The Huntress + Catwoman

As in many DC timelines, the Catwoman of Earth-Two (before the Crisis on Infinite Earths) was not only one of Batman's oldest foes, but also had a longstanding flirtation with the Dark Knight. On Earth-Two, Catwoman eventually married Batman and had a daughter, who became the heroic Huntress after Catwoman's tragic death in the late '70s. The Huntress became a member of the Justice Society of America and later earned her own popular backup feature in Wonder Woman. She was slated for her own miniseries when the Crisis led to her untimely demise.

After Crisis on Infinite Earths, Earth-Two no longer existed, but the Huntress proved popular enough to survive. A post-Crisis Huntress — Helena Bertinelli, not related to Batman or Catwoman — was introduced in 1989. This post-Crisis Huntress was recreated with no ties to Batman (in fact, they were nearly enemies).

Infinite Crisis and 52 restored DC's multiverse, and on the new Earth-2, a Huntress that was very similar to the original version was reintroduced. That Earth-2 was scrapped again with the "New 52" reboot of 2011. The Huntress of the current Earth-2 is once again Helena Wayne, the daughter of Batman and Catwoman.

DC Comics also published a villainous character called "the Huntress," who was an enemy of Wildcat. She was Paula Brooks and debuted in Sensation Comics #68 (Aug. 1947). (The two even battled about it in All-Star Comics #72.) After the Crisis, that character's name was changed to the Tigress.

The original/Earth-Two Catwoman made her last Golden Age appearance in 1954. In DC continuity, she retired and married Batman in 1957 and 1958.

The Earth-One Catwoman first appeared in Lois Lane #70–71 (1966–67), after the character was revived by the Batman television show. She was also both an antagonist and a love interest for Earth-One Batman, but their relationship did not follow the same path.

All That's Golden Age Glitters

Selina Kyle was born in the early 1920s (she was 30 years old in 1950). (Brave & Bold #197, Batman #62) Not much is known about her life before she became a notorious thief. In the late 1930s, she married a wealthy man who was physically and emotionally abusive to her. Selina sued for divorce, but her ex-husband retaliated by trying to destroy her reputation and ruin her financially. To strike back, she burglarized his estate, stealing jewels he had ostensibly bought for her. This gave her a taste for both theft and jewels, and she took up a full-time criminal career as the notorious jewel thief called the Cat. (Brave & Bold #197) Two years later, she was renowned in her trade. She wore no costume, but was disguised as an old woman when she first encountered Batman and Robin. The Caped Crusaders prevented her from stealing an emerald necklace, but Batman was taken by the comely cat burglar, and allowed her to escape. (Batman #1)

She encountered the the Dynamic Duo regularly after that. At their next meeting, they called her the "Cat-Woman," and she had added a hooded cape. Batman allowed her to escape again, in exchange for information on the Joker's whereabouts. The Cat-Woman later traded the Pharaoh Gems to the Joker to persuade him to spare Robin's life, and escaped capture by leaping from the Batplane. (Batman #2) In the next encounter, the Cat-Woman began sporting a black cat's-head mask, and Batman was transparently smitten with her. (Batman #3)

The Catwoman was recruited by the villainous Ian Karkull to be a part of a group of super-villains to slay the future Presidents of America. Catwoman was assigned to kill an actor named Ronald Reagan (then filming the movie Kings Row for Warner Bros. in Hollywood), but had a change of heart and was wounded saving Batman and Robin from another one of Karkull's henchmen. (All-Star Squadron Annual #3)

One of Catwoman's primary tactics was disguise. Over the years she created a long list of personas to vex Batman and Robin. She startled Batman with a kiss while masquerading as society figure Marguerite Tone, then made a break for freedom (wearing a new darker costume of black-and-purple). (Batman #10)

