Warning! Contains spoilers for Batman/Catwoman #12
The wedding of Batman and Catwoman finally arrived, and with it came a surprise addition to its universe’s lore. In a fun gag near the issue’s end, it is revealed that the iconic theme song from the 1960s Batman TV series starring Adam West exists as a piece of in-universe canon.
The iconic DC couple tie the knot in the pages of Batman/Catwoman #12 by Tom King and Clay Mann. The issue serves as the conclusion of their 12-issue limited series for DC Black Label. The series, which Tom King compares to The Dark Knight Returns due to its lack of lore restraints, takes place outside of continuity and shows readers a version of King’s ending for Batman and Catwoman before his planned 100-issue Batman run was shortened to 85. The wedding itself is a cute and fitting event for these characters, and its inclusion of the ’60s Batman theme is a fun Easter Egg for Bat-fans.
After Catwoman famously left Batman at the altar in the 50th issue of King’s Batman run, the pair finally go through with their marriage, this time at a 24-hour chapel in Gotham City. In the issue, Selina prompts Bruce to spring for the special “Batrimony” package, which adds Batman iconography to their wedding for an extra $100. This allows the Bat and the Cat to be married by an officiant dressed in a Batman costume strongly resembling that of Adam West’s from his role as Batman in the ’60s. As the bride and groom share their first kiss, a Christmas carol – a motif of the series – begins to play, prompting the Bat-Officiant to yell, “They got the Batwedding package! It’s supposed to be NANANANANANANANA MAZEL TOV!“
The fact that the ’60s Batman theme is a piece of in-universe pop culture does raise a big question: Where does it come from? In a universe with the Dark Knight actively running around and fighting crime, where does he get a theme song? Is it possible that the Caped Crusader, after shouting, “Vengeance is the night!” and putting murderous supervillains behind bars, could settle into Wayne Manor and watch a comedic take of his own exploits on TV? The officiant’s wearing of the classic light blue and gray Batman costume may similarly imply that the Adam West series exists in-universe as is. The sight gag is a silly thread to pull at, and one that feels right at home in King’s version of Gotham. It shares a similar tone to Batman #16’s inclusion of Bat Burger (which also came from the ’60s TV show), a restaurant with decorations and a menu based on Batman, his allies and a number of his mass-murdering villains.
Batman/Catwoman #12 gives many fans the wedding they have been waiting for after the Bat and the Cat’s lengthy romance throughout DC history. The inclusion of the ’60s Batman theme and costume provides a nice callback to a lighter time in the Dark Knight’s history, just as the wedding serves as a lighter moment in the tortured lives of Batman and Catwoman.
