What Drives Batman to Go to War With Catwoman?

In this week's kickoff to Batman and Catwoman's Gotham War, what is the inciting event that drives the Dark Knight to go to war with Catwoman?


In nearly every major war, there are a handful of "inciting events" that kick off the war (like Archduke Franz Ferdinand being assassinated leading to a series of treaties kicking in that led to World War I), and in the case of the Gotham War between Batman and Catwoman, this week's Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War - Battle Lines #1 reveals who is the Franz Ferdinand of this conflict.


The issue is written by Chip Zdarsky and Tini Howard, with pencils by Mike Hawthorne, inks by Adriano Di Benedetto, colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr., with an uncredited letterer. This story sees Batman determine that he will have to go to war with Catwoman over the fate of Gotham City after she finally reveals her plan for making Gotham City a better place to live.


Why has Batman seemingly abandoned Gotham City?


During the Knight Terrors crossover, the superheroes of the DC Universe were all put to sleep by the villain known as Insomnia. Normally, Batman would have plans into effect that would prevent him from being forced to sleep (he literally has a split personality, the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh, designed to kick in when necessary), but any possible plan was foiled by Deadman possessing Batman's body for the entirety of the crossover. Therefore, once the story ended, Batman's mind and body were so exhausted, he fell into a deep sleep for TWO MONTHS.


Catwoman used those Batman-free months to fully implement her new plan for Gotham City. She would train all the henchmen who normally work for supervillains into becoming cat burglars like herself. They would then rob ONLY from rich people, and only non-violent crimes. They were also not allowed to publicly fraterize with each other. Therefore, while Batman was out of commission, violent crime dropped 75% in Gotham City.


Whose death leads Batman to go to war with Catwoman?


Once Batman was awake, Catwoman rounded up Batman and the rest of the "Bat-Family" (Nightwing, Batgirl, the Robins, etc.) and explained her plan and requested that they leave her alone to let her keep doing it, as she explains how this is making Gotham City a better place to live. Batman, of course, disagrees with the idea of allowing any crime to be committed.


However, it is fair to say that Batman's mind is spiraling over the idea that Gotham City might have done better with him absent than it does without him there. He struggles with the conflict in his mind as he surveils a quiet Gotham City night until he finally hears a siren. He then discovers the body of Roland Garver, one of the henchmen that Catwoman had been training. The rich woman that he was robbing was unexpectedly home and shot him to death.


That death is enough to make Batman determine that he definitely IS on the right side of this debate, and he vows to stop Catwoman's plans, even if he has to go to war to do so.


Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War - Battle Lines #1 is on sale now from DC.

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