For over eight decades, Selina Kyle has been one of DC's most dynamic figures—a master thief whose moral ambiguity and tangled romance with Batman have kept readers hooked. But in recent years, the character has been searching for a purpose beyond the Bat's shadow. When Torunn Grønbekk took over the mainline Catwoman series with Issue #69, she sent Selina on a global journey, leaving Gotham behind. It was a bold shift, one that finally gave the character room to grow. Now, with Issue #90 hitting stands, Grønbekk has delivered a game-changing twist: Selina's true secret weapon isn't her whip or her cunning—it's her estranged sister, Maggie Kyle.
The revelation lands after a tense arc that saw Black Mask once again targeting Selina, this time with a sadistic "game show" designed to break her spirit. With Selina and Slam Bradley held hostage, the villain's obsession reaches a fever pitch. But just as Black Mask threatens to harm innocent kittens, an unexpected savior appears: Maggie. In a stunning turn, she embraces the crime boss and secretly administers a poison, ending his reign of terror—at least for now.
This moment is a profound subversion of Maggie's comic book history. Introduced in the 1989 limited series Catwoman by Mindy Newell, Maggie was a nun—a stark contrast to Selina's life of crime, a classic Madonna-whore dichotomy that defined their early dynamic. Later stories, like Catwoman: Relentless, saw Maggie tortured by Black Mask, forced to endure unimaginable trauma, including the murder of her husband and being made to eat his eyeballs. That horror transformed her into the radicalized "Sister Zero" in Gotham City Sirens, positioning her as an antagonist to Selina.
Grønbekk's run has wisely moved past those tired tropes. Issue #79 offered a nuanced look at Selina and Maggie's childhood, exploring domestic abuse and its lasting impact. That foundation pays off in Issue #90, where Maggie steps out of the shadows of her past and takes agency. She's no longer a victim waiting to be rescued—she's the hero of her own story, turning decades of suffering into a decisive victory.
The issue closes on a quiet, touching note: Maggie names the rescued kittens after the Pevensie siblings from The Chronicles of Narnia. It's a small gesture that speaks volumes about the sisters' rekindled bond. As the series moves into its next arc, this new dynamic promises to be a cornerstone of Selina's journey.
This isn't just a plot twist; it's a redefinition of one of DC's most complex relationships. For fans who've followed Selina's story, seeing Maggie rise as her sister's protector is deeply cathartic. It also aligns with a broader trend in comics of giving supporting characters their due. If you're curious about other recent shifts in the DC universe, you might check out the scrapped Wonder Woman series or the newly announced X-Men cast.
Ultimately, Catwoman #90 delivers a powerful message: family can be both a vulnerability and a strength. Selina Kyle has always been a survivor, but now she has a partner in that fight. Maggie Kyle is no longer just a footnote in Selina's lore—she's the secret weapon that makes Selina unstoppable.
