The recent release of Matt Reeves' The Batman has franchise fans excited about the potential future of Selina Kyle, a.k.a Catwoman. In the film, the character is played by Zoë Kravitz, who has reinvented the anti-heroine. Previously, the character had been iconically portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, and Anne Hathaway.
For fans who want to know more about the feline femme fatale, they're in luck. There are many great comic runs in the Batman franchise that focus on Selina Kyle, as well as her relationship with the Dark Knight. These ten comic book storylines are regarded by fans to be the best interpretations of the character of Catwoman.
10 The Autobiography Of Bruce Wayne
This issue of The Brave and the Bold, written by Alan Brennert, was released in 1983, 43 years after Catwoman's debut appearance. It takes the perspective of Bruce Wayne's memoir, with this chapter detailing his relationship with Selina Kyle. They begin their adventures when Batman turns to Catwoman in an attempt to find the Scarecrow.
The Autobiography of Bruce Wayne marks a very meaningful moment in the relationship between Batman and Catwoman. Here, the two masked vigilantes take off their masks and reveal themselves to each other for the first time. It's an incredibly powerful moment that echoes many of the duo's future encounters.
9 Batman: Year One
This Frank Miller-led comic book arc is the main inspiration for The Batman, as well as the movie's interpretation of Selina Kyle. Published in 1987, the series follows Bruce Wayne's transformation into Batman, including his early brushes with the criminal underworld of Gotham. These encounters lead him to meet Selina Kyle.
In this series, Selina is working as a sex worker and is later inspired by Batman to take up vigilante crime-fighting. Donning a cat-like suit, she attacks and robs crime boss Carmine Falcone. While her role in this comic series is merely a supportive one, it also becomes the basis for many of Selina Kyle's later interpretations.
8 Her Sister's Keeper
This solo Catwoman storyline, published in 1989, serves as a companion piece to Batman: Year One. It explores Selina Kyle's origins prior to her appearance in the comic, while also fleshing out the motivations in her decision to become Catwoman. It also established her relationship with Maggie Kyle, her sister, who is a nun.
Though Selina and Bruce Wayne briefly meet during this series, it's a unique comic run in how it mostly focuses on Selina's journey. For fans of the character who are perhaps tired of the cat-and-mouse (or rather, cat-and-bat) relationship between her and Bruce Wayne, this series may be the best way to see Catwoman all on her own.
7 Catwoman: Lifelines
Her Sister's Keeper would not be the last solo Catwoman run, thanks to the 1993 Catwoman series. Lifelines takes place after the Batman-centered graphic novel Knightfall, which inspired 2012's The Dark Knight Rises. The series finds Selina working for Bane after the supervillain breaks Batman's back.
Selina escapes from under Bane's control to Santa Prisca, an island in the Caribbean. There, she becomes a Robin Hood-type vigilante, earning the respect of the locals. Again, this is a great read for fans who want to see Selina navigate a criminal underworld by herself, this time outside the parameters of Gotham City.
6 Trail Of The Catwoman
This Catwoman storyline is unique in that it's not from the point-of-view of Selina Kyle. The story, published in 2001, follows a private eye named Slam Bradley as he investigates Catwoman, who the police presume to be dead. Learning that Catwoman "killed" Selina Kyle, he is led to the discovery that they are one and the same.
Not only does Slam Bradley's search for the truth lead him to face off against Catwoman, but it also puts him at odds with Batman himself. Fans get to see the caped crusader threaten Bradley if he continues going after Catwoman, showing a darker side of the DC hero. Eventually, Bradley gives up, letting Selina Kyle run free.
5 Batman: Hush
This series was first published in 2002 and is considered among the greatest Batman storylines. Many Batman villains appear throughout the series, as well as Superman, who becomes a captive of Poison Ivy. Of course, the series also explores the romance between Batman and Catwoman after they reveal their identities to each other.
The climax of their relationship comes at the very end of the story (spoiler alert!). After Batman tells Catwoman he doesn't trust her, she tells him to "hush" before kissing him. This forces Batman to react harshly, ending the relationship, but not before the two of them promise to try to make it work again someday.
4 Catwoman: When In Rome
This miniseries, released in 2004, follows Selina Kyle on a solo trip to Rome, Italy, accompanied by the Riddler. There, Selina is on a mission to find information on her estranged parents, one of whom is crime boss Carmine Falcone. The Batman fans will recognize this as establishing Selina's complex relationship to Falcone in the film.
After being plagued by nightmares of Batman, Selina realizes that the Riddler has been poisoning her with Scarcrow's fear toxin. Riddler's hope was that Selina's nightmares would cause her to blurt out Batman's identity. While Selina's unable to find proof of her relationship to Falcone, she does defeat the Riddler before leaving Italy.
3 Rooftops
This story arc, published in 2017, ongoing 13th volume in the solo Batman series. Spanning across two issues, this story follows Batman attempting to prove that Catwoman is innocent of killing 237 people. Despite that, Catwoman wants her last night before a life sentence in prison to be spent with Batman.
These two issues are a look into the passionate side of Batman and Catwoman's relationship. It's one part romantic, one part the duo's typical love-hate relationship. These issues have pretty much everything for fans who want to see Batman and Catwoman team up, as well as steal each other's hearts.
2 Batman: Date Nights / Late Rites
This second issue of the second Batman Annual series was first published in late 2017. The storyline follows the origins of Batman and Catwoman's relationship, from their first date to their passionate rivalry. Like the Rooftops arc, it's a deep dive into the complexities of Bruce and Selina's undeniable attraction to each other.
Many fans find writer Tom King's portrayals of Batman and Catwoman's romance to be the best interpretations of the duo's relationship. If Matt Reeves' interpretations of the characters continue on, this would be the blueprint. As much as fans love seeing Bruce and Selina fight, it's just as fascinating to see them fall for each other.
1 Catwoman: Lonely City
This more recent solo run for the Catwoman character began in 2021, and is currently two issues deep. For fans eager to get caught up with Selina Kyle's story, this might be the perfect place to start. It's also a great opportunity to explore Selina Kyle's character, as this series takes place ten years after the death of Batman.
It may be hard to imagine a story taking place in Gotham without Bruce Wayne, the Joker, or even Commissioner Gordon. However, Selina Kyle proves within two issues that her story is far from over. Furthermore, she's on a mission that may give her the answers to many questions she has regarding Batman's death.