The Catwoman often made the pretense of going straight. Using the the alias of beautician Elva Barr, she entered a beauty contest of which one of the judges was Bruce Wayne (who recognized her immediately). He played along with the ruse hoping to learn that she'd actually reformed. Meanwhile, another woman fancied Bruce Wayne's attention. Miss Linda Page was saddened by news in the society column that Bruce had actually gotten engaged to Elva. He met with Linda and explained that the affair with Elva was an act, a favor to the Batman. The love triangle collapsed when Batman learned that Catwoman had actually been impersonating Linda during that last meeting. Infuriated and heartbroken, she returned to her life of crime, only to be arrested by Batman — for the first time. (Batman #15)

Even Bruce Wayne's butler, Alfred Beagle, fell prey to the Catwoman's charms, while she was disguised as a pretty blond maid named Belinda. After learning the truth, Alfred in turn disguised himself as Batman to help capture the Catwoman. To assuage his wounded pride, Alfred gave her a spanking before the real Batman and Robin arrived to turn her over to police. (Batman #22)

In 1942, she joined other Bat-foes at a radio broadcast starring Batman and Robin. (World's Finest #6)

Catwoman embarked on a cross-country crime spree, taunting Batman by sending letters to the newspapers announcing the location of each of her crimes in advance. While pursuing the villainess aboard a steamer bound for Nashville, Tennessee, Batman masqueraded as a middle-age man, and Robin as his young daughter, "Lulu Belle." (Batman Sunday strip, April-June 1946)

In 1946, Catwoman began wearing a more sleek purple-and-green costume. Batman and Robin matched wits her as she performed various death-defying stunts that were intended to convince her henchmen and underworld allies that she truly had nine lives. She ultimately plummeted over a cliff while trying to escape from Batman and Robin, leaving the Dynamic Duo unsure whether or not she was still alive. (Batman #35)

Cornered after the failure of her latest scheme, the Catwoman tried unsuccessfully to persuade Batman to join her so that they could become the "king and queen of crime!" (Batman #39) The Catwoman escaped from prison and launched a new series of robberies. This time she eluded Batman in her new cat-like "Kitty Car." (Detective #122)

Catwoman was offended when she was left out of a new book by author Neil Weston entitled The Lady Rogues. She broke out of prison to begin a new crime spree, but when she was back in prison she was visited by Weston, who informs her — to her chagrin — that she was omitted from his book only because he was writing another book specifically about her. (Batman #45)

Her next scheme involved masquerading as "Madame Moderne," publisher of a new fashion magazine called Damsel. (Batman #47)

When Catwoman was struck on the head by a falling brick, she revealed to Batman for the first time that her real name was Selina Kyle, and she pretended to be amnesiac about why she was Catwoman. After listening to her story, Batman concluded that Selina had been suffering amnesia since a plane crash ten years earlier. Selina subsequently "regained" enough of her memory to help Batman and Robin apprehend her former accomplice, Mister X, after which she announced her intention to hang up her costume for good. (Batman #62) NOTES: This was the first time Catwoman's real name was ever revealed. This story suggests that Selina's memory loss story was genuine, but she later confessed (in Brave and the Bold #197, set in 1955) that the whole thing was a fabrication, a desperate attempt to end her criminal career and make a fresh start.

Just a short time after submitting to the law, Selina's sentence was apparently commuted. She retired from crime and opened her own pet store in downtown Gotham, but she was sought out by gangster "Whale" Morton. Selina resumed her role as Catwoman long enough to help engineer Morton's capture and arrest. (Batman #65)

While she had gone straight, her own brother, Karl Kyle, turned to crime as the King of Cats. The Catwoman reluctantly got into costume to help Batman and Robin bring Karl to justice. (Batman #69) NOTES: The King of the Cats, did not exist on Earth-One, but after Infinite Crisis, he made a brief cameo in Bulleteer #3 (Jan. 2006). There was an Earth-One Batman villain called Catman (Thomas Blake), from Detective Comics #311 (Jan. 1963).

