The newest Batman/Catwoman briefly reimagined a major DC Universe character as a surprising sidekick to one of Gotham’s greatest protectors.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Batman/Catwoman #6, on sale now
Catwoman has filled a number of different roles in the Batman mythos over the years. She’s been a hero and a villain, a roguish anti-hero and an unrepentant criminal. On the Pre-Crisis Earth-2, she even became somewhat retired after the birth of her daughter, Helena. She’s also come up against all sorts of heroes and villains in all sorts of conflicts — especially the different incarnations of Robin. As a result, she’s developed a clear view of the Bat-Family, their roles in Batman’s crusade, and what they mean to him.
In Batman/Catwoman #6 by Tom King, Clay Mann, Tomeu Morey and Clayton Cowles, Catwoman briefly takes up the mantle of Batwoman’s partner and encounters the very first iteration of the sidekick within the Bat-Family — showcasing her appreciation and respect for the role while busting out a classic costume of her own in the process.
In the future revealed in Batman/Catwoman, Bruce Wayne has peacefully passed away in his old age. Gotham is not without defenders though: Dick Grayson has become the new Gotham City Police Commissioner and works regularly with Bruce and Selina’s daughter Helena — who has become the new Batwoman of this era. There have also been hints that the greater Bat-Family still operates together in Gotham City, ensuring Bruce’s legacy survives without him.
Helena has also been dealing with the mystery of the Joker’s death — and her (correct) suspicion that her mother was behind the act. Confronting her about it, Batwoman is caught by surprise when Selina instead decides she wants to join her daughter on her nightly patrol. To that end, she decides to bust out a surprising costume. Arriving at the Bat-Signal, Catwoman is revealed to be in a costume that seems to fuse elements of her classic Silver Age style and revives her classic Earth-2 costume. In the Pre-Crisis Earth-2, Catwoman ended up in a similar costume and role in the world, marrying Bruce and having a daughter who followed in his heroic footsteps. Although it lacks the full distinct mask of that costume, it’s a clear shout-out to the earlier older version of Selina Kyle.
The fact that Batman/Catwoman references the history and age of the character also gives her conversation with Dick Grayson more meaning, as Catwoman essentially serves as Batwoman’s surprise Robin for the night. But it’s clear that Selina understands and appreciates the importance of such a sidekick in the life of a hero like Batman. Although her appearance surprises Grayson, she’s also quick to offer nothing but kind words to the former Robin. She tells Dick to his face that even though Bruce never liked to compare his former sidekicks, he only ever had the nicest words for his first crime-fighting partner. She even reveals that Bruce considered Dick and his innate optimism to be the greatest achievement Batman ever accomplished — clearly moving Dick as he embraces Selina in a hug.
It’s an incredibly small moment, but one that matters so much more when considering the history of the two characters. Catwoman and Robin have been around since the Golden Age of Comics and were some of the earliest additions to the world of Batman and Gotham City. To see Selina not only recognize the importance Robin had within the context of the mythos to embrace it and, even if for just a night, effectively takes it on herself as she travels around the city with her daughter fighting crime, is extremely telling. It shows that no matter what role she may have played in Batman’s life, she understands the importance of someone like Robin to the Dark Knight.
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