POISON IVY / ELEKTRA / SCARLET WITCH / SARA PEZZINI / CAITLIN FAIRCHILD / BLACK CAT
RED SONJA / STARFIRE / LADY DEATH / MiSTIQUE / MERA / EMMA FROST / BLACK CANARY
ENDLESS / DAWN / CATWOMAN / VAMPIRELLA
Catwoman, the costumed alias persona of Selina Kyle, is a cat burglar with an on-again, off-again, romantic relationship with Batman. She is shown as a woman who is very strong-willed, independent and morally dubious.
Origin
There have been many versions of Catwoman's origin over the years but details of her possible storyline suggested that Selina Kyle was born to Brian and Maria Kyle in the slums of Gotham City. Her mother was never close to Selina or her sister Maggie and would often rather spend time with her cats then her children. Her father was an abusive and drunken man who would always quarrel with Maria, a homemaker. In her spare time, Selina took gym lessons not just as an extra curricular but to sometimes avoid the domestic violence at home. One day, as she returned home from school, Selina found her mother lying in the bath tub filled with blood. Apparently, Maria had committed suicide by cutting her wrists with a razor blade. Selina’s father hated Selina because she looked like her mother, eventually he drank too much and succumbed to alcohol poisoning. Selina called the police but as soon she hung up the phone, she packed her bag and ran away from home.
Selina lived on the streets while Maggie was taking to an orphanage right away.She became a petty thief who would steal food at grocery stores. Eventually Selina was caught and sent to an orphanage. She caused so much trouble that she would be sent to Juvenile Hall. When Selina was 13 years old she was sent back to an orphanage, but she soon discovered that the place was embezzling money. They would confront her and attempt to cover it all up by drowning Selina in a bag dropped into the river. Selina escapes and returns to the orphanage. She steals documentary proof that they were embezzling money and also stole money to live on her own, she sent the documents to the police to expose them.
As Selina grew older, she became a prostitute but she was quietly a cat burglar by night, stealing jewelries and diamonds from museums and rich people's homes. One night, she stole a valuable totem from a museum when suddenly a hooded ninja interrupted her escape and took the valued item for himself. Selina followed the ninja into a warehouse, which turned out to be a secret martial arts academy. The ninja, known only as Kai, told his Sensei that she is an intruder and a thief and must be severely punished. However, after seeing her fast reflexes, the Sensei politely asked her to join the academy so that she can harness the martial arts skills, in which she accepted.
Several weeks had gone by and Selina's fighting abilities improved dramatically but her relationship with her senior Kai was far from nice. He despised Selina (who was nicknamed "Nehko-Chan" in the academy) and would deliberately hurt her during training. It gave Kai even more grief knowing that the Sensei favored Selina more than the other pupils. A few nights later, a news broke up on television stating thatBatman was last seen at Robinsons Park. Curious, Selina walked to the park and caught a glimpse of the Dark Knight in action who glided out of sight moments later. She noticed that Batman was bleeding when she saw a trail of blood and it immediately triggered something in her mind: if someone can don a costume and have everyone either be happy or terrified to see him, she can do the same too. The Batman became her omen and Selina decided to become a costume character as well. She bought a cat costume using all of her savings and resumed her stealing profession using her brand new costume and ability. As she was attempting a robbery at a local store, she was stopped by a group of security guards and one of them called her "Catwoman." Selina loved the name and thus, the Catwoman persona was born.
Creation
Catwoman made her first debut in January 1940 in Batman #1. She was created by Bill Finger andBob Kane, partially inspired by Kane's second cousin by marriage, Ruth Steel. Both she (first credited as simply the Cat) and the Joker were Batman's first two enemies although she was not considered to be an adversary of Batman. She was a very popular character but from September 1954 to November 1966 she took an extended hiatus due to newly developing Comic Book Authority in 1954.
Character Evolution
GoldenAge: Earth-Two
In the Golden Age of Comics, Selina Kyle was a flight attendant who had been struck in the head after her plane had crashed; she survived but unfortunately became amnesiac. Her amnesia was the result of her turning to crime. She eventually runs into Batman and they would tangle a bit. Selina eventually reformed and admitted that the amnesia story was a lie to run away from her life of crimes. Selina would stay reformed for many years and even helps out Batman on his missions. She eventually returns to a life of crime and it was her last Golden Age appearance in Detective Comics #211. The Cat, Catwoman's first alias, revealed her unwillingness to kill in Batman No. 2 when The Joker threatened to poison Robin the Boy Wonder. Her affection for The Dark Knight becomes evident in "Batman" No. 3 by giving the Caped Crusader a kiss. In the late 40's, Catwoman was given the classic purple outfit, which included a cowl and a cape.
When the Silver Age happened DC created the parallel Earth named Earth-Two. It was decided that Earth-Two will be where the Golden Age heroes reside and continued. Therefore Golden Age Selina continued her life on Earth-Two where it would be revealed that she reformed in the 1950s and marries Bruce Wayne. Selina would soon give birth to a baby girl named Helena Wayne (Helena would grow up to become Huntress.) Later the real reason Selina turned to a life of crime is because Selina had been previously married to an abusive husband. When Selina left her husband, he kept her jewellery in a locked vault. Selina decided she would steal her jewels back and became addicted to the adrenaline rush that she gained from the robbery, she decides to continue her life as a criminal. Living happily with Bruce and their new daughter, the Golden Age/Earth-Two Selina would be blackmailed into returning to a life of crime as Catwoman and eventually dies.
Silver Age: Earth-B
Silver Age Selina Kyle was a consistent murderer. She would kill people on some of her appearances. However, this Catwoman would be moved to Earth-B, this Earth contains the characters and stories that were out of place. Since Catwoman was not a murderer, this was the only solution to getting rid of her Silver Age stories.
