Does Batman Even Care About His Secret Identity?

Today, in BATMAN #24, Batman does something he hasn't done since Earth 2. He proposes. And not just to anyone, but one of his primary rogues gallery members: Catwoman!

Sure, Catwoman isn't one of his psychotic, Arkham escapees, and yes, she's actually been a Justice League of America member, but she's still technically one of the "less than legal" characters. But then, as Batman is destined to say, "We're all criminals. We've always been criminals."

However, the question doesn't arise from Batman's choice in matrimonial partners, but in Bruce Wayne's. You see, Selina Kyle has a criminal record. She killed a lot of people, too, according to the I AM SUICIDE arc in BATMAN. Basically, she's known to be Catwoman.

I've already ranted on at length about how the least curious person in Gotham City should be drawing a connection between Bruce Wayne and the parade of young boys that go through his manor, coinciding with the appearance of new Robin's -- especially after the latest one, Bruce Wayne's son Damien, died. (I know, he got better.)

But surely if Jason Todd dying the same time Robin died, and Tim Drake being adopted at the same time a new Robin appears, and Damien Wayne showing up at the same time yet another new Robin shows up, and Damien Wayne disappearing the same time this last Robin dies (for a little while) didn't tip anyone off, surely somebody is going to raise an eyebrow at Bruce Wayne putting a ring on the notorious C.A.T. Right? I mean, just how media-blind are the people of Gotham City?

I think this has to be something even Bruce Wayne wonders. We assume he's gone to great lengths to keep his identity as Bruce Wayne secret. And yet, in recent years, we've seen Bruce Wayne publicly fund the Dark Knight -- and franchise the name out. We've learned that he knew for years that the Joker was aware of his identity -- and by extension, the identities of all his allies -- and just didn't care to warn anybody about that. And now he's planning to marry someone known to be one of Batman's adversaries -- and one of his romantic entanglements to boot.

It's almost like he wants to get caught.

It could be that proposing to Selina is yet another Machiavellian scheme. It's certainly not unlike Batman to do something like that. Selina would never forgive him, of course.

Or perhaps it's that Bruce plans to hide Selina away from the public, forcing her to come in and out of the manor through the secret Batcave entrances, and don't wear the ring in public. Because Selina is docile and obedient that way, right?

Either way, the BATMAN writers have managed to get our attention.

(By the way, you can actually buy the Batman wedding ring featured above. For the Catwoman in your life, click on the Amazon link below.)