Batman and Catwoman’s relationship: It may be time to end them

After years of watching Batman and Catwoman attempt to have a relationship, it may be time to end them for good.

Batman & Catwoman’s relationship goes back almost eighty years. We remember last year’s wedding. The bells did not ring, and it seems we are back to the things as they are. Now, a new series starring the two is on the horizon. Why bother anymore, though?

The relationship between Batman & Catwoman begins in Batman No. 1 in 1940. Basically, Batman, like an oaf, lets her get away. He does not leave her to the authorities. Instead, he decides to bring her in a different way… on his own. When Catwoman does get away, Batman does not take it too badly. You could say this moment began the chase that is their relationship, a chase that is the basis of their relationship one can argue. She beckons him to chase her, and we replace the dance with a run across rooftops.  At times, they reach mutual goals or doing each other favors, add in the occasional kiss and intimate encounters, as well.

Selina’s reasoning for not marrying Batman was akin to Rachel’s in The Dark Knight. Basically, Bruce will never stop needing or wanting to be Batman. One can maybe see Selina giving up the role of Catwoman. She has in many stories — pet store owner in the fifties, a CEO in the nineties with plans to run for mayor and a crime boss a few years ago. In retirement in Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, she runs an escort service. Conjuring the idea of Bruce Wayne retiring the mantle of the bat is nothing new. The Dark Knight Returns tackles this, as he returns. This is tackled in Batman Beyond tackles, in which he has to retire due to age. One can argue he is not fully retired in the series, with his relationship with Terry McGinnis.

Again, we have an upcoming series with these two. How? Why? Are we returning to the usual dance between these two? We already have something like this in Batman: Hush. Here we have Batman and Catwoman truly in a committed relationship, as he reveals his secret identity to her. One may think it is going to last this time, as he lets himself be this vulnerable with her. Unfortunately, the story does not end well for their relationship. Yet we still see them up and at again later in the comics. One hates to make such a comparison, but are Batman & Catwoman the Ross and Rachel of comic books?

Will they, or won’t they? Do they even want to? One can argue their relationship works as a way to bring in more readers. Their wedding certainly drew in some people. Batman & Catwoman’s relationship is something like that of a sitcom. Do enough digging, and you can find other examples. It’s complex, as this is a way to basically pull in audiences, create artificial drama, raise stakes and just pad things out. Are you out of ideas for this series? Quick, make these two an item again. Hmm, we need to spice things up for the audience. Quick, break those two up now. It’s a trope as this is old and tired.

Why not end them for good? Only a few occasions do we have them as an official item. In the old Earth-2, they marry and have a daughter, Helena Wayne or Huntress. Batman: The Brave and The Bold makes a sort of reference to this in one episode. We revisit this dynamic in The New 52. Christopher Nolan ends The Dark Knight Rises with the two running off to a new life together in Paris. Sadly, no one really counts these as canon. These are “Elseworlds” stories in a sense. Earth-2’s own historical account of this has painted a picture of “what if”. Here, we have the possibility of Batman & Catwoman finally being together for good, but never will they be.

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What is strange is that Batman has a long history of romantic relationships. In fact, Catwoman is not his first, as that belongs to Julie Madison. We also have Vicki Vale, Talia, Silver St. Cloud, Golden Age Batwoman, Sasha Bordeaux, Jezebel Jet and many more. You can find women from every decade and continuity. Who does Catwoman have? Mainly Batman, though there are few, rare occasions of others. Slam Bradley Jr. is the father of her child before The New 52, so she says. Another relationship is Eiko Hasigawa from The New 52. One cannot help but wonder why Batman has various relationship prospects, but Catwoman does not. Now, Catwoman is apparently bi-sexual? Why not explore that more? Die-hard comic fans may not even know about these two past relationships for Catwoman.

How long can DC Comics keep this chase up? They are adults after all and not high school teens where the “chase,” as you will, is part of the fun. Neither one is looking to settle down anytime soon. We can disconnect these two for good. Marvel Comics showed us that with Spider-Man and Mary Jane. Why can’t DC Comics do the same?