You could say that Selina Kyle is a complex character: she will break into a rich guy’s home to steal a precious diamond, help Batman (and hook up with him), protect those in need, betray Batman, and often do all of it in one day.
Ever since she burst onto the scene all the way back in Batman #1 in 1940, this feline femme fatale has shocked and awed characters and readers alike throughout the decades. The moment she has her claws in you, she will not let go. You will be under her influence, and it will be so much fun!
Back in the ’40s, she began her life as a villain. She was Irene Adler to Batman’s Sherlock Holmes. Literally: the same narrative device is used in Doyle’s “A Scandal in Bohemia” and in Batman #1 to expose the culprit, and in both stories, she escapes the detective. However, we now see her as more of an antihero figure.
The question still lingers, though: is Catwoman a villain? It is asked of every adaptation or variant, including the new Absolute Catwoman. Today, we’ll try to answer the question by looking through her major comic runs and stories.
Quick Answer: Is Catwoman a Villain in the Comics?
Catwoman started as a Batman antagonist
As I already mentioned, Selina Kyle first appeared in Batman #1 in 1940, introduced only under the moniker of “The Cat.” In this story, she is a cunning jewel thief without a costume, just a stunning lady with a very good disguise at a yacht party that is, unfortunately, attended by Bruce Wayne and his son.
Initially, she was firmly in the criminal corner: a thief who would playfully evade Batman and have romantic tension with him throughout the early stories. As Batman stories changed and matured, so did Selina Kyle.
DC Finest: Batman: The Case Of The Chemical Syndicate TP
Modern Catwoman is usually an antihero
When we now ask the question “is Catwoman good or bad,” we often deal with the question of morality. We know that she often breaks the law by stealing things, but Catwoman is not a villain in the sense other Batman villains are.
She usually has a code she abides by. Though she will never fully be on the side of the “angels” due to her fierce independence, she will be there to protect people, particularly women and runaways in Gotham’s poor districts.
Why the answer changes depending on the comic
There are many different writers in comics, and many different ideas about what kind of Catwoman Selina Kyle is. Some will use her as a villain, others as a temptress. Batman/Catwoman stories will often have her toy with the line between ally and adversary or ask, “Does Catwoman really love Batman?”
Solo stories will, of course, focus more on who Selina Kyle is as a person. Why does Catwoman steal? How far will she bend her moral code? These are the fun questions they often address in the good tales!
Catwoman as a Villain: The Batman Stories That Framed Her That Way
Early Catwoman as a thief and Batman opponent
The very early stories follow the same pattern: Batman represents “the law” or “the good,” so Catwoman therefore has to be “the bad.” However, contrary to others (the Joker appears in Batman #1 just like Selina does), she often represents temptation, trying to push Bruce more toward the dark side.
She is flirtatious, and this is dangerous because it tempts Bruce into a path of “freedom,” from responsibility, but also from the law. I would say that these early stories place her in more of an antagonist role, since she is directly opposing Batman’s goal of cleaning up Gotham City.
Batman: Year One and Selina Kyle’s modern edge
If you wanted Catwoman’s backstory, then this is it. You can take it as a sort of Catwoman Year One as well, although some of the more explicit stuff there has been retconned later (more about it in the next paragraphs).
This book grounds Selina firmly in Gotham, but also shows that even when she is outside the law, she is not purely a villain. There is always a motivation behind what Selina does, and it is often quite complex.
Catwoman: Her Sister’s Keeper as a Catwoman-focused origin story
There are two books that connect to Batman: Year One and tell a Catwoman origin story. The first one is Catwoman: Year One by Jordan B. Gorfinkel and Jim Balent, and it is often sadly forgotten and overlooked. This is because writer Mindy Newell and artists J. J. Birch and Michael Bair knocked it out of the park with Catwoman: Her Sister’s Keeper.
The story directly expands on Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One by giving us Selina’s perspective. It addresses those tasty and fun questions I mentioned, like why Catwoman steals, but it also shows how she gained her skills and used them for good. Birch’s art pushes this further because it demonstrates exactly how claustrophobic Selina feels with its dark and grimy style.
DC Finest: Catwoman: Life Lines TP
Catwoman as an Antihero: The Comics That Made Selina the Lead
Why solo Catwoman comics change the answer
When we are in a Batman story, we follow his sense of justice. This is flipped on its head when we are in Selina’s. Solo Catwoman comics make her a protagonist and give us insight into her internal struggle, where her loyalties lie, and her complex survival instincts. This is what makes them so fun!
