Absolute Catwoman #1 Review: A Solid Debut with a Heist-Style Opening and Strong Absolute Batman Vibes

I just read Absolute Catwoman #1 that came out today (6/10/2026) . It’s a solid first issue that feels like it fits naturally into the Absolute Universe, even if it doesn’t quite reach the same level of launch hype as Absolute Green Arrow.

The Setup

The book opens with a heist-style action scene that has a nice surprise ending, immediately showing us how this version of Catwoman is different. From there, the story jumps back and forth in time, very much in the style of Absolute Batman. We get a clearer picture of who Selina Kyle is in this universe — she’s wealthy, well-connected, and operates out of what is essentially a Cat Cave. In many ways, she feels like the Bruce Wayne of the Absolute line.

The Cool (and Interesting) Parts

• We see flashbacks to Selina’s past as a foster kid and a young thief. An old friend from that time reappears, but Selina isn’t interested in getting pulled back into her old life. There are also some not-so-subtle hints that things have gone sideways within her former crew.
• She had planned to retire at 25, but the events of the issue force her back into action. We get to see her use the Wildcat — a transforming vehicle — for what appears to be the first time she has used it.
• There’s a solid tease of a major antagonist. While I won’t spoil who it is, it’s a recognizable figure from the Batman mythos and clearly sets up conflict for future issues.
• The art is excellent and fits really well with the tone and style of Absolute Batman. It has that same bold, slightly gritty feel that helps it feel like part of the same universe.

The story does a good job of balancing action, character moments, and setup without feeling too overwhelming for a first issue.

Final Verdict

Absolute Catwoman #1 is a strong debut. It has a cool opening, interesting character work, and sets up some intrigue for what’s to come. While I’m not as immediately hooked as I have been with some books, it’s a solid start that feels like it fits seamlessly into the Absolute Batman / Absolute Universe story. That may not feel like a huge thing – but it fits seamlessly into this ongoing universe in a way that many spin offs don’t achieve, this is no small feat (she was first featured in Absolute Batman beginning with a tease in #12).

I’m definitely interested in seeing where the story goes from here, especially with the antagonist tease and how Selina’s new direction plays out.

What did you think?

Did you pick up Absolute Catwoman #1 yet? What was your favorite part — the opening heist, the Wildcat sequence, or the tease of the antagonist? Tag me on X!

Originally posted as a thread on X — check out the original conversation here:

Affiliate links are used in this post. I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases—no extra cost to you.