Modern Age: New Earth
After the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Selina’s history was finally revised in Frank Miller’sBatman: Year One story arc. This Selina Kyle was a 5 foot 7 inch cat lover, she worked as a prostitute and would eventually become a cat burglar when she sees Batman for the first time. Selina would soon meet a young runaway named Holly Robinson (who would later become the next Catwoman .She took her in and they became roommates. Selina’s prostitution job would later get her in deep trouble when her former pimp named Stan, kidnapped her sister Maggie and beats her. Selina kills Stan and saves her sister.
Later, Selina would believe that she is the daughter of crime boss Carmine Falconebut she couldn't prove it was true. This part of Selina’s life presented quite a mystery for her, a mystery that she would explore and investigate quite a bit more but it would remain a mystery where there would never be any definite proof of her connection to the Falcone family.
Later DC comics would object to Frank Miller’s idea to make post-crisis Selina a prostitute. They decided to reveal that Selina was not really a prostitute, but instead pretended to be a prostitute and steal men’s money. Catwoman was given a new on-going series after the success of the Batman Returns movie. The series was primarily pencil drawn by Jim Balent and written by Chuck Dixon. In this series, Catwoman don a new costume which was a skintight purple color catsuit, finished with a curly long hair and her signature whip. The issue told many adventures of the Catwoman traveling around the world, stealing precious treasures, seeking vengeance and many other agendas. Batman only made few appearances. Selina adopted a teenage runaway named Arizona and trained her to be her sidekick for a brief time. She also became a government operative for a brief time. The series also reveals more of her origins from her start as a young thief to her time in Juvenile Hall, and also revealed she was trained by Wildcat. Selina would eventually move to New York and gained a CEO position at Randolf Industries when she blackmails them. She had planned to run for mayor in New York but her plans were ruined when the criminalthe Trickster was able to connect Selina to Catwoman publicly.
The comic book series went on a very successful run but after the 77th issue, Jim Balent left DC Comics to form his own comic book company- BroadSword Comics. His replacement were penciller Staz Johnson and inker Wayne Faucher, who changed the whole tone of the Catwoman series into a more darker and dramatic approach than the previous issues. After receiving numerous cases of robbery attempts in Gotham City,Commissioner Gordon led a group of special Task Force to apprehend Catwoman and asked Batman to not get involved. They succeeded in luring her in to a museum and caught her as she made a daring escape. Catwoman was sent to a women's prison center and went catatonic upon arriving.
She refused to accept her sentence in prison and went berserk, attacking inmates and refused to cooperate. The guards then took her clothes off and locked her in a dark padded cell where she lied in the corner and refused to eat. Catwoman then made an escape and started a jailbreak, releasing all the other inmates and took control of the prison. Catwoman befriended with an unnamed blonde inmate who helped her with her plans. Suddenly, things got out of hand and Catwoman was bleeding on her neck after a knife fight. She was then brought to an ambulance with the aid of the blonde inmate, who revealed herself as Harley Quinn. The Catwoman series ended in issue no. 94 where it showcased a cliffhanging ending of Catwoman being attacked and presumably dying.
The Catwoman has touched many people's heart over the years, but Batman was the first person that she ever fell in love with. In fact, it was the Dark Knight himself who inspired her to become the infamous cat burglar. Since then, Batman and Catwoman had an ongoing on/ off relationship over the years.
In September 2011, DC Comics relaunched all titles, deemed The New 52, which rebooted the DC continuity. Catwoman's monthly title now focused on Selina's earlier days as Catwoman, but not her origins. The series begins with Selina frantically escaping her apartment as unknown masked men invade her apartment. After flitting from rooftop to rooftop, Selina looks back just in time to see her apartment blown apart by explosives. She turns to her informant, Lola, who often supplies Catwoman with information and various jobs. In this instance, Lola tips Selina off to an unoccupied penthouse where Selina can lay low for a few weeks, as well as a job stealing a painting from Russian mobsters. For this job, Selina infiltrates a Russian club by posing as the bartender.
There, she recognizes a man from her past, who murdered her friend as a teenager, and Selina quickly takes her revenge. Once her cover is blown, Selina dons her Catwoman outfit and fights her way out of the club, making quick work of the Russians. Back at the penthouse, Batman visits, concerned about Selina's well being. It is revealed through Selina's inner monologue that she and Batman have had sexual encounters with one another before, and the premiere issue ends with yet another of these encounters.
Selina Kyle is currently an unofficial member of the new Justice League of America led bySteve Trevor and Amanda Waller.
Major Story Arcs
Modern Age: New Earth
Early Life finally Revealed
Eventually the money Selina stole would not last forever. Selina would be taken in by an old thief gang leader named Mama Fortuna. Fortuna taught Selina and other runaways how to steal, however used them as slaves when she would keep all their work. Eventually Selina would run away with a friend she met while in the gang named Sylvia. They could not survive on their own and always had a shortage of money. They decided to become prostitutes and Sylvia would be able to attract men, but Selina would not attract anyone. Eventually Sylvia grew to hate Selina for everything that has happened. When Selina finally becomes a successful thief, she continued to steal. During one of her jobs, she made a mistake and had to lay low for awhile. Selina was trained by the Armless Master of Gotham in martial arts and would earn her trademark whip. Her comics were eventually canceled.