Selina’s Big Score and the heist-story version of Catwoman
Darwyn Cooke cooked in his graphic novel Selina’s Big Score, where Catwoman is a classic crime-fiction protagonist. Selina organizes a daring heist targeting a mob train, and she has never looked as good as she does under Cooke’s pen.
His visual style blends the clean and bold lines of DC’s older animated cartoons with an edgy, noir aesthetic. If you’re familiar with Cooke from his other classics, you’ll have a blast with this one. If not, then you are in for a treat because the man was a legend, and this will only make you crave more!
Trail of the Catwoman and Catwoman of East End
Ed Brubaker has become a name synonymous with noir and crime comics, and therefore he was the perfect choice for a Catwoman comic. Joined by Cooke on art, he weaved a story of Catwoman becoming the street-level protector we know and love, while still keeping her claws sharp.
These stories also establish Selina’s connection to East End, a Gotham neighborhood badly in need of its own protector (like any Gotham neighborhood isn’t). This is the modern run you want to pick up when you want to know who Catwoman is as a character.
Ed Brubaker and Darwyn Cooke’s Catwoman run
While I am on the topic, you should just grab the whole Catwoman of East End Omnibus to learn more about Selina. Ed Brubaker’s Catwoman is gritty and hardboiled, yet still warm and empathetic. At the same time, Darwyn Cooke’s Catwoman is sleek and vibrant, and other artists follow along too. The book is a treat and THE Catwoman comic you need on your shelf.
Catwoman Trail Of The Catwoman TP (DC Compact Comics Edition)
Catwoman Of East End Omnibus by Ed Brubaker and Darwyn Cooke HC
Batman By Darwyn Cooke The Absolute Edition HC *PRE-ORDER*
Catwoman as Batman’s Partner, Rival, and Love Interest
Why Batman and Catwoman complicate the villain label
If there is one comic relationship that is as contentious as it is appealing, it is the Batman and Catwoman love story. It is the classic opposites-attract tale, built on conflict and different moral codes.
It is their love that makes things so complicated. In most modern stories, Bruce will trust Selina no matter what has passed between them. However, this trust will often have limits: while he trusts her more than other rogues, he knows he will never control or fully reform her either.
The Long Halloween and Dark Victory
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s classic The Long Halloween and its follow-up, Dark Victory, are often regarded as some of the best Batman work, and Catwoman is given her chance to shine throughout the stories. As Gotham transitions from mob city into the rogue-villain landscape we know, Catwoman tries to find her place in it.
Tim Sale’s Catwoman is phenomenal. She is a cat-like presence on the fringes of conflict, often prowling her prey before she strikes. In these stories, she is mostly an ally to Batman, when it serves her needs.
Batman The Long Halloween TP (DC Compact Comics Edition)
Batman: The Long Halloween Deluxe Edition HC
Catwoman: When in Rome
Loeb and Sale tackled Selina Kyle’s origin in this follow-up to their masterwork. The story takes place during The Long Halloween, as Catwoman steps away to entertain an investigation of her own in Rome.
Sale drew heavy inspiration from René Gruau, a legendary fashion illustrator, as he delivered an elegant, high-fashion aesthetic that perfectly captures both the glamour and the danger of Selina Kyle.
Batman by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale Omnibus HC
Batman: Hush
A few years later, Loeb teamed up with the legend Jim Lee to tell a monumental story in Batman: Hush, which also tests and embraces Batman and Catwoman’s relationship. If you ever asked yourself, “Does Batman love Catwoman?” this could be a story for you.
The story follows Bruce investigating a complex mystery, where the question might not be “how” or “why,” but “who.” The important part is that this is the story where Batman decides to trust Catwoman and reveal his identity to her.
Hush is mainly a tour de force for Jim Lee’s skill. He is given the chance to illustrate the majority of Batman’s rogue gallery, and he does it to astonishing effect! Each page bursts with marvel (if you would pardon my using that word).
Batman Hush Absolute Edition HC (2025 Edition)
Batman: Hush TP (DC Compact Comics Edition)
Batman Hush 20th Anniversary HC
Catwoman as a Modern DC Antihero
Jim Balent’s Catwoman and the 1990s solo era
After the success of Catwoman: Her Sister’s Keeper, it was decided that Selina Kyle was popular enough to get her own solo series in 1993. The first arc was Life Lines, written by Jo Duffy, with Jim Balent on art.
Balent would go on to define this era of the character with his art, emphasizing Catwoman’s agility and fluid physical prowess. He also designed her iconic purple suit, revitalizing her color scheme and emphasizing a form-fitting aesthetic that would stay with Selina for years to come.
