Selina Kyle, Batman’s stealthy enemy and love interest, officially came out as bisexual in the latest issue of Catwoman.
The leather-clad cat burglar kissed another woman in Catwoman #39, illustrated by Garry Brown, confirming what many fans had long suspected about the flirtatious, hyper-sexualized character.
“For me, this wasn’t a revelation so much as a confirmation,” Genevieve Valentine, the series’ writer, said on her blog.
Catwoman’s coming out is just the latest of many efforts by comic book companies to diversify their characters. DC’s Batwoman has identified as a lesbian since 2006, and one Green Lantern, Alan Scott, is gay. In 2013, a trans woman of color was introduced as a character in Batgirl. Marvel’s Northstar, a member of the X-Men, married his partner in 2012.
Catwoman has been around for 75 years (her first appearance was in Batman #1 in 1940), and her relationship to the Caped Crusader is complicated. Despite being enemies, they often work together and are involved in an intense, ongoing romantic relationship.
Valentine responded to critics who wondered what this revelation could mean for Batman: “Please be assured that Selina’s longstanding connection to Batman has not been forgotten; that is not how bisexuality (or humanity) works.”
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Jane Fonda Champions Climate Action for Every Generation
- Biden’s Campaign Is In Trouble. Will the Turnaround Plan Work?
- Why We're Spending So Much Money Now
- The Financial Influencers Women Actually Want to Listen To
- Breaker Sunny Choi Is Heading to Paris
- Why TV Can’t Stop Making Silly Shows About Lady Journalists
- The Case for Wearing Shoes in the House
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com