Return to Gotham
Selina returns to Gotham City in time for the Earthquake and Gotham being labeled as No Mans Land. She would aid Batman during No Mans Land against Lex Luthor and help him rebuild the city, only to be arrested by Commissioner James Gordon soon afterwards. Eventually she escapes but would soon be a suspect for another murder. Selina was later cleared but was clearly annoyed by the allegations and disappears for awhile. She was appeared to be killed by an assassin when her comics got canceled again. However, Catwoman would make several appearances in Batman’s comics and a sub-story would be written to explain what happened to Selina. In this sub-storyline, it follows a private detective named Slam Bradley who is determined to find out what happened to Selina.
Eventually Selina was discovered alive and this would re-launch her on-going series. Selina now teams up with the runaway Holly and Slam Bradley to protect the East side of Gotham. During the Hush storyline, Catwoman works with Batman together and they began a romantic relationship. Batman would reveal his alter-ego Bruce Wayne to Selina. However, Batman quickly broke off their relationship when he suspects that this was all a manipulation from Hush.
Catwoman has seemed to be reformed and truly loves Batman. Selina soon discovers that she is reformed because Zatanna had mind-wiped her with some other JLA members. Selina throws Zatanna out of a window when she discovers the truth. Later Selina is faced with the decision to kill a criminal. The criminal was the Black Mask, he had threatened to kill the people Selina cares for. Selina quickly kills Black Mask by shooting him in the head.
One Year Later
One year after Infinite Crisis, Selina has given up being Catwoman, she has left East End Gotham and is currently living under the name Irena Dubrovna. She recently gave birth to a baby girl who she named Helena, the father was unknown. Holly has taken the Catwoman mantle while Selina raises her daughter, however Selina eventually returns to East End Gotham. Selina could not resist the thrill of being Catwoman and would eventually don the costume again. Film Freak and Angle Manwould team up to try and beat Catwoman. They would catch the two Catwoman on film and was able to deduce and find out where Selina lives. When Selina finally returns home, she discovers Film Freak and Angle Man in her home and have abducted Helena. Selina would easily rescue her daughter and would contact Zatanna to mind-wipe the two criminals so she's able to maintain her life unfettered. Angle Man turned himself over to the police but Film Freak goes on a murder rampage.
Later Wildcat reveals to Selina that Holly was arrested for the murder of Black Mask. Selina would break into the police station and free Holly. Selina would tangle with Film Freak again and would defeat him for the final time. She returns home to find Slam at her place. Slam reveals that he has figured out who the father was, and it was actually Slam’s son, Sam Bradley. During Amazons Attack Batman had Selina pose as a criminal so she could gain the trust of the Bana Amazons and she was able to stop an attack on Gotham City.
After Amazons Attack is over Holly and a reformed Harley Quinn were both in Athena's Women Shelter after the attack and both Holly and Harley have become Amazons after a series of trials. Selina starts to doubt whether she should be a mother with her adventures and has Batman fake her and Helena death's and then set Helena up for adoption. Once Helena is adopted Selina asks Zatanna to erase her memories of being a mother, but she refuses telling her it isn't fair to her or Helena and she can't change Selina's mindset because she became a hero on her own. Catwoman joined Batman's new team of outsiders, but she left in the second issue while fighting a modified OMAC not being able to handle the idea of fighting villains on that level. During Salvation Run she revealed thatBlockbuster was actually the Martian Manhunter who was checking up on the villains, endangering his life.
Batman R.I.P
During Heart of Hush, Catwoman was attacked by Hush. He surprised her by showing her his face, which he had surgically altered to look like Bruce Wayne's. He then ripped out her heart, leaving her on life support and possibly murdering her. Batman got her heart back, and Zatanna gave her a cream that would help her heal faster. Catwoman took revenge by stealing all of Hush's money, leaving him a video telling him that he was now penniless, and that she had survived, he having thought she was deceased.
Faces of Evil
Catwoman finds Hush in the jungle. She captures him, and beats him up (using him as a "punching bag for a rhinoceros". She then releases him to distract the poachers she is traveling with, giving him two guides, who were actually Nightwing and Robin, and then she frees all the animals. Nightwing and Robin capture Hush, and lock him up.
Final Crisis
Catwoman is one of the Female Furies in Final Crisis. She has a minor role and worked under the Amazonian fury Wonder Woman. This happened when Darkseid took control over the Earth.
Gotham City Sirens
After the events of Final Crisis, when the new Batman takes back control of Gotham City, Catwoman remains despondent at the loss of Bruce Wayne. While contemplating her loss, and her unexplained physical weakness despite being fully recovered from her physical heart trauma, she rescues two bystanders from a new supervillain-wannabe who calls himself Boneblaster. However, her physical weakness becomes obvious when she fails to fight Boneblaster effectively. Before Boneblaster can cause her permanent harm, she is rescued by the sudden appearance of Poison Ivy. Concerned at how weak Catwoman had become, Ivy takes Selina to where she'd been staying, the home of Edward Nigma (the reformed Riddler). Selina discovered that Ivy had apparently seduced and drugged Eddie with her plant pheromones. She also discovered that Ivy had similarly taken Harley Quinn into her new sanctuary.
Selina then offered the idea that all three of them stay together to better survive in the new Gotham City. Before accepting Selina's idea, Ivy secretly paid a visit to Zatanna through her plants, to find out if she had anything to do with Selina's weakness. Zatanna suggested that the weakness was likely psychological in nature. But before Ivy and Selina can discuss the matter any further, Boneblaster returns and tries to once more make a name for himself by attacking Ivy, Harley and Selina. While Ivy and Harley distract him, Selina ends Boneblaster's threat by shorting out his gauntlets with a live electrical conduit, deducing that the villain had yet to get used to the technology, and had failed to properly insulate his gloves. As a result of the fight, Eddie Nigma's apartment is wrecked.
