What lies at the heart of any successful, healthy relationship? Why, trust of course. In the new Bruce Wayne’s death of old age.
While fans might expect this to be a story of true love, as their relationship has often been built up for through the years, even resulting in the birth of a daughter, Helena, in a few continuities (including this one), King seems to be taking a more cynical viewpoint on their romance here. The series demonstrates why their relationship is destined to be doomed: Catwoman’s continued lies and duplicity when confronted with her criminal deeds.
In the The Joker for a heist that involves the theft of a big cat-themed necklace worn by Gotham criminal Jimmy the Lion. Catwoman arrives late to this planned theft and finds Jimmy murdered at the hands of Joker. Splitting her time between villainy and crime-fighting at this point in her life, Selina then absconds to spend time with her future-husband, Batman, who is investigating the break-in. Noticing a similar modus operandi in the theft/murder perpetrated by The Joker, Bats decides to question Selina as to her own culpability in the crime.
Catwoman lies to Bruce despite the somewhat obvious implication of her involvement, and claims she had no part in the grisly murder. This is then immediately juxtaposed to the far-future where, meeting up with an aged Joker, Catwoman kills the criminal despite promising Bruce on his death-bed that she would refrain from murdering him. Both of these instances, while portraying the antiheroine as an independent and capable woman, demonstrate why a relationship between the two would always end tragically: Catwoman will never stop lying, even if only to save face.
King’s Black Label story takes place in an alternate continuity, one which is heavily influenced by the seminal cartoon Andrea Beaumont, The Phantasm, as well as aspects of the Bruce Timm-helmed cartooniverse’s take on the romance between Batman and Catwoman, which saw Selina briefly reformed before turning back to a life a crime.
Batman’s world has always been laden with tragedy, and his relationship with Selina is no exception. While clearly in love with this woman, desiring to spend his life with her, their relationship would always be an unequal one. Reformed criminal or not, it will always be Selina’s nature to tell a white lie in order to protect her image. Will Batman discover this subtle betrayal? Batman/Catwoman #2 is on sale now wherever comic books are sold.
