Warning: Spoilers for Absolute Batman #2Catwomanhas just made her highly anticipated debut in DC’s Absolute Universe, with a redefined role inBatman’sorigin. The Absolute Universe has already shaken up Batman’s mythos by updating the designs and backstories of his classic Gotham rogues. Now, Catwoman is the latest character to get a major revamp in Batman’s groundbreaking new continuity.
Absolute Batman#2 by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin, and Clayton Cowles delves deeper into this Batman’s mysterious past. As a child, followingThomas Wayne’s tragic deathat the zoo, Bruce keeps himself at a distance from his mother and friends as he succumbs to grief. However, one friend manages to get through to him, as a familiar figure climbs in through Bruce’s windowand says,“Get up. You’re coming with me.”
Selina Kyle has officially arrived in the Absolute Universe, and her newfound status as Bruce Wayne’s childhood friend reinvents the classic dynamic between the Bat and the Cat in a massive change to DC lore.
Catwoman Joins the Absolute Universe as Batman’s Childhood Friend
Selina Kyle and Bruce Wayne’s Bond Is Deeper From the Start
Batman and Catwoman have always shared a special relationshipin DC lore. Their romance has spanned decades, with the two very nearly tying the knot at one point before Selina left Bruce at the altar. Here,the Absolute Universe rewrites their dynamic in a shocking wayby tracing their connection back to their childhood. Catwoman isn’t the only Gotham rogue who this Batman grew up with, either; inAbsolute Batman#1, it’s confirmed thathis classic villains are now his close friendsin this continuity. Batman’s bond with Catwoman is deeper than ever before, proven as she visits him in his darkest moment.
Catwoman’s New Costume is Revealed, Launching A New Era for The Character
Catwoman is about to begin a new era in DC’s Universe, with her brand new costume signaling the biggest changes coming to Selina Kyle.
Catwoman’s redesign for the Absolute Universe stands out because it isn’t the costume readers might recognize. Selina hasn’t embraced being Catwoman yet as a child, though her outfit hints at her iconic alter ego. Thecat ears on her hoodie are a callback to her costume, and the fact that she’s sneaking in through a window alludes to her “cat burglar” persona - as does her taking the gold medal Bruce had tossed out and wearing it for herself. Just as the bat imagery surrounding Bruce Wayne makes his destiny as Batman inevitable,the cat imagery here solidifies that Catwoman will eventually arrive in a greater capacity.
Absolute Catwoman’s Current Status Remains a Mystery
Catwoman’s Present-Day Whereabouts Will Soon Be Revealed
While Catwoman appears in a flashback from Batman’s past, her current whereabouts remain unknown. During a game of poker with the rest of the group, Eddie asks if anyone has heard from Selina, and Waylon mentions that he received a postcard from Cairo. The implication here is that Catwoman is traveling the world without keeping in close contact with Bruce and the others. The rest of the group has stayed tight-knit since their childhood, whereas Selina is alone. WithCatwoman’s status under wraps for the time being, readers can look forward to seeing her meet the newBatmanface-to-face as her own vigilante alter ego.
