Catman (DC Comics)

Catman (Thomas Reese Blake) is a character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. He is part of Batman’s growing roster of enemies, debuting in the mid-1960s.

For decades, the character rarely appeared in comic books, as Batman stories returned to darker themes. A modern revival of the character in the pages of Green Arrow many years later depicted a Catman down on his luck, clinging to past glories, overweight, and pathetic.

In 2006, however, the character was rehabilitated by writer Gail Simone, depicting Blake as having picked himself up from the gutter, restoring his physical fitness and gaining a new sense of purpose and dignity while living with lions in Africa. Stories since then have depicted him as an antihero and the leader of the mercenary team Secret Six.

Catman first appeared in Detective Comics #311 (January 1963) and was created by Bill Finger and Jim Mooney.

A different Cat-Man once opposed the Blackhawks in Blackhawk #141, but he has no connection with the more prominent Batman villain.

Catman was Thomas Reese Blake, a world-famous hunter who turned to crime because he had grown bored with the job and squandered most of his money. He became a burglar who committed his crimes in a catsuit made of ancient African cloth and modeled after Catwoman's disguise. Catwoman was none too pleased to have her modus operandi copied, which resulted in Catwoman being wrongly implicated in Catman's crimes at least once, so she initially helped Batman against him.

As with many Batman villains in their first appearances, Catman was originally a gimmicked villain who stole cat-themed items. His weapons of choice were steel claw-tipped gloves and the razor edged "catarang".

Catman would reappear once more, this time revealing that the orange African cloth in his uniform gave him nine lives. The character first shows his capability for good causes when he rescues Batwoman from nearly dying. He gives her some of his costume fabric, believing she too will have nine lives. He resumes his criminalistic ways, but Batwoman (temporarily infiltrating his trust to be his new partner, with a new costume as "Cat-Woman") reasons the entire cloth has only nine lives, not individual pieces, and manipulates events until Catman only has one remaining. Batwoman attempts to convince him to turn himself in, but Catman attempts to kill her so he can escape, before being defeated by Batman and Robin.