Craig Stuckless covers Batman 400

Original cover by Bill Sienkiewicz; DC 1986. Craig Stuckless's website is here.

Russell Dauterman covers Catwoman 2

Original cover by Darwyn Cooke; DC 2002. Russel Dauterman's website is here.

François Vigneault covers Catwoman 46

Original cover is by Adam Hughes; DC 2005. François Vigneault's website is here and his original art is available here.

Richard Sala covers Batman 197

Original cover by Carmine Infantino and Mike Esposito; DC 1967. Richard Sala's website is here.

Batman #210

Batman #210 (On Sale: January 16, 1969) has a great cover by Neal Adams. I remember seeing this on the stands and having to have it now!

"The Case of the Purr-Loined Pearl" is by Frank Robbins, Irv Novick and Joe Giella. Since her parole, Catwoman has opened a slenderizing salon and sold her crime accessories. Batman still suspects that she will return to crime and deduces that she will strike at a visiting leader from Katmandu. Batman's hunch is correct, because Selina has trained eight female ex-convicts to help her with the job. All nine women dressed as Catwoman then infiltrate Wayne Manor where the Nizam of Nepal is staying with the Potala Pearl. Batman and Robin are waiting for Catwoman to strike and despite help from her allies, Catwoman is caught.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.

Batman #208

Batman #208 (On Sale: November 12, 1968), 80pg. Giant #G-55, has a cover by Nick Cardy featuring Who is the Most Important Woman in Batman's Life?

This book contains"The Women in Batman's Life" by E. Nelson Bridwell, Gil Kane and Jack Abel. This story is a new framing sequence that surrounds reprinted stories. This framing sequence consists mostly of flashbacks to earlier events in the career of the Earth-1 Batman. Some of these events parallel adventures of the Earth-2 Batman. It should not be assumed that all other Earth-2 stories have Earth-1 parallels.

Mrs. Chilton, the woman that cared for Bruce Wayne following the death of his parents, remembers various events from the career of Batman that involve important women in his life. The women she remembers are: Julie Madison, Catwoman, Linda Page, Vicki Vale, Batwoman, Kaye Daye, Aunt Harriet, Patricia Powell, Marcia Monroe, Poison Ivy, and Batgirl. Unbeknownst to Bruce, Mrs. Chilton knows that he is Batman and that her sons Joe and Max Chill played important roles as villains in Batman's life.

The first woman is Catwoman in "The Secret Life of the Catwoman" a reprint from Batman #62 by Bill Finger, Lew Sayre Schwartz and Charles Paris. Next is Vicki Vale in "Vicki Vale's Secret" from Batman #73 by David V. Reed, Lew Sayre Schwartz and Charles Paris. Next we have Batwoman in "The Menace of the Firefly" from Batman #126 by Bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris wherein Firefly robs a party at which Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, and Kathy Kane are guests. The crook gets away, but Kathy sees the host, Ted Carson, slip away prior to Batman appearing on the scene. She suspects Ted is Batman, but when she confront him, she learns he is really the Firefly. Batman and Robin predict where Firefly will strike next, and Kathy shows up as Batwoman to stop the crook.

Next is "The Dilemma of the Detective's Daughter" from Batman #165 by France Herron, Sheldon Moldoff and Joe Giella. Patricia Powell, the daughter of Lt. Mike Powell, graduates from the police academy with top honors. She receives her awards from Batman and is immediately promoted to detective. She tells Batman that she has a crush on Bruce Wayne, though the two have never officially met.

Batman keeps an eye on Patricia. During her first case, Pat investigates the kidnapping of Professor Smedley. Batman helps her track down the Professor. The Dark Knight apprehends the crooks, while Pat releases the professor. Later, Pat attends a weekend party held by Bruce Wayne, where she meets him for the first time.

This issue also contains excerpts reprinted from other stories including: two pages from Detective Comics #203, one page from Detective Comics #233, one page from Batman #194, one page from Detective Comics #328, five pages from Brave and the Bold #64, two pages from Batman #181, two pages from Batman #182, and five pages from Detective Comics #359.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

Batman #197

Batman #197 (On Sale: October 19, 1967) features another great Carmine Infantino cover, this one inked by Mike Esposito.

Inside "Catwoman Sets Her Claws for Batman" is by Gardner Fox and the unusual art team of Frank Springer and Sid Greene. This was Springer's first work at DC as just a penciler. Prior to this book Springer had inked three issues of Superboy and penciled and inked this month's Dial H for HERO story in the House of Mystery.

Catwoman has fallen in love with Batman and decides to impress him by giving up her life of crime and becoming a crimefighter too. She sees Batgirl as a rival for Batman's affection, so while stopping several robberies, Catwoman also tries to make a fool out of Batgirl.

After proving herself to be a superior crimefighter than her rival, Catwoman expects Batman to propose. When he doesn't Catwoman gives him an ultimatum. He must marry her, or she will return to crime. Batman still refuses, so she captures the Caped Crusader along with Robin and Batgirl. Reprinted in Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told Vol. 2 TPB and Showcase Presents: Batgirl Vol. 1 TPB.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.