Catwoman (Earth-2)

CATWOMAN

Real Name: Selina Kyle Wayne

Class: Parallel Earth (Earth-2) human

Occupation: Retired, former professional criminal

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: Bruce Wayne (husband), Helena Kyle (daughter), Karl Kyle (brother), unnamed ex-husband

Aliases: Cat

Base of Operations: Gotham City, Earth-2

First Appearance: Batman #1 (Spring, 1940)

Powers: Catwoman was a skilled fighter and possesses extraordinary agility. She used a series of cat-inspired vehicles including her high-powered Kitty-Car, Cat-Plane, and Cat-Boat. Catwoman's favorite weapon was a Cat-o'-nine-tails, a multi-tipped bullwhip with which she was an expert.

History: Selina was married young to a wealthy man who turned abusive shortly after they were wed. When she finally divorced him, he used his connections to ruin her financially, professionally and socially. Seeking revenge she snuck into his estate one night and stole some jewelry. Selina found herself excited by this caper, and started a life of crime, rationalizing that she deserved the things she stole because of the pain she had suffered. Having a lifelong affection for cats, she made a feline mask to disguise her identity as the Cat.

(Batman #1) <Spring, 1940) - The Cat conspired with Denny Tavers to steal from his aunt Martha. The Cat disguised herself as an elderly woman, attended the Tavers’ yacht party, then snuck into Martha’s room and took her valuable necklace. Batman unmasked her and took her into custody, but Batman and the Cat felt an instant attraction for each other so he let her escape.

(Batman I #2) - Catwoman planned to steal E.S. Arthur’s Pharoah’s jewels, and shadowed Crime Syndicate Inc., who had similar intentions. She saw them bust Joker out of prison hospital, and alerted Batman, who put away thecrew except for Joker. Joker poisoned E.S. Arthur so he could have the jewels for himself. Robin and Catwoman arrived at Arthur’s before Batman, and Joker almost killed the Boy Wonder before Catwoman saved him. Joker set fire to the castle to get at Catwoman, who had the jewels, but Batman confronted him, and bested him in swordplay. Batman used the Bat-Plane to save Catwoman and Robin from the inferno, but left Joker behind. Catwoman dove into the waters outside the castle, thinking she’d gotten away with the jewels, but Batman had already pocketed them.

(Batman I #3) - The Cat-Woman designed a feline themed costume and went on a crime spree, robbing socialites and making a fool of the police. The diamond syndicate put on a fashion show, and hired Cat-Woman to pose as one of the models, and steal their wares for insurance money. Bedecked with jewelry, she went onto the runway and set off a smoke grenade, allowing her to run out the back door. She was immediately kidnapped by thugs working for Hoffer of the syndicate, who’d double-crossed his partner Darrel. Batman was on the case, and apprehended the crooked diamond merchants. He kept the freed Cat from clawing out their eyes for hoodwinking her, and apologized for having to take her in. She passionately kissed Batman, allowing her to make an escape. Both batman and the Cat wished that the other was on the other side of the law so they could have romance.

(Batman I #176) - Catwoman announced to the Gotham underworld that she's use her feline cleverness to outwit Batman, and prove to the underworld that they had no need to fear the vigilante. She put out a newspaper report challenging Batman to catch her on her cross-country trip, outlining her every destination. Alfred presented the paper to Batman and Robin, who donned disguises and boarded a train leaving for Pittsburgh that began her trip. They analyzed the fingerprints of every passenger's water cups until they found Catwoman, disguised as a little old lady. She jumped from the train, landing in a safety net, and fled. They caught up with her on a steamer to Nashville, recognizing her disguise as a man because of her lack of Adam's apple. Her thugs dumped the Dynamic Duo overboard, and she escaped again. Batman followed her across the whole country, but revealed to Robin that he was letting her escape because her final destination was a celebration with the Gotham underworld. They took the Batplane to her meeting, and snatched her victory away by capturing her and the underworld heads in a net.

For years Catwoman found her criminal efforts opposed by Batman, yet she developed a deep love for him.

When she tired of crime, Selina fabricated a story about having had amnesia for all the years of her criminal career, and received a full pardon. She opened up a small pet store, but soon became bored and resumed her criminal career.

While pursuing Scarecrow, Batman asked Catwoman for help in the case, with the promise of complete amnesty in return. They captured Scarecrow, but they also finally acknowledged their feelings for each other. Batman even revealed to her that he was Bruce Wayne. They were married soon thereafter, and Selina gave birth to a daughter named Helena. Selena went into retirement, and they spend many happy years together until she was blackmailed by a member of her old gang into committing one more crime as Catwoman. Batman foiled the crime, but it resulted in Catwoman's accidental death. That night Batman burned his costume, going into permanent retirement.

Due to the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Catwoman's existence was erased from DC continuity.

Comments: Created by Bill Finger & Bob Kane

Catwoman received a profile in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #4