Catwoman has so many different pasts that it's not even funny. Strangely, she is the one character that I've found who really contradicts heself because many of her stories take place in the same series. In other words, they're all true. They just don't make any sense. I've tried to put them together the best I can.
BATMAN, CATWOMAN, AND DETECTIVE COMICS
Selina Kyle was orphaned at the age of twelve when her alcoholic father died. (Her mother had been dead for a long time.) She reported his death to the cops and took off on her own. She stole to support herself until she was finally picked up and sent to an orphanage. She grew up independent and self-sufficiant and realized that the quickest way to get the wealth and luxury she desires is to turn to crime.
After a close call in her early crimes, she spent a while laying low, a hooker on Gotham's east end (Batman and Detective #404, Catwoman Annual #2). The original Catsuit was something she wore for her customers and there are references to her possibly being a lesbian. So that's her past. And while very contraversial, most of it makes sense (except for the lesbian part) and explains a lot. Eventually, she left her pimp, studied martial arts for a while, and returned to life as a thief.
In Batman #404 (Frank Miller's Year One) we see Bruce, not yet having adopted the Batman personna, going out on his first venture to fight crime. He is wearing dark makeup, not having thought of a mask yet. This outing constitutes his first violent run-in with the Cat, who thought that he was attacking her friend when, in fact, it was the other way around.
Later, as Batman is caught in a burning warehouse, he throws a cat to safety. Selina catches the cat and the Batman immediatly gains her approval. The next run in that the two had (I'm guessing here) was explained in Batman #1 where Selina has stolen a diamond necklace and is now running from the shipboard party she'd committed the crime at. Batman's reaction? "Nice legs."
Batman and Robin catch her and retrieve the necklace. However, she broke free and Batman "accidently" knocked Robin off guard so that he couldn't follow her. Robin is not stupid; he knows that Batman purposely escaped, partially because of his ly" knocked Robin off guard so that he couldn't follow her. Robin is not stupid; he knows that Batman purposely escaped, partially because of his mentor's unusual comments about the pleasant night and the mysterious woman's lovely eyes. (He apparently didn't recognize her.) Batman had an affect on Selina as well In Batman #13, we see her driving her car and wondering if she and the Bat could ever have a normal relationship.
The first time that they actually conversed (besides the few minutes when she'd stolen the necklace) was exlpained in Batman #62 where Catwoman saves Batman from being crushed by a falling wall. (He'd been chasing her past a half demolished building and it decided to fall apart.) She was hit, however, by a falling brick and was knocked unconscious. Batman took her back to the cave and where he finds that she is suffering from amnesia.
For a few years, Catwoman settled down. She was appalled to find that she was a criminal and decided never to commit another crime. However, in Detective #203, she publically announces her return and is once again on the streets.
In Batman #310, Selina agrees to reform again and begins dating Bruce. They break up sixteen issues later due to the fact that it's just plain not in Bruce's personality to have any standing relationships. Bruce begins dating Vicki Vale (go figure!) and Catwoman returns to Gotham to threaten Vicki and get "her man" back. Finally, Selina goes to the point of running her car off the road (Batman #355) and Vicki goes to the hospital. Batman, a little ticked, goes after Catwoman and finds her. They fight and there's a dramatic "kiss and make up" scene, notable for the fact that Catwoman calls him by his real name. Exactly how she found out remains a mystery.
After that, things really started to heat up between the two of them. BATMAN #392 was devoted entirely to their relationship when Batman and an extraordinarily seductive Catwoman wandered around Gotham on a rather sadistic date of apprehending criminals. Personally, I think Bruce's character was not fully... well, I don't want to say "understood" because the writer usually has a really good grip on his personality. But this comic was just a little too much to swallow. I don't believe Bruce is quite so open and affected by sexually suggestive talk as he was in these pages. It's not like him to egg her on the way he did. And is it just me or did her costume suddenly get a lot sleazier and her breasts a lot bigger?
Mind you, I am supportive of the Batman and Catwoman relationship. But there is a limit... Is it strange to note that I felt the same way at the end of the "kiss and make up" scene previously mentioned?
The next thing you know, Batman and Catwoman are a team, with Robin (Jason) feeling left out. Personally, I didn't like it. Catwoman lost her intrigue as a good guy. And then there was the fact that she whined too much, even if not out loud. (Not that Robin was any better, but he had an excuse- #1 he was a teenager and #2 he was still new to this concept of dealing with Bruce's moody and difficult personality.) You would think, however, that Catwoman would understand a few of the basic, underlying principles of the Batman. But apparently, she doesn't. Instead, she gets deeply hurt by the fact that Batman doesn't tell her everything. She expects him to "really share whatever drives (him), whatever (his) true emotions and plans are..."
I was very relieved when Batman and Catwoman very gently broke up in BATMAN #399.
Important but somewhat confusing note:
In July of 1986, Bob Greenberger (who published and replied to letters from fans in the comics) had this to say: "We want to state now and for the record, Catwoman does not know Batman is Bruce Wayne... Forget what we've said in the past and what was done by other writers; this is the law of the land." Hmm... Go figure.
EARTH II-
This is perhaps completely irrelavent to most Bat-fans, but it's interesting nonetheless.
Selina married when young to a wealthy but abusive man. She eventually divorced him and he took great care to make sure that she remained poor for the rest of her life. Being vindictive herself, she broke into his safe and stole back the jewels he'd given her when they were married. It was her first crime as Catwoman.
In this storyline, Bruce and Selina are married and a daughter who becomes Huntress I (not to be confused with Huntress II, though they have almost the same name).
OTHER
The BTAS version of Catwoman's past is basically the same as the comics, except it's never stated that she was ever a hooker. One major difference is in the fact that Batman knows her identity but she doesn't know his (I don't think). She also knows that he has figured her out, but doesn't seem too concerned about it. She's portayed as a wonderful and manipulative actress ("I just can't stop stealing!" *sob*) but after a while, Bats catches on.
The 1992 movie, Batman Returns portayed Selina as a weak, mousy secretary working for a man who threw her out the window. After her thirty story fall, cats pretty much brought her back to life and she went mad. (NOT like the Joker went mad. Mad as in a nervous breakdown.) The event transformed her into Catwoman. Nothing is revealed about her early life and she remains alive (though having lost eight of her nine lives) at the end.
INTERESTING STUFF
There were plans to make a movie which revolved completely around Catwoman. It was originally going to appear before Batman Forever, but Michelle Pfeiffer (the actress who played Catwoman) became pregnant unexectedly. Pfeifer ended up playing in Dangerous Minds and Catwoman seemed to have been forgotten. However, a script, written by Dan Waters (original writer of Batman Returns) has been written and approved of. Tim Burton (director of Batman and Batman Returns) was once again set to be in charge. The script changed considerably after Batman Forever, thanks to Joel Schumacher's (director of Batman Forever and Batman and Robin) alteration of the world of Gotham. It was considered that Catwoman would take place outside of Gotham, simply to avoid confusion. It was also considered that the Cat should suffer from amnesia (due to her eighth death where she electrocuted herself and her boss) and therefore not know Batman's identity. This movie was still being worked on in 1997, but it appears to have been shelved. Anyone who has any further information on it PLEASE e-mail me!!!
Catwoman has been in the Batcave quite a few times. (Batman #62, #324, #328, Legends of the Dark Night #47, #48, Detective #526)
Catwoman has had bright red hair (Batman #35), blonde hair (Batman #39), brown hair (World's Finest #169), and black hair (just about everywhere else. The original character had long black hair.)
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