Her reformation lasted a few years, but when the Gotham Gazette published an unflattering article describing her past exploits and defeats, the Catwoman came screeching back. (Detective #203)

When Kyle entered a beauty contest under her real name, Batman tried to arrest her. She challenged them saying they had no evidence that she was really the Catwoman. She then embarked on an elaborate plan to use the beauty contest as a front to allow her to take possession of a cache of smuggled diamonds. (Batman #84)

Her last recorded criminal caper followed another escape, and the theft of a shipment of diamonds. She and her underworld allies captured Batman and attempted to kill him by throwing him into a river, but she ultimately relented and helped him escape. Batman and Robin managed to capture her accomplices, but Catwoman got away. (Detective #211) NOTES: This was Catwoman's final Golden Age appearance, dated Oct. 1954. The Earth-One Catwoman, whose early history was somewhat different, didn't appear until Lois Lane #70 (Nov. 1966)—the same year as Catwoman's appearance on the Batman television show.

In 1954, the Catwoman eventually surrendered to police and was sent back to prison. (Brave and the Bold #197, DC Super-Stars #17

New Age, New Family

The catalyst that finally brought Selina and Bruce together was, ironically, the wedding of his former girlfriend, Linda Page. He'd lost Page's affections because of his shiftless-playboy guise, and he wondered if his role as Batman had cost him a real chance at happiness. An fear-gas attack by the Scarecrow subjected him to an intense fit of autophobia, the fear of being abandoned by one's friends. Bruce believed that Dick, Jim, and Clark had all disappeared, so he secured Catwoman's release from prison in exchange for her help in hunting down the Scarecrow. During their pursuit, Selina confessed to Batman that her earlier story about becoming Catwoman due to a bout of amnesia was a lie; she invented it so that she could end her life of crime. She and Batman professed their true feelings for one another and Batman revealed his secret identity to her. (Brave & Bold #197)

Bruce and Selina married in the summer of 1955, and she was given away by her brother Karl Kyle. In attendance were Alfred Beagle, Dick Grayson, Clark and Lois Lane Kent, James, Barbara, and Tony Gordon, and Harvey and Gilda Kent. The reception was nearly ruined by an attempt on Harvey's life. Later, Clark Kent revealed to Selina that he was secretly Superman. (DC Super-Stars #17, Superman Family #211)

Bruce and Selina's daughter, Helena Wayne, was born on 7 September 1957 in Gotham City. The Catwoman disappeared completely while Selina devoted herself to raising Helena. NOTES: A personnel profile in Infinity, Inc. #7 (Oct. 1984) gave Helena's birth date as 7 September 1959, but her first appearance in DC Special #17 (Nov./Dec. 1977) stated she was born two years after her parents' wedding. Her tombstone in Last Days of the JSA Special (1986) confirmed the year as 1957.

In 1976, Selina Kyle Wayne was blackmailed by a former henchman, Silky Cernak, who manufactured a photograph that showed Selina killing a policeman — something she had sworn to her husband she had never done. Donning her Catwoman costume for the first time in years, Selina was forced to aid Cernak in robbing the Gotham Civic Center. When Batman intervened, Selina was hit by a stray bullet and fell four stories. She died in her husband's arms, begging forgiveness, while Cernak escaped. Bruce Wayne was grief-stricken. Selina's death was compounded by his discovery that he had terminal cancer. He lit a symbolic funeral pyre for the Batman, vowing never to wear his costume again. (DC Super-Stars #17, America vs. the Justice Society #4)

Rise of the Huntress

Helena Wayne was a full-grown adult when her mother died. She was unwilling to let her mother's killer escape justice, so she designed her own costumed identity as the Huntress to track down and capture Silky Cernak. Once her mother's death was avenged, Helena decided to continue her crime fighting career (but elected not to tell her father about her new identity). (DC Super-Stars #17) NOTES: The Huntress first appeared in two stories more or less simultaneously, her origin in DC Super-Stars #17, and a cameo in All-Star Comics #69 (both Nov./Dec. 1977). Paul Levitz credited the idea for the Huntress to inker Bob Layton, who proposed an Earth-Two version of Batgirl as a way to add more female characters to the JSA.

