COMICS PORTAL: The Bat and The Cat Get Hitched!

Let’s talk about Batman and Catwoman getting married!

FINALLY!

Was it really four years ago that Batman #50 was coming out? There was a big run up until that issue that focused on Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle’s upcoming nuptials, and fans seemed to be warming up to the idea.

Then, at the last minute, both Bruce and Selina turned away from each other and jumped off into the night in different directions. The “Batrimony” was off.

I mean, fans like me had bought and read all the issues building up to that point. It seemed inevitable. Then it wasn’t. Yikes!

Both the Batman and Catwoman comics felt like they didn’t quite know what to do after that happened. The Bat seemingly meandered until James Tynion IV took over, and I’m still not sure the Cat has ever found her footing in her own title.

Tom King left Batman behind until he was given this mini-series, and then this book has literally been jumping around in Bruce’s and Selina’s history, both in the past and in the future even in the same issue and often on the same page.

Now, the twelfth and final issue has been released and, guess what? Bruce and Selina tie the knot in the very last pages! (I think that’s not that much of a spoiler at this point, is it?)

The thing is that this mini-series has always been part of the Black Label imprint. What happens in Black Label stays in Black Label, so to speak. It’s very likely we will never speak of this happening ever again in DC Comics!

I mean, it was fun to see Clark and Lois zoom into Vegas to support and be witnesses for Bruce and Selina. But I’m unsatisfied. What would happen next? Do things go as they did in Earth-2, with Bruce finally kicking the bucket? Apparently, they sire Huntress, much like they did in that alternate universe, if we buy into this mini-series.

However, we will never know because the book has ended, and so has that whole experience.

I have to say, it was, on a few levels, satisfying to see the wedding we were promised years ago take place. And maybe that was all DC was willing to give us at this point. I do remember that they were going to switch out Bruce for a Batman of color in the Generations event, so maybe this could have been the Dark Knight’s last bit of happiness (if you consider marriage fulfilling that promise).

We’ll never know, though, will we?

I WANTED THEM TO GET MARRIED

I was at a Batman discussion panel at a local sci-fi convention when I voiced what was obviously an unpopular opinion at the time (issue #50 had just been released). I actually wanted Bruce and Selina to get married. Apparently, I was one of the few (if not the only one) there who was looking forward to that.

After all, I’ve been reading Batman stories for decades now. I’ve pretty much seen Bruce in just about every situation… from wearing a rainbow costume to travelling through the centuries… except that one! And I thought it would be something new to see him in a different life instead of always brooding in the Batcave with Alfred bringing him tea and meals he never ingested. (I still want Alfred to come back!)

I mean, I get why they didn’t go through with it. That would have upset the applecart, as it were. Batman wouldn’t be free to prowl the street of Gotham late at night. Instead, he would have… gasp… responsibilities! (Some fans are still recoiling from hearing that word!)

To me, though, when Clark and Lois married, lo, those many years ago, it turned out to be a good thing! There have been stories that showed that even Superman needs a helping hand now and again. I often refer to the Kurt Busiek tale in which Superman was so busy saving the world that he was certain he’d lost his job at the Daily Planet. Instead, Lois ghosted a story for him to save Clark’s day. That still sticks in my mind even though it was told years ago.

Could Batman actually use a helper besides his ever-increasing Bat-family? I think so! After all this time of reading stories featuring the Dark Knight, it would be great to see Bruce go “where no BAT-man has gone before.”

It could have been great fun for a change!

But did we need 12 whole issues just to get to this place? A single-issue special could have done the job much more neatly!

NOW WHAT?

Batman is about to embark on a whole “new” adventure with a “new” writer—Chip Zdarsky. Granted, Chip has been setting up Batman in a different mini-series (DC seems to prefer that mode of storytelling more these days), so he’s ready to dive into the Dark Knight with both feet (much like he has with Daredevil in the “marvelous” competition).

But marriage and Selina seem off the table for the foreseeable future. If they do bump into each other, it’ll only be to point out their irreconcilable differences and then get back to their own businesses. Been there, read that!

I don’t mean to sound bitter at all, but it’s enough to get a Bat-fan wondering why he continues to buy all the various Bat-books DC trots out each and every week.

Still, hope springs eternal, and maybe Mr. Zdarsky will come up with new stories and new situations we can enjoy that we actually have NOT seen previously. I’d like that! Good luck in the Bat-verse, Chip!

What do you think? Did you read Batman/Catwoman until the very last panel? Did the wedding satisfy your interest? Are you continuing to buy the Bat-books from DC? What else would you like to see happen to Bruce? Whatever your opinion, be sure to share your thoughts below!

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