Selina then obtains an abandoned animal shelter as their new home from a man calling himself The Broker. Ivy and Harley move in, but before Ivy makes a final acceptance of Selina's offer, she surprises Selina and drugs her with truth serum-like spores. While Selina falls into a stupor, Ivy says that she wants total honesty between all of them if they are to trust one another. She then asks Selina to reveal the identity of the original Batman. Selina, using a mental discipline taught to her by Talia al Ghul, avoids the interrogation and gives Ivy and Harley a fabricated story about there being multiple Batmen over the years, and that she's had a personal relationship with more than one of them.
Ivy and Harley accept this answer for the moment, and Ivy tries to make amends by growing all manner of exotic fruits for Selina. Meanwhile, Harley goes shopping. Later, Selina receives a message on her phone which shows Harley posing with Bruce Wayne. Knowing that the real Bruce is dead, and that the man with Harley is really Thomas Elliot(Hush), Selina takes Ivy to the restaurant where the picture was taken. She is shocked to see a Harlequin doll at the table, its head stabbed through with a knife. Harley's phone is next to it, they manage to save Harley but later the women fight and part ways, returning things to the way they were earlier, back to where they all started; apart.
Blackest Night
Black Mask was reanimated as a member of the Black Lantern Corps (Black Mask wants revenge on Catwoman). After a fight against Selina, Black Mask, decided to meet the sister of Selina ( Maggie Kyle). Catwoman (with the help of Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn can stop Black Mask (Poison Ivy uses a plant - the plant disintegrates Black Mask). Later, Maggie (Maggie is no longer in coma) thinks Selina is under the influence of the demon-cat. Maggie wants to help free the soul of her sister and therefore tries to exorcise her and when they didn't work; attempted to murder her, causing Selina great emotional trauma.
Road Home: Catwoman
During the Road Home story arc, Catwoman was seen with her partners Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, keeping an eye on Vicki Vale. Selina was asked byOracle (Barbara Gordon) to follow Vicki and destroy the evidence that she has on members of the Bat-family. When Selina saw a passed artifact that she stole a long time back, it gave her a good feeling to remember what it was like to be chased by Batman. This flashback was interrupted when Harley Quinn broke into the area, She wanted to get her Hyenas back because they stole them from her. Selina's and Ivy's cover was blown and Vicki Vale bolted out of the room very quickly. Selina lost the trail, however got Vicki's phone number. She planted a fake call to lead her out of her apartment. Selina broke into Vicki's apartment and started to take pictures of the Bat-wall; which had the information Insider (Bruce Wayne) and Oracle needed. When Insider arrived at the meeting location, Bruce talked about the "two-beating hearts" from the "Heart Of Hush" story line. Selina fell into a trance and said "Bruce", however Insider was already gone. In the end, Bruce stated that Selina was qualified to help him continue his war on crime in the near future.
Night of the Owls
In Night of the Owls,Selina was waiting for the Penguin to get out from his penthouse along with Spark because they wanted to steal some special daggers that the Penguin owned. But at the time he had to leave, a Talon came and Selina and Spark had to intervene to save Penguin. It was a Talon who wanted redemption because he had failed the court many times, but when Selina tried to get over him the peaceful way, the Penguin shot the Talon. After the battle ended, Selina and Spark got the dagger and left Penguin.
On the Trail of Dollhouse
Catwoman and her new partner Spark are after Dollhouse who is kidnapping people and making them one of his dolls. But to catch him Catwoman seeks the help of Detective Alvarez who is willing to help her but in the end he gets kidnapped by Dollhouse and Catwoman has to save him.
Powers and Abilities
She has been taught stealth, athletics, hot-wiring, lock-picking, thieving, acrobatics and the martial arts. She was trained by the Armless Master in martial arts and by Wildcat in boxing and street-fighting. She excels at low- and high-tech heists and is the best cat-burglar in Gotham. Catwoman has a good affinity for cats. They often help automatically if she needs it and instantly know that she is a friend. Additionally, Selina was an effective seductress, a talent she employed to remove herself from treacherous situations.
She is also a master of disguise, and is easily able to impersonate and assume multiple identities.
Equipment
Catwoman has had many different looks over the years. In her first appearance, wore no costume or disguise at all, and it was not until her next appearance that she donned a mask, which was a theatrically face-covering cat-mask that had the appearance of a real cat, rather than a more stylized face mask seen in her later incarnations. Her weapons include her trademark whip, bolas, and an american derringer model 1, a pistol she keeps as a backup.
Costumes
Later, she wore a dress with a hood that came with ears, and still later, a bodysuit with attached boots and either a domino or glasses-mask. In the 1960s, Catwoman's bodysuit was green in color. In the 1990s, she usually wore a skintight purple bodysuit. Her current costume has a more high tech look, with domino-shaped infra-red goggles on her cowl. Many of her costumes have been shown to incorporate retractable metal claws on the fingertips of her gloves and toes of her boots. They can shred a bullet-proof vest and be used to climb with.
Like all Batman villains, Catwoman has had many themed weapons and gadgets.In her early years cat-themed car called the "cat-illac". Catwoman's favoured weapon is a 12 foot long bullwhip carried on her person either in her boot or in a small backpack, she has a cat-o-nine-tails, elastic ties for binding hands and feet, and a roll of duct tape used to gag her targets.
Jobs Through the Ages
Selina Kyle has held many jobs including: jewel thief, beautician, magazine publisher, maid, prostitute, stewardess, secretary, animal rights activist and pet shop owner.