After Selina's death, Bruce Wayne's life went through some significant changes. He began writing a journal about his life, which included the events surrounding his marriage to Selina Kyle. (Brave & Bold #197) He transitioned away from his role as Batman and took to true police work. Wayne deduced that businessman Bill Jensen had murdered his business partner and gathered enough evidence to convict Jensen of murder, although Jensen steadfastly maintained his innocence. The case was impressive enough to earn Bruce the position of Gotham City police commissioner, replacing the late Jim Gordon. (Adventure Comics #461-462, America vs. the JSA #1) NOTES: Gordon's death was first mentioned in America vs. the Justice Society #1 (Jan. 1985).

No sooner did he discover a new mission in life did Bruce discover he had terminal cancer. He confided this news only to his daughter and asked her to keep it secret. (America vs. the Justice Society #4)

His role as commissioner unexpectedly pitted Wayne against his friends in the Justice Society. When Bruce came under the sinister influence of their foes, the Psycho Pirate and Per Degaton, he composed a false diary accusing the JSA of treason during World War II. This was all done in the subconscious hope that it would lead the JSA to investigate Degaton's whereabouts and thwart the villain's plans. (America vs. the Justice Society #1-4) The Huntress witnessed some of her father's strange behavior. She was relieved when the Justice Society figured out the Psycho Pirate's role and magically dispelled the villain's malign influence. (All-Star Comics #69)

The Huntress kept to the shadows when it came to her father, but she revealed herself to the JSA fairly soon, joining a battle between the Star-Spangled Kid, Wildcat, and the Strike Force. (All-Star Comics #70) After their victory, she chose to reveal her true identity to the JSAers. (#71) The Huntress was promptly admitted to the Justice Society, replacing the Star-Spangled Kid on the active roster. Soon she was confronted by her villainous namesake—the first Huntress. The Huntress defeated the villain with a little help from Green Lantern. (#72-73)

Helena leveraged the JSA's resources to travel to Earth-One in search of advice on her crime fighting career—from that world's Batman and Robin. They introduced her to Kathy Kane (Batwoman), and Barbara Gordon (Batgirl), and helped them stop Poison Ivy, Madame Zodiac—and the Earth-One Catwoman. Before returning, Helena promised to keep in touch and began calling Earth-One's Batman her "Uncle Bruce." (Batman Family #17)

Career-wise, Helena took a fast track to her law degree. During her time at Harvard Law School, she was editor of the prestigious Harvard Law Review, and graduated valedictorian. She moved into an upscale penthouse apartment in the Innwood district of Gotham City and became a junior partner in the a public interest law firm established by Dick Grayson (Robin) and his partner, Arthur Cranston. Her investigations crossed over with her mission as the Huntress when she investigated a series of deadly arson fires masterminded by Councilman Franklin Gresham. By this time, Dick Grayson no longer played an active role in his firm because he was appointed to diplomatic service abroad. (Batman Family #18-20)

Helena became fast, best friends with another newcomer to the JSA, Superman's cousin, Power Girl. She helped her develop her secret identity as Karen Starr. Occasionally the Huntress worked with Robin, as when they helped the JSA defeat the Master Summoner. (All-Star Comics #74)

She returned to Earth-One with the JSA for one of their annual meetings with the Justice League. This meeting was marred by a time-tossed battle with adventurers from other eras of history, engineered by the Lord of Time. (Justice League of America #159-160) In another team-up, she and the JSA pursued the Secret Society of Super-Villains. (Canceled Comics Cavalcade #2, Justice League of America #166)

Robin agreed not to tell Bruce about Helena's crime fighting. Meanwhile, Bill Jensen escaped from prison and demanded to confront Bruce. The fugitive surprised everyone by demonstrating newly-gained mystic powers. (Adventure Comics #461) Wayne was forced to become Batman to defeat Jensen. Jensen's energy blasts ripped away a portion of Batman's mask, revealing to the world that he was Bruce Wayne. When he recognized Wayne, Jensen's power went berserk and the burst of energy killed both men. The Batman was buried next to his wife and parents and the funeral was attended by Helena, Dick Grayson, Alfred Beagle, and the Justice Society. At the funeral, a grieving Helena persuaded Dick Grayson not to take up Batman's mantle, and to let her father and his legacy rest in peace. (Adventure Comics #462)

