The following contains spoilers for Catwoman: Lonely City #4, now on sale from DC Comics

The world of Catwoman: Lonely City has introduced some pretty substantial changes to their version of the DC Universe, showcasing some surprisingly down-to-earth futures for the heroes and villains of Gotham City. In many ways, it's a quietly sad book, highlighting how even absurdly powerful figures could eventually leave behind the duties they're usually defined by.

While some notable heroes have largely hung up their heroic responsibilities, some villains have found new idealistic edges. Ultimately, Catwoman: Lonely City #4 (by Cliff Chiang, José Luis Garcia-Lopez and Trish Mulvihill) reveals which rogues could become heroes, which can never escape their villainous impulses, and how that impacts the future of Gotham City.

RELATED: The Mystery Of The Alleged Catwoman Super Powers Prototype Figure

Batman and the Other Heroes Are Gone in Catwoman: Lonely City

bat-cave-catwoman-lonely-city

The events of Catwoman: Lonely City takes place ten years after a cataclysmic event known as the Fool's Night resulted in the deaths of Batman, Joker, Commissioner Gordon, Harley Quinn, and countless others. In the proceeding decade, the DC Universe grew old -- with numerous villains hanging up their ambitions and heroes finding new paths in life. This includes Zatanna and Booster Gold, who seem to have fully left their hero careers to make it big in the entertainment industry. Zatanna is shown performing a show in Las Vegas to an adoring crowd at Golds -- a new club in the city that most likely belongs to Booster Gold.

While plenty of other heroes don't have their final fates shown, it seems that many of the heroes who survived the chaos of their former careers have found some sense of peace and stability outside their former community. Notably, typically magical defender Zatanna can sense when her defenses in the Batcave are breached -- but instead of racing to find out what happened, she continues her show. This is a world where the heroes are done throwing themselves at endless fatal threats.

RELATED: How Selina Kyle Took on the Role of Batman in Catwoman: Guardian of Gotham

The Fates of Batman's Infamous Villains

joker-catwoman-lonely-city

Many former Batman rogues are reintroduced throughout the series, with a handful of them having achieved independence and happiness. Penguin was able to transform his criminal empire into a legitimate one, giving the crime lord a relatively happy ending. Riddler also changed for the better, even having a daughter and leaving his life of crime behind. Two-Face is the storyline's primary villain, having seemingly worked to overcome his darker impulses as Gotham's mayor. But frequently enraged by Catwoman's actions, Two-Face reveals how much of him is still driven by his more brutal side -- getting him unceremoniously arrested by the story's conclusion.

This does come at the cost of Poison Ivy though, who uses her powers to bring down the Batcave around herself and many of Two-Face's soldiers. Although she dies, a tree is seen growing out of the ruins of Wayne Manor, implying she lives on in a new form. These minor beats showcase that Gotham's villains do possess the potential to change and grow as people -- with even Two-Face's collapse being portrayed as a tragic development rather than an inevitable act. It speaks to Batman's ethos of trying to capture and rehabilitate villains -- with Catwoman, Ivy, and the already dead Killer Croc proving they can become heroes.

RELATED: Catwoman’s Newest Relationship Won’t Last

Gotham's Future Looks Promising at the End of Lonely City

gotham-city-catwoman-lonely-city

Catwoman: Lonely City has been a fascinating exploration of what Gotham City could become in the aftermath of Batman's crusade, with his image co-opted by well-intentioned but increasingly cruel directions. Luckily though, the collapse of Two-Face's regime helps set Gotham on a brighter path. The Bat-Family's Barbara Gordon is elected mayor and announces her intention to try to fix Gotham. She also openly chooses to work alongside Selina Kyle.

This story sets up a surprisingly enduring legacy for Gotham, albeit one that is not necessarily defined by Batman and his heroic allies. It's a city where Barbara and Selina can carry on the mission Bruce Wayne sacrificed himself for -- in their own way. The pair carrying on the fight even without the Dark Knight's mythos behind them speaks to the city's ability to overcome its darkness.