Going all the way back to their first meeting in the 1940s, Batman and Catwoman have one of the most tumultuous relationships in comic book history but also one of the most passionate, and they’ve each been defined in various ways by their long-time association.
With The Batman’s release date close at hand and with Zoe Kravitz and Robert Pattinson taking on the iconic roles on the big screen for the first time since the days of The Dark Knight Rises, there’s never been a better time to look back at how the relationship has developed across some of the most influential comics in the medium.
"Date Knight"
The story, found in Solo (2004) #1, features one of the quintessential modern-day Batman and Catwoman encounters. Batman, having been lured by Selina Kyle into stopping a robbery at Gotham’s Egyptian Museum, finds himself drawn into a date under the guise of a nighttime chase that takes the pair across high-class restaurants and moonlit rooftops.
The exhilarating, fast-paced short tale is a staple of Bruce and Selina’s dynamic but also makes for an effective exploration of how their relationship can’t be separated from their costumed identities.
"True Romance?"
Catwoman (2002) #32 is both true to form and a departure from the usual cat-and-mouse inherent to so much of the Batman and Catwoman relationship. The issue tackles Selina Kyle’s return to Gotham’s East End after a month-long absence and her belief that the world has moved on without her – that is, with the exception of Batman and his relentless search for answers. This particular story marks their first maskless date and though Bruce is eventually called away by the Bat-Signal, it remains a momentous development in the growing trust between them.
"A Night On The Town"
Batman and Catwoman are no strangers to interrupted dates but Batman (1940) #392, taking place during the period when Selina Kyle had just moved on from reformed thief to active vigilante, showcases a series of dates invariably cut short by petty crooks.
The story isn’t just a pleasant – and sometimes comedic – glimpse of an evening without world-threatening stakes but also a rare treat for audiences eager to see Selina and Bruce work as a team. Ultimately, the issue makes for a fantastic study of the relationship at its strongest.
"Up On The Housetop"
Batman/Catwoman (2021) #2 is, like the rest of the limited series, a balancing act between the past, the present and the future. A murder mystery at its core, the story follows Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle’s increasingly fraught working relationship as the outsider point-of-view allows for an analysis of these characters’ shortcomings while still moving together as a united front. What makes this specific issue a vital exploration of their relationship is the focus on their archetypal roles as a hero and a villain, respectively, and the differences love alone can’t solve.
"Hush"
One of the most iconic storylines to have come out of DC Comics, "Hush" runs through Batman (1940) #608-619 and follows a mysterious stalker’s attempt to sabotage Bruce Wayne’s life. Its eighth chapter, in particular, is also a turning point in the relationship between Batman and Catwoman as their feelings for each other are explored when Bruce reveals his secret identity to Selina for the very first time in modern continuity. While their relationship is far from perfect by the end of the arc, the identity reveal in itself speaks volumes for their romantic potential.
"Rooftops"
Batman (2016) #14 embraces many of the highlights of all the times Selina Kyle and Bruce Wayne have shared over the years – the rooftop chases, the team-ups, the secret encounters all across Gotham – but takes it a step further in its firm acknowledgment of Catwoman as an anti-hero that exists outside of Batman’s often black-and-white view of the world, and that he loves all the same.
Framed as the last night spent together before Selina’s incarceration, the two reach a compromise regarding their relationship and the issue makes for a necessary character study.
"The Best Man"
The story, featured in Batman (2016) #49, is one of the best analyses of Batman and Catwoman’s dynamic through the simple fact that it’s seen through the eyes of the Joker. A day before Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle’s infamous wedding, Joker takes a church hostage and decides to talk it all out with Catwoman as he considers the two of them to be the most important figures in Batman’s life. The issue examines everything Selina has been to Bruce, both as an adversary and a partner, and what the relationship means for their real selves.
"The Wedding"
In contrast to everything that has led up to the moment in question, the majority of comic readers know Batman (2016) #50 is not an especially happy occasion.
Nevertheless, it is a successful exploration of all the ways Batman and Catwoman do and do not work together – Selina’s fear that married bliss may have a negative effect on the man Gotham needs Bruce to be as Batman is one that had only been hinted at before and never laid out as explicitly as in this issue. The story, in that aspect, is an essential one.
"The Autobiography Of Bruce Wayne"
In DC’s pre-crisis continuity, Batman and Catwoman had been happily married for many years before her untimely death. The Brave and the Bold (1955) #197, set during that period, is not only a bittersweet look back at the moment they’d first fallen in love but also a guidebook of their entire relationship and eventual marriage. The story – narrated by an older Bruce Wayne – wields nostalgia well in a thought-provoking narrative spread across time, and has certainly become a classic among fans of the couple.
"Some Of Those Days"
Though clearly inspired by many predecessors in the annals of Batman and Catwoman comics, Batman Annual (2016) #2 can be easily seen as a definitive take on the relationship and dynamic between the characters.
The story builds on the shared sadness at the core of who Selina and Bruce are as people and proposes that, though it might be the driving force behind their actions, they’re drawn together through this unique understanding of the other and find relief there. The issue resonates strongly as a celebration of the ups and downs of Batman and Catwoman and everything in-between.