The Justice Society got to the root of Jensen's power: a sorcerer named Frederic Vaux. Doctor Fate helped bring down Vaux and in the process, altered Vaux's spell so that instead of wiping Batman from human memory (as Vaux had intended), the enchantment erased the general public's awareness of Batman's secret identity. (#463) In her next meeting with the Justice League, the Huntress broke the sad news to Earth-One's Batman. This visit was cursed by the murder of another JSA member, Mister Terrific. Batman and the Huntress led the investigation. (Justice League of America #171-172) The duo teamed again when their teams were transported to New Genesis to aid the New Gods against Darkseid. (#183-185)

Her father's death hardened Helena's resolve to fight crime. She became the principal guardian of Gotham City and came to work closely with its newest District Attorney, Harry Sims. (Wonder Woman #271-273) Before that, the Huntress and Power Girl had confronted Sims about his new campaign against vigilantism in Gotham (while under the control of the Thinker). During this case Power Girl made careless remarks which led Harry Sims to deduce that the Huntress was secretly Helena Wayne. (#274-276) Harry initiated an awkward conversation in which he divulged not only this knowledge, but also his attraction to Helena. The conversation was interrupted by news of a prison riot at Gull Island Penitentiary led by Lionmane, a brutal former henchman of the Catwoman. Meanwhile, the Joker escaped from prison and nearly killed Harry with deadly laughing gas. (#277-280) The Huntress enlisted Robin's help to pursue the Joker. Dick masqueraded as Batman in order to draw the Clown Prince of Crime out of hiding. (#281-283)

Their next case involved clearing their law partner, Arthur Cranston, of a bogus fraud charge. (#284-285) When Helena and Karen Starr (Power Girl) went to Metropolis to visit Clark Kent and Lois Lane, Robin was left to watch over Gotham City. (Brave & Bold #182)

Robin and the Huntress kept up ties to Earth-One's Batman even when they didn't participate in a case. (Justice League of America #195) Helena also spent a Christmas with Bruce. (Brave & Bold #184) She and Power Girl returned to aid the Earth-One Wonder Woman stop the Adjudicator. (Wonder Woman #291-293)

The Crimelord learned her secret identity and took Harry Sims and Alfred Beagle hostage. (#289-295) Gotham's new police commissioner, O'Hara, appointed Helena as liaison between the police department and the district attorney's office. As the Huntress, Helena came to the rescue of Charley Bullock — an attorney with Cranston, Grayson and Wayne — who had adopted a Batman-like identity as Blackwing to break up a protection racket run by the villainous Boa. (#296-299)

In solo cases, the Huntress confronted the Undertaker (Wonder Woman #301-304); his allies, Dr. Amos Tarr and Professor Fether (#305-307); the grotesque Earthworm (#308-313); the one-armed, one-legged Sea Lion (#314-316); sword-wielding Nightingale (#317-319); and sought therapy with the duplicitous Dr. June Moorman. (#320-321)

To Infinity

When a group of young heroes — all of them the children or protégés of older JSAers — applied for JSA membership, they were summarily rejected by the elder members of the team. In protest the Huntress, Power Girl, and the Star-Spangled Kid left the JSA to join the them. The Star-Spangled Kid named this group Infinity, Inc. (Infinity, Inc. #1-3)

The Infinitors were then pitted against the Justice Society by the Ultra-Humanite. Ultra turned the JSA evil, and the Huntress had to stop Robin from murdering Boss Zucco (who killed his parents). She bound Robin in the Batcave and enlisted Alfred to watch over Dick until a resolution was found. (#5-10)

At an Infinity, Inc. press conference in Los Angeles, the Huntress revealed to the world that she was Batman's daughter, but she and Power Girl elected to return to the JSA. (#12)

