Review of Catwoman ’93 series

***Contains Spoilers***

The 1993 Catwoman series starts just after the iconic Knightfall event, though it surprisingly isn’t tied directly to it. Instead, it follows Selina Kyle carving out her place in Gotham as an anti-hero, occasionally dipping into the larger Batman mythos. Across its 94 issues, we see heists, prison escapes, and a few standout moments—but the series ultimately feels uneven, with high potential that isn’t always realized.

What I liked most was how the series built Selina as a character. She’s complex and morally gray, and her internal code shines through the stories, even in the less engaging ones. When the series combined her anti-heroism with both justice and clever heists, it reminded me of the show Leverage—a mix of thrill and satisfaction as the underdog wins. A standout arc for me was Catwoman: Year Two, a three-issue saga that feels vital for fans of her complicated relationship with Batman. And while most of the supporting cast is forgettable, Selina’s occasional team-ups with the Bat-family or Harley Quinn were a breath of fresh air, giving her world some much-needed energy. Her time in prison, revealing her identity and sparking tension with Commissioner Gordon, was another rare gem in an otherwise repetitive series.

Unfortunately, those highlights don’t save the series from its flaws. The early issues are lackluster and don’t do much to grab attention. While the heist-of-the-week structure can be fun, the lack of meaningful depth or a strong supporting ensemble hurt the long-term engagement. It feels like Selina’s world revolves only around her, and the absence of compelling side characters makes the stories feel isolated. The tie-ins to major Batman events like Knightquest and Officer Down are solid, but the non-crossover material tends to fade into mediocrity. And then there’s the ending, where the Scarecrow’s fear toxin gives her a split personality—a twist I wasn’t a fan of, even though it connects back to earlier plotlines. Her apparent death and mysterious note to Batman for a meeting in Brazil feel like a half-hearted conclusion rather than a meaningful finale.

In the end, this series had potential but didn’t deliver consistently. While I appreciate how it expanded Selina’s character, the lack of engaging side stories, repetitive plots, and a disappointing conclusion drag it down. I wouldn’t reread it, but I’d recommend Catwoman: Year Two to fans of her dynamic with Batman. 2 Stars.

Feature Image Catwoman #54 cover art by Jim Balent