Character Name: Catwoman

Real Name: Salina Kyle

Team Affiliation: none

First Appearances:

Batman #1 (comic book—-1940 to present)

Catwoman (comic book—-1997 to present)

Batman (TV show-1966 to 1968)

Batman The Animated Series (cartoon-1992 to 1995)

Batman (Live Action Movie-1966)

Superhuman Powers: Professional Thief, acrobatic skills, whip, nine lives

Biography: As a young girl, Salina Kyle was orphaned by her suicidal mother and alcoholic father. She was forced to live in a state home for girls before she escaped and lived on the streets of Gotham City. She used her natural acrobatic skills to become the most accomplished thief in Gotham. She has no criminal record, and steals at her own whims. She occasionally fights on the side of good, but is generally distrusting of every one.

How many lives does this Catwoman have? Catwoman, the earliest female character created by Bob Kane in the Batman series, is a feline who has changed her fur several times over the last few years. Although she is a supervillainness, she is probably one of the most popular female comic characters today, with thousands of websites (fan shrines) devoted to her. Unlike her contemporaries, Batwoman and Batgirl, she has always remained a central figure in each medium she has appeared. Most recently, her portrayal by Michelle Pfeiffer left many critics amazed at her bitter-sweet personality. No doubt that Kane chose a cat to represent this woman because of her on-again/off-again personality. But how has this woman managed to survive newer, more righteous superheroines? Maybe it's because of her beautiful physique, and maybe it's because of the occasional good deeds and collaboration with the super heroes and heroines. Most likely, though, it is because she speaks to the duality that we all face in our personalities. She brings out the cat claws in all of us.

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