Back when Bruce Wayne was under the sinister influence of the Psycho Pirate and Per Degaton, he composed a false diary accusing the JSA of treason during World War II. After his death, the diary was entrusted to Professor Carter Nichols, who delivered it to Clark Kent at the Metropolis Daily Star. It seemed authentic and the elder Justice Society members were arrested on charges of treason. Helena Wayne was prepared to defend her comrades even if it meant proving that her father had been mentally unsound. Dick Grayson, on the other hand was unwilling to see his mentor's reputation tarnished and reluctantly joined the prosecution. Dick was horrified to discover that their key witness was the JSA's old nemesis, the Wizard. (America vs. the Justice Society #1)

Dick ultimately deduced Per Degaton's role in the scandal. The JSA wrapped up that end of it and later, Dick and Helena concluded that Batman's subconscious intention in writing the false diary was to lead the JSA to do just as they did. Helena also told Dick about the cancer that Bruce had developed in the last months of his life; she attributed Bruce's irrational behavior to the disease's degenerative effects. (#4)

The Crisis on Infinite Earths heralded the end for Earth-Two. Shortly after the wedding of Green Lantern, the Justice Society was summoned by the mysterious Monitor to learn about the effects of the great cosmic Crisis. Robin and the Huntress met on Earth-One with Batman and Robin at their Wayne Manor to discuss it. (Infinity, Inc. #21, Crisis #5)

The Crisis collapsed the multiverse; where once there was an infinite number of Earths, now all surviving universes were collapsed into one. The Earth-Two Robin found that the new Earth had been recreated with no place for him. Earth-Two's Batman simply never existed. He was traumatized and stayed close to Helena, but the two of them were killed by the shadow demons of the Anti-Monitor. (Crisis #11-12)

The Justice Society of America gathered to mourn the loss of Superman and Wonder Woman, and the deaths of Robin and the Huntress. Their bodies were recovered and buried on the grounds of Hall Manor (the home of Carter Hall, the Hawkman). (Last Days of the JSA) NOTE: The actual final appearance of Earth-Two's Robin and Huntress was in Infinity, Inc. #30 (Sept. 1986), in memoriam. Roy Thomas commented that he and Marv Wolfman were concerned that Crisis #12 might lead readers to think there was a possibility that Robin and the Huntress survived, which wasn't the intent.

Postmortem

Post-Crisis

After they ceased to exist, Earth-Two characters such as Superman, Batman, Robin, and the Huntress were completely off-limits. The Crisis on Infinite Earths had merged the multiverse into one streamlined continuity. Still, you can't keep good characters down and over time, certain creators found clever ways to include these characters in cameos, flashbacks, or other reality-warped tales. None of them can be considered a canonical part of the original Earth-Two.

The post-Crisis Huntress was Helena Bertinelli. She was the daughter of a Gotham City mobster and her first appearance was The Huntress #1 (April 1989). Her previous creators, Cavalieri and Staton, created the new Huntress and laid out a cohesive origin and a personality for her. But after her series was canceled, she was significantly refashioned in the '90s "bad girl" mold. The two versions of this character have very little in common.

The first post-Crisis reappearance of the original Huntress and Robin was in Supergirl vol. 4 #79 (April 2003). In this tale, the post-Crisis Supergirl somehow found herself on Earth-One prior to the Crisis, where she took the place of her pre-Crisis counterpart. Along the way, she briefly encountered the JLA and JSA, including Earth-Two's Robin and Huntress.

Post-Infinite Crisis

With Infinite Crisis in 2006, the DC multiverse was recreated to include 52 parallel Earths. In the time leading up to that event, reality began to warp, and it was revealed that the Earth-Two Superman had survived all along in a sort of pocket dimension. Power Girl began to experience images from her Earth-Two existence, including ghostly representations of Earth-Two's Robin and Huntress. (JSA Classified #4, 2005) The Earth-Two Superman also related tales of his former home which included flashbacks with Lois Lane, Batman, Robin, and Huntress. (Infinite Crisis #2-4)