Identity through the Ages
The Cat officially becomes Catwoman in 1942 in Batman No. 10 when the secret identity of high society woman Marguerite Tone was reviled. In Batman No. 15 (February - March 1943 , Catwoman goes by the name Elva Barr.She has red hair in Batman No. 35 (1946 , but starting with Detective Comics No. 122 (April 1947 , Catwoman has brunette/black hair. In recent comics, Catwoman's hair is cut short, virtually shorn, but most times artists have depicted Selina Kyle as a Caucasian with flowing, dark hair. Appearances in Batman: The animated Series featured a blond Catwoman. Catwoman calls herself Madame Moderne in the June-July 1948 issue of Batman No. 47. Her true alter ego is revealed as Selina Kyle in 1951 in Batman No. 62. By the 1960s, Catwoman wears a purple dress and mask with a green cape in the comics. She appeared in most issues in this costume up through the 1980s. She appeared in different outfits from 1967 through 1975, when she returned to the classic costume.
In the self-titled 1989 series, Her Sisters Keeper, Catwoman has a dark gray body suit with a tail on her bottom and whiskers on her mask. Selina Kyle has had variations of this costume in the comics since then. The most recent costume has no tail.
Physical Characteristics
• Height: 5' 7"
• Weight: 133 lbs.
• Eyes: Green
• Hair: Black
Status
• Citizenship: American
• Place of Birth: Gotham City
• Marital Status: Single
• Affiliations: The Batman Family, The Outsiders (formerly), The Birds of Prey, The Society, The Injustice League, The Secret Society of Super-Villains
• Occupations: Crime-Fighter, Cat Burglar, Vigilante
• Known Relatives: Brian Kyle (father, deceased), Maria Kyle (mother, deceased), Magdalene Kyle (sister), Helena Kyle (daughter), Simon Burton (brother-in-law, deceased) Carmine Falcone (possible father, deceased), Sofia Falcone (possible sister, deceased)
Other Version
Possible Future
Although nothing is definite the headstone of Selina Kyle is seen in Teen Titans #18 making it possible that she is Batman's future wife. Tim Drake visited this cemetery when he accidentally found himself ten years in the future.
Batman Beyond
A new Catwoman has come to Gotham during the time of the Hush murders. Hired by the new Hush to spy on the new Batman,Terry McGinnis, she is eventually betrayed as Hush attempts to murder her. But to Hush's surprise, the new Catwoman has an ability to duplicate herself into eight copies. Later, as she helps patch up Batman's wounds, Bruce Wayne deduces her identity to the daughter of Danton Black, Multiplex, explaining her ability to replicate herself. Like all Catwomans she has a romantic relationship with Terry McGinnis.
JLA: The Nail
The Elseworlds story " JLA: The Nail" and "JLA: Another Nail" have Catwoman teaming up with Batman after his sidekicks are killed; in "Another Nail", she changes her m.o. toBatwoman to honor her new allegiance.
Batman Bloodstorm
In the sequel to Batman & Dracula: Red Rain, where Batman was forced to become a vampire to save Gotham from Dracula. Selina is turned into a were-cat after being bitten by one of the remaining vampires. Hunting for the monster that transformed her, Selina encounters Batman as he hunts for the remaining vampires; the two subsequently joined forces to eliminate the vampire horde. As they fight together, Batman finds that Selina's selfless love for him allows him to control his thirst for blood that had begun to consume him, but she sacrifices herself to save him from the Joker, who had become the leader of the remaining vampires after Dracula's death, taking a crossbow bolt to the heart that the Joker had fired at Batman.
Dark Knight Returns (1986)
Catwoman appears in the mini series Dark Knight Returns. Catwoman is older (Selina left the life of Catwoman). Selina appears portrayed as a woman sad and shaken. During the course of history, Selina has is repeatedly assaulted and abused by the Joker. Batman meets Selina (Selina is happy to see Batman). Selina shows love for Batman. Later, Selina Kyle appears at the funeral of Bruce Wayne. Selina insults Superman (Selina thinks that Superman was the killer of Batman).
Kingdom Come (1996)
Selina Kyle appears in the mini series Kingdom Come. Selina is next to Lex Luthor against superheroes (the purpose of Lex Luthor is to create a coalition against Superman, for the liberation of Humanity). Selina Kyle and the other super villains are defeated by Bruce Wayne (Bruce Wayne tricked Lex Luthor, Selina Kyle and the other villains) (Kingdom Come issue 3).
All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder (2005-2008):
Catwoman appears in the series All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder (2005-2008). She appears as a villain of Batman, who works with the Joker. Batman states that Selina smokes cigarettes.
Other Media
Film
Batman: The Movie (1966)
Played by Lee Meriwether in Batman: The Movie, this version of Catwoman did not take the classic name of Selina Kyle, but was rather a Russian woman named Ms. Kitka. Working with the rest of the villains in this movie, which included Joker, Penguin, and Riddler, Kitka acted as a love-interest for Bruce Wayne and a damsel-in-distress, hoping that Batman would save her and Bruce once the villains kidnapped them. Little did she know that her date for the evening was the Batman himself.
Batman Returns (1992)
The most well-known portrayal of Catwoman was that of Michelle Pfeiffer in 1992's Batman Returns. A timid secretary who undergoes a traumatic experience, she emerges as a sexy, self confident but psychotic criminal in a patchwork latex catsuit seeking revenge against her boss,Max Shreck. Pfeiffer's version of Catwoman brings a more feline-like approach to this character, which is rather different from some of the other live-action portrayals. "Meow."
