One of the most popular female DC Comics characters, Catwoman (aka Selina Kyle) officially comes out as bisexual in the latest issue of her comic book series.
It has long been speculated and debated, but now it’s official: Catwoman is bisexual.
In the most recent issue of her comic book series, “Catwoman #39,” the leather-clad superhero and sometimes-love interest of Batman will lock lips with a woman, finally confirming that she is sexually attracted to both genders.
Speaking about this development on her blog, writer Genevieve Valentine says, “She’s flirted around it — often quite literally — for years now; for me, this wasn’t a revelation so much as a confirmation.”
This development probably doesn’t come as a surprise to fans of her character, as she is known as a perpetual flirt and overtly sexual being. Still, considering that Catwoman has been around since 1940, confirmation of her sexuality has been a long time coming.
This storyline will allow the writers to further explore her relationship with Eiko, a person with whom Selina Kyle has a lot in common – almost too much, in fact, as Eiko covets the elusive Catwoman suit.
The decision to have her first on-panel (is that the term?) same-sex kiss be with Eiko wasn’t made lightly. Valentine explains that Eiko, “seemed like the right person: intelligent, driven, in that uncanny valley of Almost Catwoman.”
Coincidentally, another lead female character was revealed as bisexual this week: The 100‘s Clarke Griffin (played by Eliza Taylor) shared a kiss with her enemy-turned-reluctant-ally Lexa (Alycia Debnam Carey).
It was an understated moment, and the tension of their relationship has nothing to do with their genders, and everything to do with their personalities and positions as leaders of their respective peoples.
As always, it’s great to see LGBT figures so seamlessly integrated into popular fictional franchises, providing strong rolemodels for fans who feel underrepresented. Previously, DC Comics has revealed Batwoman to be a lesbian, and Alan Scott (a Green Lantern) is openly gay.
But while Catwoman is far from the first LGBT character to appear in the DC universe, this is particularly significant because she’s such a widely celebrated, important figure. And she’s the lead character in her own story – more often than not, minority representation is reserved for the supporting characters.