There have been numerous poster releases to prep fans for the upcoming "The Dark Knight Rises" and it has featured Batman, Bane, and Catwoman. Expectations are high for Anne Hathaway who will be playing Catwoman in the film, but for all those who claim to be Catwoman fans, do you really know the origins of this fiery feline of a woman?
Who is Selina Kyle? Why, she's Catwoman of course!
During her early life she experienced two instances of tragedy-her mother's suicide and her father's death, caused by alcoholism. Choosing the streets over an abusive state home for orphaned or delinquent girls, Catwoman eventually became the craftiest cat burglar that the Gotham City Police had ever encountered. Her natural gymnastics skill, martial arts and boxing knowledge and her sharpness, benefited her significantly.
Catwoman first appeared in an ongoing comic, Batman #1, in the spring of 1940. She was known as The Cat at the time and Batman's adversary. In this first issue, readers knew her to be a sneaky burglar who liked carrying a long whip. After her first appearance, we begin to see her with a face-covering, cat mask for the first time. Years after that issue, this DC Comics character grew in success... but then the development of the Comics Code Authority influenced the hiatus of Catwoman from September 1954 to November 1966. Apparently, the issues concerned the rules regarding the portrayal of female characters that were in violation of the Comics Code.
If you didn't know, Catwoman was partially inspired by the late Jean Harlow, an American film actress and sex symbol, as well as the late Hedy Lamarr, an Austrian-born American actress. Bob Kane, the creator of Batman, wanted to give his Batman comics sex appeal and an opportunity for a character that could appeal to female readers. Catwoman is an interesting case because her status as hero or villain is unclear. Thanks to Batman, he influenced reform in his romantic interest. She detests killing and has even teamed up with Batman and other heroes, on occasion.
In 1993, Catwoman received her first big break and was given her first ongoing comic book series. It was written by a variety of writers, but mainly penciled by Jim Balent.
In 2004, Catwoman was portrayed in the American superhero film "Catwoman," by Actress Halle Berry. The story features an entirely new character, Patience Phillips. The film wasn't received very well by critics and is commonly listed as one of the worst films ever made.
Fast forwarding to the events after DC Comics' Infinite Crisis, Catwoman is no longer "Catwoman," but Selina Kyle. She enters motherhood after giving birth to her daughter named Helena.
I could go on and on, but overall, Catwoman's origins are an interesting one. She's not just the woman in a cat costume, but a fierce fighter with impressive skills who teaches the bad guys a lesson without murder being her first option.
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