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Anne Hathaway plays Catwoman in the final film in Christopher Nolan's Batman Trilogy,The Dark Knight Rises. She is a con-artist and master thief who is looking for a way to erase her criminal record. She steals from Bruce Wayne, and later betrays Batman to Bane. She has a change of heart after she learns that Bruce Wayne is Batman, and aids him when Bruce returns to Gotham City. He gives her a program to erase her past. After defeating Bane, she assists Batman in dismantling Talia al Ghul's vehicle convoy that protects a nuclear bomb. With the city saved, she is later seen by Alfred at a table with Bruce in Florence, Italy, though Bruce was thought to be dead.
Television
Batman (1960)
Catwoman has been played by several actresses; in the campy 1960s Batman TV series, Julie Newmar spent the most time filling out the curvaceous catsuit, with Eartha Kitt purring her way through several episodes. In the movie based on the series, Lee Merrywether plays the role of Catwoman.
Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)
Catwoman appears in the award winning animated series as a thief and philanthropist of animals. She was voiced by Adrienne Barbeau. This version of Catwoman seems to be inspired by Tim Burton's Batman Returns film as she has a similar catsuit with a seductive and sometimes erratic behavior. Catwoman has a cat named Isis who is trained to pass through security lights without setting off an alarm and she often brings her cat along when its specialty is needed.
Catwoman first meets Batman during a burglary attempt and immediately falls in love with him. Batman is also infatuated with Catwoman but their profession is that prevents them from being together, thus creating a love/hate relationship. Batman tries to persuade Catwoman in giving up the life of crime but she refuses until he handcuffs her one night and sends her to the police. She is released from custody a few months later with a promise to never don into the Catwoman costume ever again or she will face another jail sentence.
The cat (Isis) bites Catwoman and runs away. But Catwoman gets headaches, she can not keep up. Is at this point that Batman arrives and takes up Catwoman to a shed. Batman learns that Catwoman was bitten by Isis. Batman returns to Labs Daggett and discovers Daggett plans (Daggett want to launch a virus in Gotham City using the stray cats and dogs.) Batman escapes carrying with him the antidote to Catwoman. Batman finally arrives to Catwoman to give the antidote. Catwoman is back to her house, but it is unfortunate, because Isis did not return. By then, Batman delivers the cat.
In one episode, the Catwoman visits a museum and after seeing some felines on display, she starts remembering her days as Catwoman and how she misses the excitement. As Selina leaves the museum, she is forced into a car, with the Ventriloquist inside. Both him and Scarface want Selina to steal some jewelry inside the the museum in which Selina reluctant at first but later accepts the job. Selina dons the Catwoman costume and breaks into the museum but in the process gets tricked by the Ventriloquist who triggered an explosive and sends Catwoman trapped in a rubble. She manages to escape. Catwoman then meets up with Batman and tells him everything.
Batman and Catwoman are back to the museum, and they discover that Ventriloquist, deceived Catwoman (she served only as bait - for Ventriloquist steals animal camouflage). But Batman suspects that Catwoman is not telling the whole truth. Catwoman applies a kick in Batman and escapes the museum to go after Ventriloquist. Catwoman goes to an old abandoned factory (Ventriloquist is trying to sell the animals camouflaged). Catwoman is detected and caught. Ventriloquist sends one of his henchmen get rid of Catwoman. However Batman appears and saves Catwoman. Batman deals with the thugs and Catwoman destroys Scarface. Selina wants to kill Ventriloquist, but Batman stopped her. Catwoman wanted to go back to stealing and also wanted to return to the Catwoman. Catwoman said he could not change and that it should return what it was. Catwoman manages to escape from Batman, but Batman is sad, because he liked the Catwoman did not return to life of thieves and against justice.
In another episode, the Joker and Harley Quinn host a fictional TV show with Batman as their hostage and guest. As they attempt to electrify the Dark Knight to death, Catwoman sabotages the machine and chases the Joker. She manages to drop him down to the floor with her trusty whip but Harley Quinn knocks her out cold from behind. When she regains consciousness, Catwoman finds herself in a cat food factory all tied up. Harley straps her in a conveyer belt and plans to send Catwoman into the grinder but as she turns the power on, Batman interrupts her. With seconds to spare, Batman turns the power off just as Catwoman's head almost made it to the grinder. Catwoman thanks Batman for saving her life and as she looks the other way, Batman disappears on sight. She smiles and says, "almost got 'im."
Episodes:
• The Cat and the Claw: Part 1
• The Cat and the Claw: Part 2
• Perchance to Dream
• Tyger Tyger
• Cat Scratch Fever
• Almost Got 'im
• Batgirl Returns
• Catwalk
The New Batman Adventures (1997-1999)
Nightwing begins his crusade against crime away from Batman (he wants to work alone). Nightwinggoes to the docks, because some smugglers are downloadable products. When a dealer tries to escape, Nightwing goes after him, but the villain is caught by Catwoman. Nightwing goes to a building in Gotham. But Catwoman appears and gives information about the "Boss" (Enrique El Gancho). Catwoman and Nightwing decide to go inside the building. Nightwing uses the computer to get files, but is discovered. After some struggles, Catwoman and Nightwing escape. The next day, Batman appears and told to Catwoman to stay away from Nightwing. But Nightwing appears and decides to work with Catwoman. Nightwing discovers a new ship is coming. Both decide to investigate the ship. When they get inside the ship, Catwoman discovers a jewel of great value. Catwoman was using Nightwing to get the jewel. Batman appears and helps Nightwing. The bandies appear, but Catwoman escapes. Nigthwing goes after her (Nigthwing defeats Catwoman).
