but also to learn his secret identity by any means necessary – a plan that ultimately ends with Catwoman being defeated by Batgirl and sent to jail.

The blasts from the past then continue with a return to Batman #256, from June 1974. Riding on the back of a white tiger, Catwoman’s outfit now consists of leotard/legging combination, complete with a large disco collar and a pointy red domino mask. After freeing the tiger from the circus, Catwoman finds herself being chased down by Batman on horseback. Sure enough, though, he’s able to capture her and bring her to justice.

Later, in a scene from January 1983’s Batman #355, we see Selina, once again donning the purple dress and green cape, engaged in a fierce confrontation with the Dark Knight at the Catamount warehouse. Furious about all the pain he’s caused her, Selina lashes out at Batman, both physically and verbally. Eventually, though, the pair comes to a stalemate, and Batman apologizes to his scorned former lover.

Jumping ahead once more, we see Batman and Catwoman standing on a rooftop, much like the one where Bruce popped the question in Batman #24. This time, though, Selina is wearing the fan-favorite purple catsuit that dominated much of the 1990s (aka the Jim Balent era). Furthermore, the tears being shed aren’t those of joy, but rather those of despair, as the pair realizes they’re beginning to drift apart.

As the flashbacks continue to bring us towards the present-day, we find ourselves revisiting Batman #616, from August 2003. Taking place during the “Hush” story arc, Selina is now dressed in her modern black catsuit with goggles. After observing the numerous scars Bruce’s body has collected over the years, including one she herself left across his chest, Selina plants a kiss on his lips in an attempt to “make it all better.” We then get one final flashback that brings us to the post-Rebirth DC Universe, where we see Batman and Catwoman swinging from the rooftops of Gotham City shortly before Bruce’s proposal.

The big message in this issue is that while Selina’s style has gone through some drastic transformations over the years, her and Bruce’s relationship – be it one of animosity or affection – clearly extends far beyond what appears on the surface. Let’s just hope it can endure the wrath of The Joker, who’s poised to put the Bat-Cat engagement through the wringer in Batman #48, which hits stands June 6.