Catwoman 10 Things About Selina Kyle That Are Unique To Batman Returns

Catwoman: 10 Things About Selina Kyle That Are Unique To Batman Returns

Batman Returns introduced a unique and celebrated take of Selina Kyle/Catwoman which featured quite a few unique differences from the comic character.

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Tim Burton returned to Gotham City in 1992 for Batman Returns, the sequel to 1989’s hit movie that starred Michael Keaton as the Dark Knight alongside a new cast of villains. Christopher Walken appeared as corrupt businessman Maxwell Schreck alongside Danny Devito’s Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin, though they weren’t alone.

Michelle Pfieffer appeared as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Batman’s long-time love interest who was also a deadly criminal. Batman Returns take on Selina Kyle was definitely inspired by the comic character but introduced quite a few things that are unique to the movie version of the character, which we’ll be taking a closer look at today.

10 Selina Kyle Was An Executive Assistant Instead Of A Cat Burglar

When fans were first introduced to Michelle Pfieffer’s Selina Kyle in Batman Returns, she is nervously serving coffee to a boardroom as a personal assistant to her boss, who is holding an important meeting. In the comics, Kyle has had a couple of jobs both before and after her time as Catwoman, though never as a personal assistant unless she was working undercover on a heist.

Selina was a sex worker in Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One (though that has largely been retconned) and she briefly worked with an animal activists organization. But she mainly relied on her life of crime and taste for expensive things, which was quite a bit different from her role in Batman Returns.

9 Batman Returns Gave Selina Kyle A Worried And Disapproving Mother

Selina Kyle’s homelife in Batman Returns was designed to imply that she was incredibly lonely, which she felt was sad and pathetic enough to destroy after she became Catwoman. Her answering machine was filled with calls from canceled dates as well as her worrying mother. This all served as a large departure from the comic version of the character.

Selina Kyle in the comics is an orphan who lived on the streets after her mother and father died from suicide and alcoholism, respectively. She was eventually sent to an abusive orphanage, which led to her seeking out an alternative lifestyle as a cat burglar. It also allowed time for years of training in martial arts, lockpicking, and other skills that Batman Returns version didn’t have in her life.

8 Selina Kyle’s Personality Is Originally Meek And Timid In Batman Returns

Michelle Pfeiffer’s performance as Catwoman is so memorable due to the huge change in the character that occurs over the course of the movie, as she is first seen as a meek and timid woman who is afraid to speak out. This quickly turns her into a victim of both the Red Triangle Gang and her boss, Max Schreck.

In the comics, Selina Kyle is a tough-as-nails street kid who plays and manipulates others to steal from them. After Pfieffer embraces her new life as Catwoman in Batman Returns, her personality falls more in line with the comic version.

7 Batman Returns Gave The Character’s Origin A Resurrection Twist

In the comics, Selina Kyle is inspired to create her Catwoman identity after she sees a disguised Bruce Wayne in action, soon followed by his debut as the Batman in the Year One storyline. However, Batman Returns introduced a new supernatural element to the character that was unique to the movie, though 2004’s failed reboot of the character used a similar angle.

Following her death at the hands of her corrupt boss who pushed her out of a window, she was seemingly brought back to life by a group of stray cats who began to nibble on her body. It’s not really explained how or why this happens, and it’s possible she didn’t actually die as her fall was slowed by a series of awnings, but it’s still a unique part of her cinematic character.

6 Selina Kyle Is Raven-Haired In The Comics But Blonde In Batman Returns

It’s a fairly superficial character difference, but one that has really only been seen in Michelle Pfeiffer’s portrayal of Selina Kyle in Batman Returns when compared to the other versions seen in live-action over the years. In the comics, Selina Kyle is usually brunette or raven-haired, whereas in Batman Returns Pfeiffer kept her natural blonde hair color.

This worked well and looked very striking when her costume received some battle damage in the climax of the movie. The character has worn blonde wigs many times in the comics both as Selina Kyle and undercover, though every other cinematic version of the character has had dark hair.

5 Catwoman’s Homemade Leather Costume Was Unique To The Movie

Another unique part of Batman Returns’ take on Catwoman is the creation and look of her costume, which is widely regarded as one of the character’s best cinematic suits. Something like this had never been seen before in the comics.

Selina Kyle made her costume shortly after she was brought back to life by the alley cats, and she used items from her closet to put it together, resulting in a makeshift leather suit stitched together in patchwork pieces. This costume eventually made its debut in the comics in an alternate timeline, though it remained unique to the movie for years.

4 Selina Kyle’s Motivation To Commit Crimes In Batman Returns Is Unique

Selina Kyle in the comics became a cat burglar to give herself a better life and become independent. After she had spent some time in the costume she even went through an environmental activist phase that focused her crimes on an effort to rescue and protect animals.

Selina Kyle’s motivations to become Catwoman in Batman Returns are largely based on revenge against Maxwell Schreck, as well as the need to prove to herself and others that she isn’t the same Selina Kyle who was victimized and killed by her boss.

3 Catwoman’s Feud With Maxwell Schreck Exists Only In Batman Returns

Christopher Walken starred as Maxwell Schreck in Batman Returns, whose secret plans to drain the power from Gotham City with his fake power plant were discovered by Selina Kyle, which led to her death at his hands.

When she returned as Catwoman, she attempted to get revenge on her boss by taking out his department stores and ruining his plans, which led to a final and fatal confrontation in the sewers of Gotham. Catwoman’s feud with Schreck was unique to Batman Returns because the character was created for the movie and never appeared in the comics.

2 Catwoman’s Partnership With Penguin Was Unique To The Movie

Batman Returns increased the threats Batman had to face by introducing two new super-villains, which brought Catwoman and The Penguin together on the big screen in a partnership that was never really seen before in the comics. When Catwoman and The Penguin did appear together in early plans to take on Batman, it was alongside large gatherings of villains working together.

This was also seen in 1966’s Batman: The Movie when all of the rogues came together in a bid for world domination. However, this duo was unique, though the characters ran into each other more often in the comics after the movie was released.

1 Selina Kyle And Bruce Wayne Learned About Each Other’s Alter Egos At The Same Time

Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle had a long and interesting courtship in the comics that saw them date in both their civilian identities as well as their costumed alter egos. This ultimately led to a passionate romance. Batman had known Catwoman’s identity for years since he was the world’s greatest detective, though she didn’t find out until he finally revealed his secret to her.

In Batman Returns, their romance started in a similar way as they fell for each other in costume and out, but they also discovered each other’s secret identity at the same time shortly after meeting, which was a huge departure from the comics.

Link Source : https://www.cbr.com/catwoman-batman-returns-selina-kyle-details/

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