DC Finest: Catwoman: Life Lines TP
DC Finest: Catwoman: Vengeance And Vindication TP
New 52 Catwoman
When DC reset its universe with the New 52, writer Judd Winick and artist Guillem March gave us a more reckless, younger Selina Kyle. However, it was Genevieve Valentine who stripped Catwoman of her suit and made her the head of the Calabrese crime family, taking us to the peak of this era.
Also important to note is Catwoman #39, where Selina came out as bisexual, sealing a kiss with her rival Eiko Hasigawa. Valentine established authentic queer representation in this era, while still maintaining Selina’s deep connection to Batman.
However, while bombastic and action-packed, this era may not be the best first choice for understanding her full character. Still, it served as a fresh start and could be used as a fresh starting point in answering the question, “Is Catwoman a hero or a villain?”
Catwoman: The New 52 Omnibus Vol. 1 HC
Joëlle Jones and modern Catwoman comics
Selina Kyle is known for her independence, so it is no wonder that even now, she can hold a series of her own. Those interested in modern Catwoman comics should look no further than Joëlle Jones’ run, picking up after that controversial wedding fiasco in Tom King’s Batman #50.
Batman By Tom King Omnibus Vol 1 HC
Batman by Tom King Omnibus Vol. 2 HC *PRE-ORDER*
Jones launched a visually stunning era, relocated Selina away from Gotham, and utilized her fashion sensibilities to the fullest. The art is clean and gorgeous, and Fernando Blanco further keeps establishing Catwoman as a fierce and independent lead.
(Jone's is massively OOP in the moment)
Catwoman: Lonely City
DC’s Black Label is a prestige-format imprint of DC, telling darker stories that may or may not be in the main continuity. Still, that does not mean they are not excellent, like Cliff Chiang’s four-issue masterpiece Catwoman: Lonely City.
This story gives us a future look at Selina Kyle with Batman and Jim Gordon dead. Now aging and greying, Selina is released from prison into an even darker, authoritarian Gotham. She is ready for one last heist, into the Batcave, giving us an unforgettable Catwoman comic.
Absolute Catwoman and the newest version of Selina Kyle
Another reinvention for DC, Absolute Catwoman, written by Che Grayson and Scott Snyder, gives us a Selina Kyle operating out of London. This version of Catwoman uses high-tech gear, and artist Bengal gives us some very memorable visuals, proving once again why Catwoman is one of DC’s most memorable antiheroes.
Absolute Catwoman #1 Walt's Comic Shop & Kings Comics Exclusive Belen Ortega Cover
So What Kind of Character Is Catwoman Really?
She is not a traditional superhero
Selina Kyle is not a selfless, altruistic person like your run-of-the-mill superheroes. She will not patrol the streets feeling it is her civic duty to fight crime. Instead, she acts out of self-interest, but this will always come second when those she loves are at risk.
She is not a pure villain either
Catwoman comics are the best (in my opinion) when Selina is given shades of gray. She is not destructive and homicidal, and she will follow a strict moral compass: she does not tolerate abuse of power or predators. However, she will indulge in property crimes, usually driven by survival or just love of the game. She is a real cat personified.
Catwoman works best as a morally gray antihero
While she started her life as a dangerous criminal, she has moved on past that life. However, she will never walk the straight and narrow. Catwoman would simply not be fun (nor work!) if she did. She bridges the gap between law and crime, proving that in Gotham, you need to break some laws to survive.
Best Catwoman Comics to Read If You Want to Understand Her
Best for origin context
If you want the Catwoman origin story, start with Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli’s Batman: Year One. It is a grounded yet sleek, street-level introduction. Follow it with Mindy Newell and J. J. Birch’s Catwoman: Her Sister’s Keeper for the same story from Selina’s POV.
Best for Catwoman as an antihero
You cannot go wrong with Darwyn Cooke’s masterpiece Selina’s Big Score. Then continue by delving deep into Ed Brubaker’s run to see Catwoman as a street-level guardian of Gotham’s disenfranchised.
Best for Batman and Catwoman’s relationship
Does Catwoman love Batman? Find out by reading Loeb and Sale’s The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, and Catwoman: When in Rome. Then, top it off with Loeb and Lee’s blockbuster Batman: Hush.
Best standalone modern read
Cliff Chiang’s Catwoman: Lonely City is one of the best Catwoman comics that is one-and-done. For another great standalone, pick up G. Willow Wilson and Jamie McKelvie’s modern heist comic Batman: One Bad Day: Catwoman.
