Batman: The Animated Series debuted 30 years ago, and the beloved ’90s show has continued to have a major impact on cartoons, DC Comics adaptations and the Caped Crusader in particular. Echoing the haunting, gothic noir history of its title character, the cartoon — along with Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman movie — helped to erase the lingering campy image of the hero from the 1960s Batman TV show. One way it did so was with incredibly nuanced, well-written villains, with foes such as Catwoman becoming far more than just one-note gimmicks.
The proverbial cat-and-mouse romance between Batman and Catwoman was definitely a part of Batman: The Animated Series, but this sadly didn’t translate to her having a final goodbye. The DC Animated Universe ultimately left her fate ambiguous, despite how important she was to Bruce Wayne. This was unfortunately a missed opportunity, but also one that makes sense given the events of Batman Beyond.
Batman: The Animated Series Made Catwoman More Than Just a Purloining Feline
A rich Gotham City socialite with a love for animals, the backstory for Selina Kyle in Batman: The Animated Series was almost completely original and far different from the modern origin given to her by Frank Miller in the classic Batman: Year One. She would catch the eye of Bruce Wayne due to her charitable giving to the welfare of animals, though her costumed cat burglar alter ego caught the attentions of other authorities. She would constantly try to steer clear of criminality, but various circumstances kept this from remaining the norm.
Her relationship with Kevin Conroy’s sullen Batman was mostly one in which he attempted to stop her apparent crimes, though the two also had an undeniable romantic chemistry. This was complicated by their being on opposite sides of the morality spectrum, even if Selina often stole for the greater good — or, at least, cats. Ultimately, she seemed to like the thrill of the chase, both in regard to Batman and treasure, than any sort of domesticity. Her last appearance was the episode Cult of the Cat, where she was seen living a new life of stolen luxury with her cat Isis in Paris. Though it was a fitting ending for the villainess, it does make her relationship with Batman end rather abruptly.
Batman Beyond Never Clarified What Happened to Selina Kyle
The later events in the DC Animated Universe never really touch on Catwoman, despite how much she seemed to mean to Bruce Wayne as both as a crime fighter and a man. Alfred initially suspected that she might be the woman operating as the mysterious Batwoman, but Bruce knew this wasn’t the case due to the thieving Selina having a higher sense of morality. She would briefly be referenced in Batman Beyond, both in the form of her costume being in the Batcave and Bruce keeping pictures of her. These references show just how important she was to Bruce, but he never states what happened to her after Paris. He even brought her up regarding Terry McGinnis’ failed romance with the villainous Melanie Walker, but that was it as far as Batman Beyond’s Catwoman info went.
It’s possible that she died, either from age or in her dangerous line of work. Perhaps even more tragic is the possibility that Bruce simply lost contact with her, which would make sense given his distance from the larger Batman Family during the future of Batman Beyond. Former foes such as Bane and Mr. Freeze have their definitive endings given in the series, and even The Joker comes back in different ways. Unfortunately, Selina Kyle’s story wasn’t completed like theirs was, with her absence only adding to the depression and isolation of Bruce Wayne.
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