I first met this version of Selina Kyle in a DC Nation promo wedged into the middle of Batman Vol. 4 #10. It was a spotlight page where writers Scott Snyder and Che Grayson promised us an Absolute Catwoman who possessed all the money, all the high-tech gear, and all the global influence, essentially, she had everything the main-universe Bruce Wayne usually has. The only thing she didn’t have, they claimed, was actual freedom.
It sounded like standard marketing fluff to sell a new six-issue miniseries.
Then I actually read Absolute Catwoman #1, and I realized they weren’t kidding. If Absolute Batman is a story about a working-class bruiser punching a broken system until his knuckles bleed, Absolute Catwoman is a sleek, high-octane heist movie about a woman who successfully gamed that system, only to find out you can never really cash out.
I’m treating this review like a Heist Report. Because for once, the thief is the one getting robbed.
The Score: What Selina Wants
Let’s get the status quo out of the way. In the Absolute Universe, Selina Kyle is a Cuban immigrant who survived a brutal foster system in Gotham to become the apex predator of the criminal underworld. She didn’t just steal diamonds for the thrill of the chase; she built a global enterprise.
By the start of Absolute Catwoman #1, she is living in a massive London penthouse, she just finished building a private villa in Italy, and she is fully prepared to retire at the ripe old age of 25. The emotional thrill of thievery? She doesn’t care. The only thing she actually values is a worthless old postcard from her homeland and the promise of walking away clean.
Grayson and Snyder do a fantastic job establishing that this Selina is not defined by her relationship with Batman. She is the Batman of this book. She is the one with the bottomless bank account and the secret lairs.
The Job Goes Sideways
Of course, you can’t have a comic book about a peaceful retirement. The issue opens with a brilliant piece of visual misdirection: an intruder dressed in a classic, Darwyn Cooke-inspired Catwoman suit is sneaking through a high-end apartment. For a second, you think it’s Selina. Then, the real Absolute Catwoman drops from the ceiling and casually tranquilizes the imposter.
It turns out Selina’s penthouse is the target. A whole crew of women in cat-themed tactical gear, impersonating Selina’s old Gotham crew, the Calicos, ambush her home. They aren’t there for a friendly reunion. They open fire with semiautomatic weapons, and despite Selina unleashing her impressive arsenal to fight them off, the intruders detonate a massive explosive that blows her luxurious London life to ash.
Retirement canceled.
The Crew and The Enemy
Every heist movie needs an emotional anchor, and in this book, it’s Holly Robinson. A flashback establishes their deep history as kids in Gotham, running from the GCPD and surviving together.
Back in the present, just hours before the penthouse explosion, Holly shows up unannounced with a birthday cake, begging Selina to pull one last job. Selina shuts her down hard. But after the explosion, Selina climbs out of the rubble just in time to see Holly strapped to the back of a motorcycle, being kidnapped by a masked driver.
Batman has Robins to worry about; Selina has Calicos and killers coming for her pension plan.
The Gear (For the Tech-Brains)
I usually spend a lot of time talking about the logistics of the Batmobile in my mainline reviews, so let’s talk about the thief-tech here, because Bengal’s artwork makes it sing.
Selina’s suit isn’t just leather and zippers; it’s high-end tactical armor featuring a neuro-controlled carbon-steel tail that acts as a whip, a grappling hook, and a blunt-force weapon all at once.
But the real star of the issue is the “Wildcat.” When Selina sees Holly being kidnapped, she summons her own ride, a high-tech motorcycle that physically transforms into a pouncing, mechanical beast to navigate the highway chase. It is absurd, it is heavily anime-influenced, and it is exactly the kind of big, expensive toy this version of Selina should have.
Absolute Catwoman #1 Look: Bengal’s Kinetic Canvas
I can’t write this Heist Report without stopping to give Bengal his flowers. Paired with Giovanna Niro on colors, this is easily one of the best-looking books on the shelf right now.
A lot of modern superhero comics suffer from what I call action figure syndrome, the characters look incredibly detailed standing still, but the moment a fight breaks out, the poses feel stiff and posed. Bengal completely avoids that. He brings a heavy manga and anime influence to the page, making every single panel feel relentlessly fast.
Whether it is the neon-lit glow of the Wildcat motorcycle tearing down the highway or the brutal, close-quarters martial arts exchange with Cassandra Cain, you actually feel the speed. The panel layouts prioritize motion, momentum, and storytelling rather than just serving up static pin-up shots of Selina. It looks expensive, dangerous, and perfectly tuned to Grayson’s spy-thriller script.
Does It Beat Absolute Batman #1?
This is the big question. Absolute Batman #1 hit the industry like a sledgehammer. It was aggressive and heavy.
Absolute Catwoman #1 is entirely different. It trades brute force for style, strategy, and spy-thriller pacing. Honestly? I think this might be the better doorway into the Absolute Universe for a lot of readers. If you prefer brains, gadgets, and global mystery over Bane-style street brawls, Che Grayson and Bengal have built a book that feels incredibly fresh. The action flows beautifully, and Selina’s motivations are crystal clear from page one.
The Last-Page Reveal
During the highway chase, Selina engages the masked kidnapper in close-quarters combat on the backs of the moving motorcycles. Selina is arguably the best fighter in her circle, but the driver effortlessly reads her style, blocking strikes and delivering devastating counters before escaping into traffic with Holly.
On the final page, the silent driver is unmasked. It’s Cassandra Cain.
Bringing Cassandra into the Absolute Universe as a highly trained antagonist against Catwoman is a massive swing, and it completely changes the trajectory of the series.
Collector Corner & Verdict
If you are staring at the wall of new releases at your LCS, trying to decide if this is worth your pull-list budget, here is the breakdown.
The Read: 9/10. It is fast, gorgeous, and establishes a compelling new mythology without drowning you in exposition.
The Investment: 8.5/10. It’s a first issue, a full origin, and the first Absolute Universe appearance of Cassandra Cain.
Slab or Read?
Read Absolute Catwoman #1 first. Don’t go sending it off to CGC in a panic just yet. Bag and board a clean copy of Cover A, log it in your CLZ app so you don’t accidentally buy it again next month, and let’s see how the Cassandra Cain factor plays out across the next five issues before we declare it a holy grail.
I am a 50-something guy who buys comics to read good stories, not to stare at cheesecake covers. If you are worried this is just an excuse to draw Selina in tight leather, don’t be. This is a story about power, trauma, and a woman who refuses to be a victim. Buy it for the heist, stay for the Wildcat motorcycle.
Absolute Universe Tracker
Just keeping tabs on the new reality.
- New Faces: Absolute Selina (Rich, Cuban immigrant, retired at 25), Absolute Holly Robinson, Absolute Cassandra Cain (Elite antagonist).
- Batman Connection: None yet. Selina is operating completely independently in Europe.
