Top 10: Best Catwoman Stories

Despite being one of Batman’s most iconic foes, Catwoman has largely been a bit-player for most of her history. Prior to the 1980s, she appeared sporadically as a villain and later became a minor supporting character in the Batman comics. After the astronomic success of Batman Returns, DC Comics were finally given the push to give the Feline Fatale her very own ongoing solo series.

Chronicled here are ten of her best solo ventures. These include a variety of stories featuring Catwoman at her best. For any fan of the Feline Fatale or anyone looking to learn more, these are ten stories you do not want to miss!

10. “Birds of Prey: Catwoman/Batgirl” (2003)

This two-part series tells the story of Catwoman and Batgirl teaming up to stop a serial killer. Written by John Francis Moore, this series revisits Catwoman’s past to reveal her long-standing distaste for injustices committed against women. It also gives a rare glimpse into Catwoman and Batgirl’s history together.

09. “Devil Does Your Dog Bite” (1996)

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When Chuck Dixon took over Catwoman’s solo title in the mid-1990s, he introduced a new and dangerous foe for the Feline Fatale – Hellhound. In this four-part narrative, Catwoman is kidnapped by Hellhound and is tasked with recovering a lost artifact. This adventure is highly inspired by Indiana Jones and forces Catwoman to overcome some rather crazy traps.

08. “Wild Ride” (2003)

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After a year of ups and downs, Catwoman decides it’s time for a break and heads off on a road trip with her friend Holly Robinson. Writer Ed Brubaker shows the Feline Fatale having fun and has her interact with a bevvy of interesting guest stars. From Captain Cold to Hawkgirl, this five-part adventure is light-hearted and solidifies Catwoman’s place in the DC Universe at large.

07. “Larceny Loves Company” (1996)

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Despite her independent nature and distrust of others, Catwoman reluctantly teams up with a group of thieves to pull off a high-stakes caper. Chuck Dixon delivers another action-packed adventure for the Feline Fatale and, in the process, crafts some rather colourful characters.

06. “No Man’s Land” (1999-2000)

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When an earthquake decimates Gotham City, Catwoman left her hometown and briefly moved to New York City. While on the outside, Gotham City was declared a No Man’s Land and Catwoman was subsequently barred from returning. However, when Batman asks for her help, she sneaks her way back into Gotham City and finds herself in the middle of Lex Luthor’s scheme to take over the city. This five-part arc features Catwoman facing off against the likes of Lex Luthor, Mercy Graves, and the Penguin, and shows how capable she is of taking down even the most dangerous of enemies.

05. “She-Cats” (1997)

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Following Chuck Dixon’s departure on Catwoman’s title, veteran Batman writer Doug Moench took over the writing duties. One of his most memorable contributions to the series was the introduction of the villainesses Alley Cat and Cyber-Cat. While the former was largely a joke villain, the latter became Catwoman’s most dangerous enemy to date. This three-part story featured Catwoman facing off against these two copycats as they vied for the same prize.

04. “Anodyne” (2002)

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After faking her own death, Selina Kyle donned her Catwoman costume once more when prostitutes began showing up dead in her neighbourhood. This four-part narrative was the start of a new series for the Feline Fatale helmed by the critically acclaimed writer Ed Brubaker. It’s stylish, dark, and ushered in a new era for Catwoman.

03. “When in Rome” (2004-2005)

With the popularity of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s work on Batman: The Long Halloween and Batman: Dark Victory, the pair teamed up once more to address the dangling plot threads they had left behind with Catwoman’s character. This mini-series sees Catwoman travelling to Italy to discover the truth about her heritage. Along the way, she goes shopping, steals some stuff, and faces off against Wonder Woman’s nemesis Cheetah.

02. “Catfile” (1995)

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When Catwoman is captured by a covert government agency, she is caught in a web of international intrigue after being forced to cooperate with them. This high-stakes adventure is Selina’s most memorable capers and features some of the wittiest writing she has had to date. Chuck Dixon does an amazing job and this served as a brilliant introduction into his run on her first solo series.

01.  “Relentless” (2002-2003)

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Arguably one of the best runs to date, Ed Brubaker’s time on Catwoman’s second solo series remains the most consistent depiction of the Feline Fatale. His crowning achievement was this five-part narrative introducing Black Mask as a nemesis for Catwoman. This story is full of unexpected twists and features some of the most devastating events that have ever happened to the Feline Fatale and her closest allies. This Catwoman arc is not to be missed!