Catwoman #14 (September 1994)

The nature of big event stories in Big Two comics is that their ongoing titles will often have stories that tie-in in some form. These tie-in tales are meant to show that in a shared universe, big events like this can affect things going on in individual books. I thought I'd take a look at a tie-in tale focused on a character that we haven't seen much of in this blog before now: Selina Kyle, the Catwoman.

First appearing in Batman #1 (Spring 1940) and created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, Catwoman has become one of the most enduring members of Batman's supporting cast. Kane drew inspiration from his love of movies, in particular actresses like Jean Harlow and Hedy Lamarr. The character was also intended to draw girls into reading the comic while giving Batman a friendlier foe that could also be a potential love interest. 

The character would generally be portrayed as a skilled thief who, over the years, would also become more of an anti-heroic figure, being willing to work with the Bat-Family against other threats. Heck, one version of her would fully reform and become that world's Batman's wife, even having a child with him: Helena.

Catwoman was one of the more popular members of Batman's Rogues Gallery, often appearing with Batman in various adaptations in other media. Naturally, her popularity would also lead to her getting her own spin-off book. Her first spin-off title was actually a 4-issue mini-series from 1989. In 1992, she'd star in a one-shot: Defiant. From there, she'd get her first ongoing series from 1993-2001, lasting 94 issues and 4 Annuals. This ongoing series would also get a #0 and #1,000,000 issue. The comic we're looking at here is from that first ongoing series, as Selina finds the madness of Zero Hour dropped on her metaphorical lap. How does she handle it? Let's find out in Catwoman #14!

The cover is a Jim Balent piece. It's pretty neat, even though it's a basic pin-up cover. Would make a nice poster, though. The caveman looks menacing as heck, though. So does the sabertooth cat. I think that's amusing for some odd reason. 

The story begins with our woman Selina Kyle doing what she does best: stealing things.

And what is she after? Jewels? Money? The world's biggest bottle of milk? Nope.

"Nearly broke my spine trying to get this bed. Totally worth it."

She stole...a bed!

Well, she stole the bed because of its design and name: the Bast Bed. It was made in late-19th century London as part of the antiquities craze at the time. And it was comfy, too! Also keeps with the whole "cat"-gimmick. Most Gotham rogues have a gimmick.

While Selina was enjoying a nice long cat nap, someone is raging that they want her dead. Now, Selina's occupation has gotten her a fair share of enemies, and in this case, the enemy she has is an agent of the Kingsley Fidelity Insurance. She's stolen some stuff they insured, including the Bast Bed. As such, he's hired a Mr. Ashton to catch her.

"Okay, I get the other stuff, but why did she steal your underwear?"

The agent demands Ashton bring Catwoman in. Meanwhile, outside, a pterodactyl flies by. Eh, it's the DC Universe. The same universe has the Flash regularly fighting an angry hyper-evolved gorilla. Selina wakes up, and notices that she has a guest.

"Morning, human. Feed me."

Selina finds that her bedroom's been turned into a jungle, and there's a Tarzan-wannabe in her room. Our woman finds herself liking this. "Tarzan" introduces himself as Ash. The sabertooth cat leaps at the two, only for another twist.

"Pretty kitty!"

The cat is the Zabu to Ash's Ka-Zar. His name is Tulik and he is a good sabertooth kitty. Selina realizes something funny is going on (the chronal chaos of Zero Hour is hitting Gotham), so she decides to do something she normally never does: put on the Catwoman costume in her home. She gets a call about any escaped beasts. She says there isn't any in her place, but Tulik decides "I'm going to check out the town. Maybe get some kibble."

Selina and Ash pursue Tulik out of the apartment building, only to try and find Gotham is becoming a prehistoric jungle. The two fund Tulik in the back of an animal control van...that turns into a circus wagon.

Again, the chronal chaos of Zero Hour. The two pursue the wagon to an animal control center...which turns into a hunting lodge.

The two stay in hot pursuit, even though their car has now become a pair of horses. The two hear the sound of a hunting rifle go off. The stereotypical Great White Hunter is after Tulik's pelt. Selina and Ash split up to look for Tulik.

Selina manages to find the hunter, who is about to fill the sabertooth cat full of lead. She uses her whip to move the hunter's gun as he's about to fire, which causes some havoc in a room full of mirrors. She starts feeling strange, and she notices that her reflections in the cracked mirrors are showing her in various costumes.

"Okay, some of these look actually nice."

I recognize the DCAU, 1940s/1950s Golden Age, and 1970s Earth-One costumes, but the fourth one escapes me. I don't know if it's supposed to be an original suit or what. Selina is naturally confused by these reflections. Are they from her past? Her future? Other versions of her? This whole thing has just caught her something that she has rarely been before: off-guard. 

The hunter (thinking she is a witch), tries to blast at our lady with a revolver, but Ash saves her by tackling him aside. She notices a reflection of the caveman, being Mr. Ashton, the bounty hunter who was hired to capture her earlier. He was transformed into a caveman by the chronal chaos. But it doesn't matter.

Tulik the Matchmaker does it again!

As the white-out effect of Zero Hour hits, Selina and Ash share a kiss, Selina overjoyed that however this goes out, she got to share this with him. And Tulik, of course. Selina could always appreciate the company of a cat...  

I enjoyed this issue. It was really neat seeing the chronal chaos from the street-level point of view. I do think there was some untapped potential here, though. I do think that Selina's romance with the caveman was a bit rushed, though. Maybe Selina and Ashton could have crossed path before he became a caveman, for example. Show there was some attraction between them from the start. But it was fun seeing Selina meet an actual saber-toothed cat. The art is also rather nice. It does its job.

If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2017 trade paperback Batman: Zero Hour. It's also been collected in the 2025 trade paperback DC Finest: Catwoman - Vengeance and Vindication. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! See you next time!