The pair disagree on the circumstances when they first met.

The second issue of the arc introduces one of my favorite back and forth discussions between Batman and Catwoman that is called back to multiple times over the course of King’s run. But before each of them continues doing what they feel they must, Catwoman implores Batman that just for tonight they do what they want to and it’s one of the best moments between them in comics. While Catwoman still insists that she had to commit those murders and that she’ll go to jail for it. Batman repeats that he has to fight crime and that what he does, he doesn’t do it because he likes to. The first issue of this arc does an amazing job at highlighting what each character thinks they must do vs what they want to do. The ensuing short chase leads to the two on another rooftop, Selina with a bag of diamonds in hand, that culminates in an intimate scene between the two. The break-in just so happens to be an apartment she owns and is booby-trapped. After taking care of some of Batman’s foes, Catwoman has him reluctantly accompany her to a break-in. When debating what they should spend the night doing the Bat-signal lights up, and the two wind up going to defeat a handful of C-list Bat villains including Clock King, Condiment King, Kite Man, and more. He knows she’ll run but he complies regardless. Catwoman tells Batman that if he gives her this night, just her and him, that she’ll tell him the truth about the murders that he insists she didn’t commit. Throughout this arc, the two have a brilliantly paced back and forth dialogue with page layouts that emphasize the two coming together and then drifting apart with the use of spacing in the panels. But before Batman takes her in Catwoman says she wants tonight. Now back in Gotham after having successfully stolen the Psycho-Pirate from Bane, Batman is supposed to turn Catwoman over to the police, though he’s gotten her death penalty revoked and she’s now set to serve life without parole. It’s just two issues but it’s all about them and their feelings for one another. With that said, this is “Part Two” of my analysis of Tom King’s Batman.įeaturing art by the incredible Mitch Gerads “Rooftops” puts the spotlight on Batman and Catwoman’s relationship. Because of the nature of King’s run breaking different arcs down into specific pieces focusing on each of them gives everything room to breathe. While the series will no longer be the 100-issue narrative we originally thought it would be, it’s still a testament to long-form storytelling and the power of crafting a gigantic overarching narrative. Recently I wrote an article that is essentially “ Part One” in what will be a series of pieces breaking down Tom King’s Batman run from start to finish.

Note: This article will contain spoilers for issues fourteen through twenty of Tom King’s Batman

Batman by Tom King