Did you know that Batman and Catwoman married each other? Me neither, but that is what happens in a story in The Brave And The Bold issue 197. Surprisingly, it was available at a very affordable price. In case you are cheap bastard, you can just read the synopsis below, although you should really get your own copy of The Brave and the Bold 197, because it’s that good.
Alright, so what happened for things to turn out the way so Bruce and Selena tie the knot, you ask? Well Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, is reflecting on his life at the beginning of the story. He goes to his old girlfriend’s wedding, Linda Page. He realizes he’s all alone due to his secret life as Batman. Batwoman makes an appearance wearing a ridiculous yellow costume. She looks like a banana wearing a red cape. Batman wears black so he can’t be seen, and Batwoman wears yellow so she can be a bullet-magnet. I don’t get it, I thought hanging around for target practice was Robin’s job.
Anyway, Scarecrow gases Batman and now he freaks out that he is alone. He goes home and smacks a vase off the table when he can’t find Alfred, his butler. The drawing is so funny, he looks like a bratty child who just got his Nintendo taken away from him. He then visits Selina Kyle, also known as Catwoman, who is in prison. He tells her he can get her on parole if she puts her old costume back on and helps him go after the Scarecrow. When Batman gets shot with a lit arrow in the back, Catwoman tries to patch him up later, which meant Batman had to take off his shirt but magically was able to do so without removing his cowl. Selina gasps at his scarred back. This scene was mentioned as the inspiration of an Alex Ross painting in a book of his art, which is why I chose to read this story.
The Brave and the Bold issue 197, a notable comic book published in 1983, holds a unique significance within the comic book universe. This particular issue introduces an alternate reality, known as Earth-2, where the characters Batman and Catwoman tie the knot and begin a family. Diverging from the traditional narrative, this storyline allowed for the exploration of complex relationships and the humanization of iconic characters. Furthermore, it laid the groundwork for future comic book story arcs and has since become a cherished piece among comic book aficionados.
If you like seeing women getting punched in the face, then you’re going to love page 17 as Selina reflects getting beaten by her ex husband. Batman and Catwoman decide they can help each other, they embrace a kiss, then the story ends saying they were married 20 years before Selina died. The sudden story stop was weird. This is a really great issue and you should try to get it if you can.