The new DC multiverse had a new Earth-2 which appeared to be very similar to the original Earth-Two. Its timeline seemed to have continued on normally as if the first Crisis never happened. The first glimpse of it was seen in 52 #52 (May 2007). Power Girl was transported to this new Earth-2, where she thought she had rediscovered her best friend, the Huntress (Power Girl had not been wiped out by the Crisis on Infinite Earths and her history was significantly revised). On this Earth-2, the Justice Society had merged with Infinity, Inc. to form Justice Society Infinity. Power Girl arrived in time to dissuade the Huntress from executing the elderly Joker. The villain had discovered Helena and Dick Grayson's secret identities and crippled Helena's lover, Gotham City Harry Sims. Despite Power Girl's efforts, the Joker was accidentally killed by his own joy buzzer. After this incident, the Huntress quit the JSI. She also admitted that she was truly in love with Dick Grayson. Even though he felt the same way, she couldn't abandon Harry. (Justice Society of America vol. 3 Annual #1)

The JSI pursued Power Girl back to Earth-0 on the mistaken assumption that she was somehow involved in the disappearance of Earth-2's Superman. Earth-2's Robin and Huntress captured and interrogated Power Girl in Earth-2's Batcave before the JSI and Earth-0's JSA finally called a truce. (Justice Society of America vol. 3 #20)

The JSI made one other brief appearance, battling Per Degaton, who was then absorbed by one of his own alternate-universe counterparts. (#50)

Another apocryphal tale involved the Ultra-Humanite, who caused the minds of the Earth-Two Superman and Batman to be transferred into the bodies of Power Girl and the Huntress. (Superman/Batman #27)

The New 52

The DC Universe was rebooted again after Flashpoint in 2010 (aka the "New 52" reality), and the multiverse changed again. There was an all-new Earth-2 where Helena Wayne was again the daughter of Batman and Catwoman. When she traveled to Earth-0, she briefly used the alias "Helena Bertinelli." This New 52 Huntress first appeared in Huntress vol. 3 #1 (Oct. 2011).

Earth-0 in the New 52 universe also has an actual Helena Bertinelli. This character first appeared in Grayson #1 (2014).

Other Media

The Catwoman has appeared in many television and film productions. It's beyond the scope of this site to delve into that, but Wikipedia is a decent place to start reading.

The Huntress was among a slate of Justice League heroes who appeared in a 1979 live-action television special called Legends of the Superheroes. "Helena Kyle" was the star character on the short-lived Birds of Prey television series, which first aired 9 October 2002. The Bertinelli Huntress was a Justice League member in Justice League Unlimited cartoon (2004–06). She also appeared in her Earth-Two costume in the animated Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008–11, though her real name was not given).

Powers

The Catwoman was skilled at disguise, able to create new faces that would fool most people (but seldom the Batman). She was a master thief and escape artist and quite athletic — she once leaped from a building to the landing wheels of a moving helicopter! At various times, Catwoman employed an assortment of cat-themed weapons and equipment, and occasionally a cat 'o nine tails.

Like her mother, the Huntress was a top-level acrobat and hand-to-hand combatant. She used a mini-crossbow as her primary weapon, sometimes with tranquilizer darts. She was also adept with throwing knives and a batarang. Like Batman and Robin, she wore a utility belt, although its contents weren't explored much beyond a bat-line and some specimen jars. Helena inherited her father's skills at deduction and detective work, which was no doubt bolstered by her education in law school.

Appearances + References

» FEATURED APPEARANCES:  

• Adventure Comics #461-466
• All-Star Squadron #15
• All-Star Comics #69-74
• Batman Family #17-20
• Brave & Bold #184
• Crisis on Infinite Earths #7, 9-12
• DC Super-Stars #17
• Infinity, Inc. #1-12, 21, 22, 24
• Justice League of America #159-160, 166, 171-172, 183-185, 195, 207-209, 219-220
• Superman/Batman #27

» SERIES:

• America vs. the Justice Society, 4-issue limited series (1985)
• Wonder Woman vol. 1 #271-287, 289-299, 301-321 (1980–84)

» SEE ALSO:

• Huntress (post-Crisis)
• Huntress (New 52)
• Batman (Earth Two)
• Batman (Earth 2/New 52)
• The Tigress
• The Huntress Unofficial Web Page
• Comics Archives: The Huntress