After the failure with Nightwing, Catwoman is trying to rob a property, to steal a statue in the form of cat, but the owner has an army of security (they will chase Catwoman). The pursuers do not give up (Catwoman returns the object, but the thugs continue to pursue Catwoman). Batman is patrolling the streets of Gotham City and Catwoman appears inside the Batmobile. Catwoman enlists the help of Batman. Catwoman and Batman will go to the hideout of Catwoman (Pretty Kitty). Batman discovers that Thomas Blake is the owner of the subject and who is pursuing Catwoman. But the bad guys (thugs), persecute Batman to the hideout of Catwoman. The bandits can catch Catwoman (who is unconscious). Catwoman wakes up in chains, but Thomas Blake loose Catwoman (Thomas is interested in Catwoman, because Thomas is leader of a cult of Cats).
Batman picks up one of the thugs and discovers where is Catwoman. Batman comes to the House of Thomas Blake, but Batman is captured. Batman is put to an arena to fight a tiger. Catwoman is watch, but she decides to help Batman. In the end, Batman and Catwoman defeat Thomas Blake. Catwoman decides to go to Paris (she is in a room surrounded by valuable jewelry).
Episodes:
• You Scratch My Back
• Cult of the Cat
The Batman (2004-2008)
Here Catwoman tries to rob a property in search of a valuable object, but is detected by security alarms. The other day, Catwoman is reading a newspaper and see a photo of Batman. Catwoman activates an alarm on purpose to draw the attention of Batman. After a series of clashes, Catwoman steals the utility belt of Batman and uses it to steal the jewel of the property owner (a Japanese mafia member). When Catwoman is about to leave the property is surrounded by ninjas. However, Batman appears and helps Catwoman. Catwoman said than she and Batman have much in common (Batman does not agree). The police think that Catwoman and Batman work as a team.
Catwoman tries to rob a museum to steal a statue in the form of cat, but Penguin comes first. Penguin said if Catwoman helps him achieve an object, Catwoman can keep the statue in the form of cat. Batman learns that Catwoman and Penguin work together. Catwoman and Penguin come to another museum and Catwoman steals the object. Batman appears, but after a fight against Catwoman, Batman falls to the ground unconscious.
When Catwoman is preparing to make the switch, Penguin reveals that either both objects and the thugs of Penguin put Catwoman fainted next to Batman. Penguin uses handcuffs (with explosives) to arrest Batman and Catwoman (both can not be separated) and Penguin has the key. Batman tries to remove the handcuffs. Batman and Catwoman start a chase to Penguin to retrieve the keys. Batman and Catwoman go in the Batmobile (Catwoman tries to know who is Batman) to the docks (but Penguin is not there). Batman discovers that the objects Egyptians are energy weapons. Penguin is in the Lighthouse (he is using the objects to destroy Gotham). Catwoman and Batman go to the lighthouse to stop Penguin.
Batman and Catwoman prevent Penguin to destroy the children's hospital and they pick up the key (which is under the hat of Penguin). Catwoman tries to escape with the statue in the form of cat, but Batman retrieves the objects and puts the handcuffs on Catwoman and Penguin. Catwoman and Penguin escape.
Episodes:
• The Cat and the Bat
• The Cat, the Bat and the Ugly
• Ragdolls to Riches
• The Laughing Cats
• Rumors
Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2009)
Catwoman appeared in The Batman: The Brave and the Bold show, voiced by Nika Futterman. This version of the character is much more in line with her classic Golden and Silver Age appearances, and is much more villainous. Despite this, at one point she partners with Huntress and Black Canary, serving as part of the show's version of the Birds of Prey.
Episodes:
• Legends of the Dark Mite! (cameo)
• Hail the Tornado Tyrant!
• Death Race to Oblivion!
• The Mask of Matches Malone!
Gotham (2014)
Gotham is an alternate telling of the story behind the city of Gotham before Bruce Wayne became Batman and many of his rouges gallery turned to their lives of super villainy. Gotham is a FOX produced series that began airing in September 22nd 2014. The young Camren Bicondova (aka "Cam Cam") was cast to portray the 14 year-old Selina Kyle. Prior to Gotham, Carmen has only had limited credited appearances in the musical Battlefield America and was a runner-up in the America's Best Dance Crew series. However, she's had extensive experience in dancing and choreography. As the filming of the series went into regular production, she began taking parkour lessons to improve her acrobatic abilities to better match Selina.
Carmen admitted in an interview at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con that while she has seen some of the previous interpretations of Catwoman in films. She didn't believe it was appropriate to use them as inspiration, since she was playing a pre-Catwoman Selina.
Selina Kyle first appeared in Gotham - Episode 1 "Pilot", though has no real speaking role through the episode. She remains as a street-smart pickpocket and donning a black outfit with goggles, but one of the largest changes for the series is that she's the sole eye witness, other than Bruce, to the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne.
Episodes:
• Episode 101 - "Pilot"
• Episode 102 - "Selina Kyle"
DC Super Hero Girls
Catwoman appears in DC Super Hero Girls, which will be adapted to animation, toys and graphic novels.
Video Games
Batman Returns (Super NES)
An arcade style video game created by Konami in 1993 based on the movie of the same name. Catwoman (Played by Michelle Pfeiffer in the movie) is one of the bosses in the game.
The Adventures of Batman & Robin (Super NES)
An platformer game made by Konami in 1994. Catwoman appears in one of the levels called Tale of The Cat, which is a retelling of the episodes The Cat and The Claw parts I and II from the animated series- involving Batman having to chase Catwoman from rooftop to rooftop.
