In Gotham City, it's one thing for a black cat to cross you, it's another thing to double-cross a Catwoman. DC Comics has revealed that Catwoman #25 will tie into the ongoing ' Joker War' with Selina returning to get even with the two Batman villains that stole and helped execute her plans against Batman: the Riddler and the Penguin!
Ever since her engagement to Bruce Wayne during Tom King's Batman run, Selina Kyle's role in the DC universe has inevitably been tied to Batman's fate. They broke off the engagement and then later were married after the two successfully were able to free Gotham from the tyranny of Bane. While the news that Selina would be carrying Bruce's child in the upcoming Batman/Catwoman series is a brief moment of hope, the vigilante/parent-to-be's commitment and lives would soon be put to the test. An old criminal called the Designer emerges from the not-so-grave, putting in motion a grab for Gotham city by executing a master plan that had Catwoman as one of the co-conspirators. Along with Penguin, Riddler, and the Joker, they all added their contribution to a perfect plan in the past that they would live to regret now. Although Catwoman confessed the truth and her culpability to Batman, the truth did little to mend the friction now that Bruce Wayne's fortune is now vulnerable to be exploited by none other than the Joker in his upcoming war against his beloved Dark Knight.
The synopsis of the upcoming issue states that Selina will return to Gotham, suggesting some brief recovery possibly from her latest encounter with Punchline, to get even with her former co-conspirators Edward Nygma and Oswald Cobblepot. The issue will also include two bonus tales: one where Catwoman returns to her home turf in Alleytown to rebuild her empire, and the second about a cat's efforts at intervening in a conflict between cat and woman. The 48-page issue will be written by Ram V with artwork by Fernando Blanco, John Paul Leon, and Juan Ferreyra. The primary cover by artist Joelle Jones was also included with the preview, as seen below:
Although they were never confirmed friends, there is a code of respect among the Bat villains in Gotham as these superstitious and cowardly lot are known to rely on each other as often as they can switch sides when it suits their agenda. Manipulated by the same forces into creating a plan that they later could not stop once in motion, Catwoman appears to be taking out her guilt and frustration, especially if the news that she and Batman will break up is confirmed as true, on the two others who should have known better. Although both Penguin and Riddler appear to have had a decent relationship with Selina in the past, all's fair in love and war especially when the war is between Batman and Joker.
Catwoman #25 will be released September 15th, 2020, with the primary cover by Jones and a card stock variant cover by Lee Bermejo