Batman: Caped Crusader takes a number of creative liberties throughout its first season, and Catwoman’s story undergoes some major changes, switching up the status quo in exciting new ways. DC’s latest animated Batman series was created by Bruce Timm (Batman: The Animated Series) with The Batman’s Matt Reeves as a producer. Batman: Caped Crusader takes place in 1940s Gotham with Hamish Linklater (Midnight Mass) voicing the Caped Crusader, focusing on the detective noir aspects of the character.
Batman: Caped Crusader makes significant changes to the Batman mythos, altering events and characters to better serve the narrative it is trying to tell and fitting into the setting even better. One character that has significant changes to their story is Catwoman, who has a different backstory than what most fans of Batman might be used to. The way Selina Kyle is changed for Batman: Caped Crusader fits with the rest of the series, and highlights what makes the relationship between her and Batman so interesting.
Batman: Caped Crusader takes Batman back to his origins in more ways than one, but it also offers new emotional stories set across Gotham.
Batman: Caped Crusader Changes A Lot About Catwoman’s Story
Batman: Caped Crusader season 1, episode 2, “Kiss of the Catwoman,” introduces Selina Kyle (Christina Ricci) as an heiress who has a knack for stealing valuable items during high society events. Her father is in prison, and she is quickly finding herself needing money. After reading about Batman in the paper, Selina Kyle is inspired by him to put on a mask and officially begin a life as a jewel thief, naming herself Catwoman.
“Kiss of the Catwoman” also briefly acts as Batman’s origin story, featuring flashbacks to Bruce Wayne losing his parents and how his feelings led him to become the Caped Crusader.
One of the biggest changes to Selina Kyle is that she comes from money, and now that she is on the verge of not having any anymore, she decides to officially turn to a life of crime. She is continually inspired by Batman throughout the episode, creating a costume and naming herself Catwoman. Later in the episode, she has a Catmobile after watching Batman drive away in his own vehicle the first time he catches her. Selina Kyle typically has resorted to a life of crime as a necessity, but her backstory is significantly altered for Batman: Caped Crusader.
Why Caped Crusader’s Catwoman Changes Are Good For The Show
Changing Catwoman’s story works well for Batman: Caped Crusader because it adds an interesting parallel between Selina Kyle and Bruce Wayne. Now that both characters come from wealth, seeing the contrast in how they react to the adversity in their lives highlights the differences in their characters. Batman was born from Bruce Wayne’s trauma of losing his parents, while Catwoman became a necessity for Selina Kyle after her father went to prison.
Catwoman’s changes were good for the show, adding a new layer to her relationship with both Batman and Bruce Wayne.
Selina Kyle’s femme fatale role works well for the detective noir setting of Batman: Caped Crusader.Establishing her in the same social class as Bruce Wayne, at least at the beginning, is a compelling change for the show, allowing her to blend in with Gotham’s elite easily. Of course, by the end of the episode, she has been captured by Batman and is revealed to be Catwoman. With everyone knowing her identity, it’s basically impossible for Selina Kyle to return to the life she once had.
Batman: Caped Crusader takes many liberties when it comes to various characters throughout its first season. These changes have allowed the show to feel fresh and exciting, while fitting these characters into a detective noir 1940s version of Gotham. Catwoman’s changes were good for the show, adding a new layer to her relationship with both Batman and Bruce Wayne. She was only in one episode during the first season, but hopefully, she will be featured in a more prominent role in future seasons of Batman: Caped Crusader.
