INFORMATION

A fanlisting is a listing of fans for a certain subject, whether they have a website or not. After submitting their names, fans are added to a list to show their support for that subject.

Last Waltz is a one such fanlisting devoted to the relationship between Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle; it covers both both their Animation and Comic counterparts.

Batman's and Catwoman's origin stories are ones that have been written and re-written throughout the years. However, they have both established common themes with unchanging aspects. Bruce Wayne decided to take on the mantle of the Batman after witnessing both of his parents' deaths at gunpoint as a young boy, training his body and mind and honing all elements of attainable skills to become a vigilante with almost unparalleled detective skills, superior physical abilities, and a sharp grasp on criminal psychology. By day, he settles into the playboy guise of an airheaded billionaire; by night, he is feared and respected as the Dark Knight.

In the comics, Selina Kyle's past is in sharp contrast to Bruce Wayne's. Her father's death was due to his alcoholism, while her mother's death was by suicide; she escaped an orphanage and took to the streets, forced to grow in grimy alleys and shadows. Eventually, she had to resort to prostitution in order to survive. Later, as penned in Frank Miller's Batman: Year One, she was to collide into the then-young Batman, who would change her life from then on. Inspired, she gained her life back by utilizing her inherent gymnastic abilities and developing her skills as a cat burglar. She donned the costume of Catwoman and flew across the rooftops of Gotham's finest, a highly selective thief.

It was inevitable that the two meet again.

The waltz is always intricate, confusing, and exhilarating. While both the Cat and the Bat have changed costumes and masks throughout the dance, they have always kept the love-hate theme. In various incarnations of the animation, Selina Kyle is usually a wealthy socialite with a soft heart and a penchant for glittering gems; she flirts and eludes the Dark Knight, teaming up with him when necessary. He has continually been conflicted between his attraction to her and his upholding the law, no matter what the cost.

In the Batman series and its numerous branched-off titles (including Catwoman), Selina Kyle reaches a standpoint and is forced to re-evaluate her motivations and actions as a thief and a vigilante. After her death is faked, she returns to Gotham in a completely different costume complete with goggles. She realizes that while she has always been focused on her own well-being, she has lost some of herself in the process of thievery for her own gain. She decides to take East End under her wing (or crook of her paw, so to speak). Though her reputation is shaky at best and she is not trusted by most of the Batfamily, she slowly begins to build trust, even working with the Birds of Prey. Though her character is continually being questioned, she fights for her reliability and newly earned responsibility.

After she has Batman's blessing to guard East End, the Hush arc covers important points in Selina and Bruce's relationship. Trust is essential, but they both realize that they have a long way to go. They are not the stereotypical romance or even a smooth alliance; each questions the other, especially because of the risks involved. Despite the odds, however, they now know each other's civilian identities and work toward the same goals. Their relationship is a challenge, but because of what they share -- the familiarity with Gotham's sparkling socialite facade, the knowledge of its dark underbelly, and the danger and losses involved in being vigilantes -- they will continue to forge alliances and balance each other.

waltz back