From pathetic loser to antihero: the strange evolution of DC Comics' Catman
In short: Thomas Blake, known as Catman, began as a gimmicked Batman villain in 1963. After decades in obscurity, he was reimagined as a washed-up, overweight loser before a 2006 revival transformed him into a disciplined, honorable antihero and leader of the mercenary team Secret Six. His journey remains a unique comic book redemption.
Created by Bill Finger and Jim Mooney, Thomas Blake debuted in Detective Comics #311 in January 1963. Originally a world-famous hunter bored with his profession, he turned to crime, donning a catsuit made of ancient African cloth. His early modus operandi involved stealing cat-themed items and using weapons like steel claw-tipped gloves and the razor-edged 'catarang'. He even claimed his costume granted him nine lives, a mystical property he once used to rescue Batwoman before being defeated by Batman and Robin.
By the 1990s and early 2000s, the character had faded into irrelevance, often portrayed as a third-rate villain. In a 2003 Green Arrow story, he was depicted as a pathetic, overweight loser who dyed his hair black to appear tougher. This low point was compounded by the implication that he had nearly been consumed by Monsieur Mallah. However, the 2005 mini-series Villains United marked a turning point. Blake retreated to Africa to live with a pride of lions, using the isolation to regain his physical fitness, self-worth, and fighting skills.
Following this rehabilitation, Catman emerged as the leader of the Secret Six, an antihero team that operated with a distinct sense of honor. Unlike traditional Batman villains, Blake displayed noble qualities, even confronting heroes he deemed arrogant. His personal life also evolved; he fathered a son, Thomas Jr., with the character Cheshire. In 2014, his characterization expanded further when his bisexuality was confirmed in the rebooted Secret Six series. Today, Catman stands as a complex figure, an Olympic-level athlete and tracker who occupies a moral gray area, constantly questioning whether he truly belongs on the side of the angels.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Catman (DC Comics)
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