Batman’slist of past mentors is extensive, featuring figures nearly as iconic as the Dark Knight himself, including Ra’s al Ghul, Ted“Wildcat”Grant, Lady Shiva, and more. However, with the debut of the Absolute Universe, DC has introduced a wild lore change, revealing Batman’s first mentor to beCatwomanunexpected, yet wholly perfect twist.
Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta’sAbsolute Batmanseriesoffers a bold reimagining of the Dark Knight, twisting some of his most iconic lore in fascinating ways. One standout change redefines Bruce’s relationships with his classic rogues’ gallery—Harvey“Two-Face” Dent, Selina“Catwoman”Kyle, Waylon“Killer Croc”Jones, Oswald“The Penguin”Cobblepot, and Edward“The Riddler”Nygma.
In this universe, they aren’t the infamous supervillains fans know but Bruce’s childhood friends, all growing up together in Crime Alley.Absolute Batman#3 takes this twist further, revealing thatone of these childhood friends also served as Bruce’s first mentor.
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Selina ‘Catwoman’ Kyle Was Batman’s First Mentor (Teaching Him Rooftop Parkour)
Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta’sAbsolute Batman#3 Releases on July 19, 2025
Absolute Batman#3picks up where the previous issue left off,introducing Selina through a flashback that shows her and Bruce as children, shortly after the death of his father. In this scene, Bruce chases Selina across rooftops, with the young girl easily outpacing him, clearly setting him on edge as she nears a cable stretched between two buildings, intending to walk across it. Despite Bruce expressing his concerns, Selina continues, casually assuring him that it’s only two stories high, and the worst that could happen is he breaks a leg.
As Selina confidently walks across the cable, she encourages Bruce to follow her, telling him to“keep [his] eyes ahead, cat-style.”When Bruce asks what she means, she explains that cats can see well, but only for short distances. Hence,she wants him to focus solely on the destination, ignoring the drop below or anything beyond the ledge he’s aiming for.Bruce manages to make it most of the way across, but begins to falter toward the end. Selina grabs his hand, pulls him to safety, and reassures him he’s okay, while insisting that for the rest of the night, he should use his“cat eyes.”
This scene reveals that Selina was the one who first taught Bruce how to navigate the city,making her his first mentor. While some might dismiss this as informal training due to their youth, it’s undeniable that Bruce later incorporated Selina’s rooftop parkour techniques into his vigilantism, with the ‘cat-eye’ method she taught him becoming a core skill essential to his Dark Knight persona. Since it was Selina who introduced him to these techniques, she undeniably deserves her title as his first mentor.
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Which DC Characters Trained Batman in Earth-Prime Continuity?
Cover C Card Stock Variant by Gabriele Dell’Otto forAbsolute Batman#3 (2024)
When it comes to Batman’s mentors in Earth-Prime continuty, Catwoman isn’t typically included. Instead, names likeRa’s al Ghul (the Demon Head of the League of Assassins), Henri Ducard (a world-class manhunter and detective), and Richard Dragon (a legendary martial artist)are more closely associated with shaping the Dark Knight. Alongside them are Lady Shiva and David Cain, two of the deadliest assassins in the DCU. Other notable mentors include Ted“Wildcat”Grant, Detective Harvey Harris,and even Alfred Pennyworth. In Earth-Prime continuity, these figures are the ones most often remembered for influencing Bruce’s development.
Catwoman’s Role in Batman’s Life Expands in the Absolute Universe
Cover B Card Stock Variant by Becky Cloonan forAbsolute Batman#3 (2024)
Even though Catwoman has claimed the title of Batman’s first mentor in the Absolute Universe, this role is an unexpected one for the Gotham Siren, despite her integral presence in Batman’s lore. Traditionally,Catwoman is seen as Batman’s love interest, a Gotham anti-hero, or even a villain—not a mentor. Therefore,her becoming Bruce’s mentor, even in an unofficial capacity, marks a significant shift in her characterand adds an intriguing layer to her relationship with Batman in the Absolute Universe. It’s also worth noting that Snyder’s decision to revisit the past and highlight Selina’s role suggests that fans may soon seeBatmanandCatwomanreunite in the present-day narrative.
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