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Ally of the heroes or villain? Catwoman’s life in comics

Although that first volume La Gata is the name chosen for the character, in DC they decided to go one step further that same year and already in vol. 1 #2 her story will start to evolve when Batman refers to her as Catwoman. Of course, there will be no trace of her elastic and tight black suit because the way she appeared before the eyes of her fans was different. In that same year of 1940, comics began to show this character with a party dress, red cape and a cat mask.

Who is Catwoman?

If we stick to his personality, her name is Selena Kyle. A true athlete capable of climbing, jumping and jumping over any obstacle to avoid all the dangers that lie in wait for her. Some say that her agility and balance are the result of her expert training in hand-to-hand combat techniques that include disciplines such as martial arts and boxing, although a good help is received from their weapons, which are not many but lethal. Those who face the cat lady will know that she can strike from a distance thanks to her nine-tailed whip and claws that unfold on her hands and that manage to scratch and pierce through what they touch.

Mysterious like no other, today few know where to place her, whether on the side of the superheroes or on the side of the supervillains, although the last few times we’ve seen her on the big screen (batman and the E trilogythe dark knight by Christopher Nolan) he has tended more to align himself with Batman, albeit by pushing. And it is that one of the keys to her personality lies in the fact that a good part of her considers herself a protector of the poor before millionaires and large corporations, which inevitably leads her to confront Bruce Wayne himself.

Catwoman.

As you already know, Catwoman belongs to that type of comic characters that they do not have special superpowers, born of a supernatural fact, although it is true that on many occasions she has been painted as a woman who returns from the dead and, caressed by cats, revives to become the queen of the felines. Although what weighs the most on the character is always that lack of protection in which she seems to live and that pushes her to make different moral decisions depending on the circumstances.

Catwoman gets into her costume

Since 1940 when Catwoman arrives for the first time before the general public, he will star in all his adventures with that somewhat strange outfit. It will not be until six years later (1946) when in vol. 1 # 35 of the Batman collection, let’s begin to see how he wears what will be his costume best known to fans of comics, as It’s that long skirt with a cape, in green and violet colorsand a hood that hides his face at the crucial moments of his blows.

Catwoman.

Later in 1950, in the comic entitled The Secret Life of Catwoman (inside vol. 1 #62 of Batman) in DC they will agree to give us more details about that mysterious character Nobody knows anything about him, including the batman himself, with whom he will live intense moments of love-hate. It is here, at this moment, that Selina Kyle begins to tell what is the mysterious past that torments her and that at that moment set the canon of her beginnings: an airplane stewardess who suffers an accident and loses practically any memory of her past life, leading her to a life of robbery and white-collar crime. Of course, her fondness for her cats was easily explained: her father had had a pet store that left her (obviously) marked for her remains.

The character’s gadgets

As we have told you, Catwoman is not a character with supernatural powers although in some of its beginnings a kind of divine force has intervened that has saved it. If for the comics the original story talks about a plane crash from which she comes out unharmed, in the 1992 movie batman returns, Michelle Pfeiffer offers another different vision of that moment, with a Selina Kyle who falls (involuntarily) through a window and, apparently, dies. Even in Halle Berry’s 2004 film, that origin also differs with another slightly more coherent twist.

Kitty Car from Catwoman.

But starting from that base, it must be said that Catwoman does have a whole series of gadgets that will become more and more famous. This is the case of his Kitty Car, which is an incredibly fast and maneuverable vehicle, which, depending on the version of the character you see, has a different appearance. What it does maintain is its astronomical speed which, according to the most experts on the subject, easily exceeds that of the Batmobile, in addition to installing a series of thrusters on the sides that allow it to jump through the air acrobatically.

In addition to the nine-tailed whip or the claws with which it attacks, Catwoman also has her own Batcave where you tune all the instruments you need for your master strokes. In the comics, this lair is known by the name of Cat-acomb and it is, basically, a huge cat flap where a good part of the kittens of Gotham City end up when her lady claims her presence.

Batwoman, who is that?

Everything seemed to be going smoothly in the 40s and 50s with Catwoman: villain and Batman lover in equal parts, contradictory and capable of seeking only her own interest but actually hiding a heart that wants to do good. So there was nothing to worry about. Or if? Suddenly Selina Kyle disappeared from the comics of Batman giving way to what all fans know today as Batwoman. A female version of the bat man who practically copied many of the superpowers developed thanks to Bruce Wayne’s fortune, and who hid the character of Kathy Kane under the mask.

Batman.

That did not mean that, with the passage of time (a decade specifically), Catwoman returned, driven above all by the first appearances in other media that were not those of the comic itself. On television, the 60s were prolific in versions of Batman (that of Adam West and César Romero above all) and in some of them she appeared played by actresses like Julie Newmar. From that moment Selina Kyle ceased to be a resource depending on what is needed, and she became part of the catalog of big names in DC. Until today, or not?

Allies or enemies, what does Catwoman have?

The very nature of the character gives to write an entire book. Unlike other heroes whose antagonists are very clear, here we cannot divide them with such a simple category, because Selina Kyle has flirted with practically all extremes in such a way that the same character can be an ally or an enemy depending on the movie, comic, video game or television series that we are watching.

Catwoman and Batman.

The list is endless and part of Batman himself, but there are also Batgirl, Robin, Harley Quinn, Lex Luthor, Commissioner Gordon, the Joker, Enigma (Riddler), Penguin, Poison Ivy, Superman and a long etcetera that has to do with any DC character that has crossed his path. This is Catwoman, who gives one lime and one sand depending on the circumstances of what she wants to achieve.

love and hate with batman

Anyway, above any other name, It will be Batman with whom he has his best times, as a good dear love (which they say are the closest). In the case of Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle will know who is under the mask and will take the step of marrying the millionaire heir to Wayne Industries. From the product of that relationship will come to this world what is, until now, the only known daughter of the couple, Helena Wayne, who over time will also take the path of becoming a superhero called The Huntress (Huntress).

Batman and Catwoman wedding.

In any case, do not think that such an event sweetened the lives of the two forever and for a good part of the comics, the relationship mechanics were always the same: Catwoman does her thing, Batman chases her, they flirt and cuddle and later the batman does not catch her as a victim of that affection he has for her and the hope that one day he will end up becoming a good person. Something that, as you all know from the comics, movies and other DC products, has not happened yet. Do you think it will come soon?

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