Catwoman (Game Boy Color)
A side-scrolling game made by Kemco in 2000. It was inspired by the Catwoman comic book series illustrated by Jim Balent. The plot involves Talia al Ghul hiring Catwoman to help steal an ancient crystal skull from the Gotham City Museum. The Cat Burglar refuses and decides to steal the ancient treasure for herself. The gameplay is a cross between Bionic Commando and Prince of Persia as Catwoman can swing across ceilings with a whip and avoid enemies and guard dogs by stunning them with punches and kicks or simply avoid being detected. There are nine levels altogether with password feature to help resume your game. The game received mediocre ratings partly due to its bland graphics, dull audio and boring controls.
Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe (XBOX360, PS3)
Catwoman appears as a fighter in the 2009 crossover fighting game Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, and is classified as a villain in the game. Though her role in the game is small, her story begins as she is approached by The Flash after stealing from the Gotham Museum. Though he defeats her in combat, she reclaims her purloined jewel after an intervention fromKano, and whilst she makes her escape she gets pulled into a portal that teleports her to The Special Forces base in the Mortal Kombat universe.
Here, she finds Sonya Blade, and requests to use the bases portal to return to Gotham. Sonya defeats her in battle however, and locks her away in a cell. She is eventually set free when Lex Luthor is also captured, and they aid each other in escaping. The two form an alliance, approaching both Deathstroke and The Joker and recruiting them for the battle against the invading warriors. With their help, she assists Batman and his allies in the battle against Dark Khan. Her game ending features her returning to her Gotham City and discovering that due to the magical essence of the worlds merging, she now has the ability to transform into a black panther at will, enhancing her speed and strength. She uses these new found powers to ensure she will never again be caged.
DC Universe Online (PS3, PC)
Catwoman appears in the 2010 game as a non-playable character.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Although Catwoman doesnt play a major role, alot of her gear can be found through out the asylum, with her bolas found in a basement level, and her nightvision goggles and whip held in a trophy room near the Wardens office.
Batman: Arkham City
Catwoman appears a playable character (as DLC), with her own storyline while Batman continues through the story line.
Catwoman is first shown robbing a safe in Arkham City, only to be caught by Two-Face goons. She defeats them and begins to crack the safe when she is knocked out by Two-Face. She is then shown hanging over a vat of acid by her feet in the Gotham courthouse. As Two-Face sentences her to death, Batman defeats the goons and saves Catwoman, then hangs Dent above the acid instead. catwoman begins flirting with Batman, only to be saved from a sniper shot by Harley Quinn. Batman tells her to be careful as he leaves to find the snipers origin.
After Batman is knocked out by Harley and Joker, the game cuts back to Catwoman. Selina decides to rob the TYGER police force vault, containing tons of weapons and money. She considers her options, maybe enlisting Penguin to bribe the guards to give her a code, or Killer Croc to simply smash the door down, when she remembers where Poison Ivy's base is in Arkham City. She goes to Ivy's base (concealed from the city by plants) to ask Ivy's help. Ivy gets furious, remembering when Catwoman was supposed to house sit for her, but let most of her plants die. She forces hypnotized guards and prisoners to attack Selina. Ivy then catches Selina with a plant, and holds a sharp plant to her throat.
Much later in the story, it resumes to Catwomans story. Selina makes a deal with Ivy. TYGER has taken one of Ivy's prized plants to the vault, and Catwoman will retrieve it for her. Ivy agrees, and uses a giant plant to break the wall underground.
Catwoman sneeks in, and begins dispatching guards. She makes it into the vault. She grabs the money and jewels. Selina then notices Ivy's plant, and smashes it into the ground. Catwoman gets cornered by guards in the vault, and Hugo Strange begins taunting her. After defeating the guards, Catwoman is left with a decision. Batman is caught under rubble, about to die. A door on her left will take her back to Arkham City to save Batman, while the door on her right will allow her to take her loot back to Gotham and leave Batman to die.
Should you choose right, Catwoman walks out, saying Batman can take care of himself. Credits begin to roll while Oracle sends out a distress call. Oracle say's Batman and Robin have been killed, and TYGER troops and Hugo Strange are storming Wayne Manor. Oracle calls for help one last time as TYGER guards are heard breaking into the room.
The game then rewinds to before Catwoman decided, and Catwoman goes left, leaving her loot behind. Selina saves Batman, telling him they're even now.
After the main storyline, Catwoman decides to return to her apartment for her loot and leave Arkham City. Her apartment then explodes, and she is attacked by Two-Face soldiers. They reveal Two-Face has taken all of Catwomans loot and has hold up in the Museum. Catwoman sneaks in. After defeating Two-Face, Catwoman looks around Arkham City for Two-Face goons that have taken her loot.
After her story is finished, Catwoman can be switched out from Batman and look around the city. Catwoman can visit Mr. Freeze, who is conforting his frozen wife, Bane, who emplores her to let him out of his cell, Poison Ivy, who simply ignores her and hypnotizes more guards, Penguin, who mocks her, and Calender Man.
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (3DS and PSVita)
Catwoman is set to appear in the upcoming handheld game spinning off from Batman: Arkham Origins.
Injustice: Gods Among Us (PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii-U)
Catwoman in Injustice: God Among Us
Catwoman is a playable character in Injustice Gods Among Us. She is first shown (in story) as working with Lex Luthor. Catwoman is seen with Luthor, Solomon Grundy and Bane attacking the Watchtower. Her supermove includes her hitting her opponent into the air, then pulling down with her whip onto his/her neck. She then jumps onto her enemy and claws their face, and flips off.
Infinite Crisis
Catwoman was released as a playable character in the online game Infinite Crisis. She has also a variant playable based on the Gaslight Earth.
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
Catwoman is a playable character in the game, voiced by Laura Bailey. She can be played in her new 52 costume, her pre-new 52 costume and the 1966 versión.
Merchandise
Catwoman has been the subject of countless toys, dolls, and statues by numerous companies.
