DC Comics has a long-standing tradition of captivating storytelling that resonates deeply with its audience by maintaining classic characteristics that align with each beloved hero and villain. For example Catwoman's heterosexual identity is a significant part of her personal narrative, adding depth to her relationships with iconic characters like Batman. Restoring her heterosexuality is crucial to preserving her character's original essence and the dynamic that has engaged readers for decades. 

The decision to make her a bisexual character has been present for a little over a decade now. A decision that was made by the comic book writer Genevieve Valentine. She created a story where Catwoman, after taking a break from Batman, met another woman named Eiko. We've seen this a bunch of times with other men, trying to fill in the void Catwoman was feeling towards the Bat, only to inevitably always trace back to him. And while the undeniable understanding and shared comfort was present between the two women, the writer acted on pure personal bias. Let's elaborate the situation; The main controversy begins after Selina takes up Eikos role as the Yakuza underground boss, while Eiko covers for Selina as Catwoman on the streets. Both women later meet up on the rooftop and share a surprising kiss. When Eiko pulls back she asks "Was that for me or the suit?", the confused and lost in thought Selina responds "i don't know". This moment was meant to show Selina Kyles longing towards her identity as Catwoman, reacting strongly when she saw Eiko living that exact life she was missing. Genevieve Valentine used this scene as "proof" that Catwoman has danced around her sexuality for years, and that it shouldn't be surprising at all.

Catwoman, for 75 years, was portrayed and drawn with the idea of a heterosexual woman with Batman as her primary love target. A single kiss in a moment of vulnerability and longing for ones old lifestyle does not define a character, nor a person in real life, as definitively and immediately bisexual. Especially knowing Catwomans past, where she was known for having a "cat-like" personality; Playful, mischievous, teasing,  seductive. Whether it was men or women that fell to her charms, it never was personal and rather supposed to be taken as a form of manipulation to get what she wanted, or simple comedy befitting the charater. Valentines decision felt as if it was to appeal for modern public and use a legacy character to spark media interest rather than looking at years of her history.

Moreover, after ending their connection Catwoman has never visited the same kind of enegry she had with  Eiko ever again. Fans argue that using such a bold statement for such a character must lead to something definitive later on. There was nothing. Instead, we found ourselves in a highly controversial and largely disliked era. Tini Howard, back in 2022, decided to revisit the character, but ultimately didn't catch the publics attention because she tried stirring Catwoman too far away from the Batman. The core issue is that giving Catwoman a bisexual label feels like pushing the character away from Batman for no reason, while also contradicting with how bisexuality works in real life just to put it on a big character.

A writer shouldn't be able to canonize a characters sexuality permanently strictly because quote "they wanted to make it their goal to have Catwoman canonically bisexaul", those are Valentines words from her blog post the decision.

Catwomans identity has been loved for decades, we think there is no reason to change something such as sexuality strictly after one moment in history that doesn't seem to affect the character in anyway shape or form in the present whatsoever. This is not a word of hate towards any community, we simply want to bring back the original character characterization of a beloved legacy character. Many readers perceived this change as driven by editorial priorities rather than character development.

We propose engaging with the fan community in an open dialogue and revisiting the central themes that have made Catwoman a classic character over the years. This approach can ensure that her portrayal remains authentic and relatable. By maintaining her heterosexual identity, DC Comics can continue to honor the legacy of the character and one of DC's longest running and most iconic relationships with the Batman and respect the attachment of long-time fans.

We urge DC Comics and its creative teams to consider revisiting Catwoman's narrative and celebrate the rich history that has made her an enduring figure in the DC universe, and stop making major identity changes for the public. Especially for legacy characters such as Catwoman.

Sign this petition to voice your support for restoring Catwoman’s heterosexuality in the DC canon, among giving your voice to stop DC from changing beloved character due to personal bias and self belief, ensuring that her most authentic version lives on in future stories and that nothing will permanently get in the way of the Bat and the Cat.