365 DC Comics Paper Cut-Out SuperHeroes - One Hero, Every Day, All Year…
November 19th - Catwoman
Selina Kyle lost her parents at a young age and ended up in a Gotham orphanage run by a corrupt headmistress who was embezzling funds allocated by the state. Shrewd and cunning from the start, young Selina discovered the headmistress’ scheme and used the information to extort her into erasing "Selina Kyle" from the city's records. She then stole a diamond neckless before taking to the streets where she ended up falling in with a group of young thieves living in the ‘Alleytown’ neighborhood of the East End of Old Gotham.
Selina was taken in by Mama Fortuna, the elderly leader of a thieves’ guild who taught Selina to utilize her natural skills to become an expert burglar, thief and pickpocket. As she grew into young adulthood, Selina achieved great success as a burglar; as well as great notoriety. Fearing the attention her actions were attracting, Selina decided to lay low for a spell, hiding out as a dominatrix working for an East End pimp named Stan. During this time Selina also trained under the sensi known as The Armless Master who taught her to be a master combatant in the martial arts. She additionally befriended a young prostitute named Holly.
Selina witnesses The Batman in the early days of his career, sees him battling the corrupt police of Gotham. She was inspired by how Batman’s costume acts to both distract his opponents as well as maintain his anonymity and it inspired her to take up the identity of The Catwoman.
Cats had always loved Selina and she greatly admired the animals’ sense of independence and grace… it seemed an ideal fit for her. As Catwoman, Selina would go on to be a persistent and challenging foil to Batman and the two would go up against one another on countless occasions (their encounters always being equal parts fighting and flirtation). As time passed, Selina’s actions and motivations matured. More and more she used her skills to help people and steal only for those who she felt deserved it. She and Batman came to learn each others true identities and ultimately became lovers. They almost got married and remain close confederates.
Versions of Catwoman featured prominently in the 1960’s Batman television series portrayed by actresses Lee Meriwether, Julie Newmar and Eartha Kitt. Michelle Pfeiffer portrayed the character in the 1992 movie Batman Returns; Halley Berry took on the role in the 2004 feature Catwoman; Anne Hathaway played Catwoman in the 2012 movie The Dark Knight Rises; Camren Bicondova has portrayed Selina Kyle on the television series Gotham; and Zoë Kravitz is set to portray the character in the upcoming 2021 movie The Batman. The Catwoman first appeared int he pages of Batman #1 (1940).
