Catwoman - Concept Fanart
Here at the FranchiseWars Podcast, we recently recorded a podcast about “leaks”/”spoilers”/speculation about Matt Reeves “The Batman” movie. One of the “announced” villains was the felonious feline, Catwoman, aka Selina Kyle. That got the creative juices flowing, so I did a *very* rough “concept art for what kind of costume, background, and general “feel” for how to re-introduce Catwoman.
Since I’m not really great at getting proportions right to my satisfaction, I used lezisell’s Arkham City Catwoman extract to act as a base for my design: https://www.deviantart.com/lezisell/...ONLY-729569685
If you want to hear our podcast on The Batman, click this: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matt-reevess-the-batman/id1286433288?i=1000439082184
NOTES ON THE REDESIGN
- General feel of Catwoman vs Selina: “Catwoman” embraces her tomboy and adrenaline junky side, while “Selina Kyle” generally showcases a more “girly” side - thus why Catwoman’s gear runs a bit more utilitarian than usual.
- No Whip: A rope dart is much more practical as a weapon and tool for a thief’s trade, and frankly, can look a lot cooler when in the right hands. All you have to do is track down a Youtube video showing either a weapons-focused demonstration of it... or the more graceful incorporation of it into dance.
- The Falcone Jewelry: Yes, this version of Catwoman is wearing jewelry stolen from the Falcones, the old crime family in charge of Gotham. Since Selina is (at least half-) Falcone herself but raised as an orphan by the Kyles, she stole her “birthright” from them, and brazenly wears the un-fence-able goods to insult them, in particular her *possible* father The Roman, who she also scarred as in the comics.
- The Calabrese Connection: As in the New 52, Leo “The Lion” Calabrese is a potential father for Selina, having *possibly* conceived her during an affair with Louisa Falcone that ignited Carmine “The Roman” Falcone’s rampage to the top of the underworld. The Roman’s vengeful streak is part of the reason Selina had to be raised in obscurity and on the streets.
- The Scarf: It’s a memento from her sister, Maggie, that Selina wears even though they aren’t on speaking terms. In general, a strong, protective “sisterly” streak is behind Catwoman’s more heroic moments, but she doesn’t like it being pointed out.
- Bat-Memento/Trophy: Her “Catspaw” grappling hook has a history involving the Dark Knight. Originally a “Bat-Claw” gadget owned by Batman, it was either *stolen* by or *given* to Catwoman after an alliance against Firefly. Selina’s recollection of the event changes depending on her mood, and Batman ain’t talking.
- Bat-Cat? It’s... Complicated: Neither Selina Kyle nor Bruce Wayne can deny that there is a strong attraction between them. He is *quietly* astounded by her strength of will and repertoire of skills considering her adverse origins, while she *quietly* admires his heroism in the costume and altruism outside of it. Plus they’re both, y’know, very physically fit individuals. And she has most definitely preyed on that attraction for her own benefit in the past... and reluctantly succumbed to it at other times that you DON’T bring up to her. She’s been employed as a thief and saboteur by him and against him, and an uneasy truce around the East End of Gotham, and a shaky past of promises kept and broken by both sides, defines a relationship that nobody feels comfortable labeling one way or another... least of all the rest of the Batfamily or the Gotham Rogues.