Some of Batman’s most memorable characters, lines, and moments come courtesy of the Golden Age era of comics where the Caped Crusader debuted more than 80 years ago. However, one moment from the era that hasn’t aged particularly well is a line uttered to Batman to Catwoman during their first meeting - and it’s a doozy.
Catwoman first appeared in comics in Batman #1 as The Cat in a short story that involved Batman and Robin tracking a jewel heist on-board a yacht. It’s revealed during the heist that one of the ship’s passengers, Miss Peggs, who Batman says has “nice legs for an old woman,” turns out to be Catwoman in old-age makeup. Robin manages to catch her as she tries to escape and Batman quickly rids of her disguise.
In one of the most unintentionally hilarious moments in DC Comics history, Batman removes her wig and starts to wipe away her makeup. When Catwoman tells him “let go of me,” Batman responds “quiet or papa spank!” before it’s revealed that underneath the old-age makeup was a beautiful young woman. It’s hard to say what exactly Batman creators Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson were going for at this moment, but even looking at it knowing the Golden Age had different lingo, it still is absurdly funny and completely real.
Thankfully, Batman didn’t follow through on his remarks. The story ends with Catwoman confessing that she wants to be partners with Batman, but he declines as they “work on different sides of the law.” While on a boat back to shore, Catwoman jumps off in a daring escape. Robin attempts to jump off to follow her, but Batman stops him and lets her go. It’s the first time Bruce Wayne looked the other way to let his future partner escape despite her criminal actions. That’s true love.
Batman and Catwoman’s first meeting was revisited in Tom King and Mitch Gerads “Rooftops Part 2,” Batman story. The book recalls Batman chasing down Catwoman on the yacht in old-age makeup. Batman says that once he removed her mask that Catwoman was “impossibly beautiful.” Thankfully, the “quiet or papa spank!” moment didn’t live on as part of Bruce Wayne’s first memory of Selina Kyle. It’s funny and somewhat revealing but definitely is best staying in the past for both Batman and Catwoman.
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