Remember The Original Catwoman?

Everyone remembers the first time they saw Catwoman. The baby boomers most likely remember Julie Newmar or Eartha Kitt from the sixties Batman television show. Later on, their kids probably remember Michelle Pfieffer’s from Batman Returns or her incarnation in Batman: The Animated Series. Today's generation may think of Anne Hathaway from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. All of these make up the general, mainstream depiction of Catwoman...at least outside of the comics. We can discuss all of the differences with these various depictions of Catwoman. Yet, we can all agree on their base, surface level similarities of a costumed attire, athletic prowess and ableness to go toe-to-toe with the Batman. What if in her first ever story Catwoman was nothing like that? Oddly, it is true but do not let that detract you.

The Cat

Catwoman a.k.a. Selina Kyle debuts in Batman #1 in 1940. Interestingly enough, she debuted in the same issue as The Joker, within a separate story. Bruce Wayne learns of the wealthy socialite Mrs. Travers holding a party on her yacht, while keeping a prized necklace in her possession. With the publicity of such an event he cannot help but feel this will invite the criminal element into taking what comes off as bait. Robin learns of such entity called The Cat, when he finds a note that Mrs. Travers’ nephew, Denny held, noting him to keep his aunt away from her own room. Right away, she’s not even Catwoman, she is simply The Cat. A mysterious figure to which even Batman claims to have “heard tales about […]in the underworld!” Matter of fact, The Cat has no costume. We do not find out who this Cat is until the second to last page!

The Cat is a whodunit story, with the robbery of Mrs. Travers’ necklace. We are to suspect both her brother and doctor at first. Criminals show up to rob the yacht, perhaps they have something to do with it. Maybe they were hired by The Cat to keep everyone busy while The Cat gets away! Not a bad idea, but surely that is not the case. In fact, the criminals were there for the necklace as well but too late!

Turns out The Cat was with us from the beginning as Denny’s plus one, the elderly lady Miss Peggs. Batman does not crack this case until Robin pulls the firm alarm, sees Miss Peggs and comments “There goes Miss Peggs nice legs for an old woman!” With a wig and make-up expertise like that from a movie production, The Cat was able to disguise herself as an elderly woman!

You may be thinking – wait, no claws, no costume, no whip, not even some silly ‘purrrfect’ lines of dialogue, this is simply not Catwoman! Keep in mind, this is only 1940 and the character’s first appearance! If anything, her ending is quite fitting of what we traditionally know of the character. She bares some leg, which even by 1940 standards is risqué and says “What’s the use...I know when I’m licked!... Go ahead!” All of this, while she shows off the prize bandaged to her leg for Batman to grab. Before Batman takes her away, she promises to split the prize with Batman instead of Denny, offering him to come in as her partner. “You and I – king and queen of crime!...We’d make a great team!” Batman even notes her proposition as ‘tempting’ but denies her, due to their separate positions on the law. The Cat asks Batman for his reasoning behind taking her in himself, rather than leaving her behind on the yacht with the other criminals, waiting to be rounded up by the police. We are never given a definite explanation save for Batman saying “I’ve got my reasons!”

Funny enough, she makes a move and jumps off the dynamic duo’s boat. Quickly Robin sits up to exit to his right and Batman sits up to exit his left, leaving the two colliding with each other! Robin cannot believe it, claiming Batman bumped into him on purpose, just so she could get away. Batman denies this and begins to lament on how lovely she was and what a nice night is. We have the first time she ever gets away from The Batman and certainly not the last time. Right here in the beginning we have the dance these two do, she runs and he chases her. She offers him a place in her own life, which is tempting but he never budges.

Cat-Woman

Maybe some skepticism still remains because she is simply The Cat, not Catwoman and not Selina Kyle. Is this an early Catwoman prototype then? Perhaps, this character will be scrapped and the real Catwoman will come into play, right? Months later in Batman #2, the master of disguise resurfaces and the comic refers to her as the Cat-Woman. Come again in the fall issue of Batman #3, she finally has donned a mask. However, it is simply a dress with what looks like she skinned the face off a jungle cat to wear, truly horrific! Ten years later in Batman #62 we see here in something more of a costume with a cape and a cat mask that is less horrifying. Finally, we learn of her secret identity as that of Selina Kyle, a former airline stewardess. Tom King will even resurface her debut in his Batman run.

The Joker has remained consistent in his depiction by artists over the decades. We can hold a picture of The Joker today to The Joker from 1940 and see the similarities. We cannot do the same with The Cat, Cat-Woman, I’m sorry, Catwoman! We should not let his deter us though. Her debut serves as something of a blueprint for the character internally. Catwoman was always planned to be the temptress, the femme fatale. We see she almost got away with her crime and fooled the readers as well. In 1940, who suspects a woman, let alone an elderly woman to rob a yacht? Who expects a woman to escape the clutches of Batman? Any person born well after 1940 can easily tell you Catwoman can do that and more! Time and time again, she pleads with Batman to come with her. Batman forever tempted by it, for he does have an affection for her but cannot give up his duty and his oath to the law. She forever represents that female archetype to deter men from whatever their dream, goal, duty or job is. The Batman may even find happiness with her, but cannot give in.

Catwoman

Her debut is hardly a fluke in the way it has shaped and influenced the character over-time. Grant you, the disguise gig was left on the cutting room floor, but that is it! Batman’s refusal to leave Catwoman behind for the proper authorities has been a cornerstone since this initial story. We see this in Batman: The Animated Series, with the conclusion of the two-parter “The Cat and The Claw”...

Batman: I didn't want you taken away like a common criminal.

Catwoman: So you do care.

Batman: (handcuffing her) More than you'll ever know.

Recall her murder, vandalism, kidnapping and destruction of property in Batman Returns? Does Batman let that sway him at all? During the finale, Selina is planning to kill her boss, Max Shreck and Batman interferes saying, “Let's just take him to the police... then, we can go home... together.” Why does Selina get a pass, but not her boss, especially when both have committed horrible crimes? In Tom King’s "Rooftops" in Batman #14 and #15, Batman has to take her to Black Gate to serve out her life sentence. Yet, she persuades him to give them a night together before he takes her in, which he does, as they spend it between the sheets on the rooftops of Gotham. If anything, this says more about Bruce than Selina perhaps, which is its own topic of discussion.

Catwoman’s offer to Batman has remained with him for decades, until Tom King’s more definite pairing of the two for a proposed marriage and then a child. Go back to her debut in Batman: The Animated Series...

Catwoman: You can't deny there's something between us.

Batman: You're right, and I'm afraid it's the law.

She says something similar in Batman Returns when she gets the drop on him in their second encounter - “I thought we had something!” This goes all the way up to The Dark Knight Rises near the end when she pleads with Bruce, “Come with me. Save yourself. You don't owe these people any more. You've given them everything.”

I dare say this does lean into some decade old sexism for the character since her creation. No doubt that Catwoman is a fully independent, strong female but still desires a man in her life. In some incarnations she sees a way out, like The Dark Knight Rises and others she still wants to be Catwoman. However, in each iteration she always has a place saved for Bruce. Batman does not see his life this way, he is Batman 24/7 and sees no out, unless some villain finally gets the drop on him. This borders on the old idea that women will find fulfillment in their life with a mate and later on - children. Yet, Catwoman does seem rather content and fulfilled in her life in most depictions as Catwoman.

No doubt her first outing is a unique one, but it has gone on to shape our favorite feline femme fatale for ages to come! She is one of the first women in comics to challenge the hero, we need to celebrate that!

You can also read about The Joker's first appearance - here. If you like what you read here, please feel free to leave a like and a tip!