This year is a significant anniversary for DC Comics, and the Batman Family's classic characters such as Catwoman, Robin, The Boy Wonder, and The Joker are among the characters celebrating an 80th anniversary. To celebrate these landmarks, DC Comics is publishing oversized specials that showcase the long history these characters have established over the years.
Catwoman was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, appearing for the first time in Batman #1 (Spring 1940) known only as “The Cat.” Since that time, the character has been developed in Batman’s love interest, as the two have always been attracted to each other, even when on opposite sides of the law. While the 80th Anniversary Special was supposed to be released April 15th, it is unclear given the industry shutdown due to COVID-19, when it will be released. In the meantime, check out these Catwoman stories.
10 Superman’s Girl Friend Lois Lane #70 - 71
The Silver Age of comics is responsible for many silly and outrageous story concepts, and this Catwoman story doesn’t disappoint. Shortly after her first appearances in Batman, Catwoman disappeared until Leo Dorfman, and Kurt Schaffenberger brought Catwoman back as Lois follows the trail of Penguin, who she suspects is going to rob a Metropolis bird sanctuary. Catwoman, who has Circe’s magic wand, shows up, hypnotizes Lois, and makes her think she’s Catwoman and tries to make her kill Penguin.
Lois’ attempt to kill Penguin fails as Superman and Batman capture him. Superman learns that Lois is the one dressed as Catwoman, and goes after Catwoman to free Lois. Superman finds Catwoman, who uses her wand to change Superman into a black cat and cages him in a cage made of Kryptonite. Don’t worry; everything eventually returns to normal for Superman and Lois.
9 Selina’s Big Score
This original graphic novel, penned and drawn by the late Darwyn Cooke, finds Selina returning to her roots as a thief and Gotham. Selina’s Big Score takes place between the end of the Catwoman’s first ongoing series, which ran for over 100 issues and ended with Selina supposedly dying, and the second ongoing series by Ed Brubaker and Darwyn Cooke. The story finds Selina dealing with her allies and enemies after a big score full of thievery, double-crosses, and action. While Selina doesn’t appear in her Catwoman outfit, it did set the groundwork for the series that redefined the character.
8 Catwoman - When In Rome
Catwoman: When in Rome is the six-issue miniseries written by Jeph Loeb and drawn by Tim Sale, the creative team behind The Long Halloween and Dark Victory. The story follows Catwoman and The Riddler on a trip to Rome as she attempts to discover the identity of her father, who may be the crime lord Carmine Falcone. The story takes place in parallel to Batman: Dark Victory near the end of that series. Things turn deadly when Catwoman is blamed for the murder of the mob capo she was supposed to meet, causing her to be hunted. In the end, it is still unclear as to Catwoman’s past, but it does further her origin, but the writing is perfect and the artwork is breathtaking.
7 Catwoman - 1989 Miniseries
This four issue series written by Mindy Newell with art by J.J. Nirch and Michael Blair, picks up Selina’s story from the events from Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One storyline. The story introduces the new Post-Crisis version of Catwoman, and expands tells her story, starting with her life as a prostitute on the streets of Gotham. The story begins with a young Selina Kyle being assaulted, which prompts her to learn how to defend herself, which leads her to discover that it is her destiny to be the Catwoman.
This series is important because it not only has her first run-in with Batman but also introduces supporting characters like her sister and her friend Holly. Furthermore, elements from this series have been referenced in subsequent volumes and 1992’s Batman Returns.
6 Catwoman: Defiant
Catwoman: Defiant by Peter Milligan and Tom Grindberg is the first graphic novel to star the Feline Fatalle. Catwoman and Batman are tracking the criminal called Mr. Handsome, whose plan is that he wants to destroy everything that is “beautiful,” even making his henchmen wear masks of handsome men to disguise their identities. As the story progresses, Catwoman finally does begin to make headway on the case; Batman uses Catwoman as bait, which causes things to go wrong and forces Catwoman to survive without any help from Batman. Catwoman is the star of the story as Batman remains a minor character, as Catwoman manages to one-up The Batman at the end.
5 Catwoman: Trail Of The Gun
In 2004, Ann Nocenti and Ethan Van Sciver set Catwoman and Batman against not only each other but also the entire Gotham criminal underground in the race after a smart gun that never supposedly misses its target. Catwoman’s motivation for finding the firearm is to prove her abilities and title as the world’s greatest thief. Batman wants to see the deadly weapon destroyed while criminals just want it.
The story focuses mostly on Catwoman’s exploits, with Batman having only a minor role in the story. Overall, the story is a soapbox for Ann Nocenti’s views about guns and gun control, much like Batman: Seduction of the Gun. Unlike Seduction of the Gun, this story is very political and biased but explores the whole issue and is complemented nicely by Ethan Van Sciver’s artwork.
4 The Brave And The Bold #197 (Vol. 1)
The story takes place on the pre-Crisis Earth-2 and has Bruce recounting his time as Batman and how he and Selina Kyle fell in love and got married. Set in 1955, Batman ends his relationship with Batwoman (Katherine Kane) and teams up with Catwoman, who has reformed her criminal ways. The Feline Fatale joins Batman to defeat the Scarecrow and eventually marrying Bruce.
For those who have been following the events of Tom King’s Batman run and upcoming Batman/Catwoman limited series, this pre-Crisis story is a must-read as events in the current Batman storyline are drawing heavily from the issue. King’s contribution to the upcoming special even hints that Catwoman is pregnant, could Helena Wayne be coming back to continuity?
3 Detective Comics #569 - 570
Following the events of Crisis, Catwoman tries to convince Batman that she has reformed and wants to join the side of the heroes. While helping the Dynamic Duo chase after The Joker, Selina is captured and is brainwashed by Joker, who makes her return to her life of crime. As Batman comments at the end of the story, as Robin restrains him from pummeling Joker to death, “He took her from me, Robin... every woman I love, somethings always takes her from me...”
This story, which was published around the same time as Batman’s Year One origin, set the stage for the redefining of Catwoman and her subsequent 1989 miniseries.
2 Catwoman #38 - 40 (Vol. 2)
The three-issue story from the second Catwoman series from the 90s, tells the origin story of why she ditched the gray catsuit for her purple one. Catwoman: Year Two is the untold tale of Catwoman’s first big score where she must steal The Joker, the Penguin, and Two-Face.
She sets them free to distract Batman while she pulls a heist only too help Batman recapture them after realizing that it wasn’t a smart thing to do. This story also examines her early encounters with Batman that began their strange love-hate relationship.
1 Catwoman #1 - 4 (Vol. 3)
Spinning out of Selina’s Big Score, the third Catwoman series, which began in 2013, written by Ed Brubaker and Darwyn Cooke with art by Cooke and Mike Allred. This first storyline not only introduced the sleeker catsuit but also continued to refine the character into the current version in the DCU today. The premise of the series was that Selina turned over a new leaf and decided to leave her criminal ways in the past. As she becomes the protector of Gotham’s East End, she learns that being one of the “good guys” is harder than her former life of crime. The series also included Slam Bradley as part of her supporting cast along with the return of Holly and Selina’s sister.