Summary
WARNING: Potential Spoilers forBatman: Gotham by Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age#1!
The sequel to DC’sGotham by Gaslight, anElseworldsalternate universe reimagining fan-favorite characters in the 19th century, introduces Selina Kyle’s newCatwomansuit, serving as both an ingenious and morbid tribute toBatman’stragic origin story. This costume change begs the question: How would the modern day Dark Knight respond to this stark reminder of the most harrowing night of his life?
In a modern-day setting, Catwoman’s Gotham By Gaslight costume could be perceived as a form of psychological warfare against Batman.
Andy Diggle, Leandro Fernández, and Dave Stewart’sBatman: Gotham by Gaslight—The Kryptonian Age#1is an exhilarating journey from start to finish, weaving together Superman’s arrival on Earth, Batman and Talia al Ghul’s enduring rivalry, and a surprising twist involving Catwoman’s new costume, which draws inspiration from an unexpected source:The Mark of Zorro, famously linked to the murder of Martha and Thomas Wayne.
While the artist has not explicitly confirmed whether Selina’s new attire is meant to pay homage to the iconic film, the striking resemblance between her suit and Zorro’s outfit is undeniable, making this costume one of her most memorable in recent memory.
Gotham By Gaslight – The Kyptonian Age:Catwoman’s New Costume Is a Tribute to theMark of Zorro
Selina’s Zorro-inspired catsuit is a sleek ensemble, reminiscent of the attire featured in the 1940 film. Much like Zorro, Selina dons an all-black blouse and matching pants, paired with knee-high boots.The most striking similarity lies in the black cloth mask, secured at the back and covering the top half of her headfrom the bridge of her nose to the crown, with subtle cat ears adorning it. Additionally, her black gloves, resembling those of Zorro’s, are adorned with razor-sharp cat claws, marking the costume as unmistakably Catwoman while payinghomage to the legendary Zorro.
In numerous renditions of Batman’s origin, including the original comics and various adaptations,young Bruce Wayne and his parents attend a screening of the filmThe Mark of Zorroon the night of their tragic encounter with a mugger.This link holds immense significance because it’s during their walk home from the theater that Thomas and Martha Wayne are murdered,catalyzing Bruce’s transformation into Batman. Hence, this pivotal connection symbolizes the profound loss that propels Bruce on his path of vengeance and justice and is a reminder of one of his greatest heartaches.
Selina Kyle’s Catwoman Costume Is a Morbid Reminder of the Worst Night In Bruce Wayne’s Life
Considering thatThe Mark of Zorropremiered in 1940 andGotham by Gaslightis set in the 1800s, Selina couldn’t have gotten her catsuit inspiration from the movie. However, Leandro Fernández, the comic’s artist, is likely aware ofThe Mark of Zorroand its connection to Batman. Therefore, it’s probable that Selina’s costume is inspired by the movie, even if this isn’t from the character’s perspective. That being said, it’s intriguing to ponder how a modern-dayBatmanwould react toCatwomanin this Zorro-like costume and if he would see it as psychological warfare.
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #1is available now from DC Comics!
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
