The one person who might be a better thief thanCatwomanisBatman. Catwoman is notorious for being the greatest criminal in Gotham City — and maybe even the world — to the point that eventhe Joker had to give her props. Even though she is on the path to becoming more of a hero, being a thief has always beenwhat Catwoman does best.
Yet between the two of them, Batman seems to be the better criminal, judging by the events ofThe Penguin#11 by Tom King and Rafael De Latorre. Oswald Cobblepot has secured some gold for himself, but when his helping hand, the Help, goes tocheck that the gold is still secure, all he finds in its place is a batarang.In fact, it’s a running theme in the comics that suggests thatBatman is so good at catching criminals because he’s better at being a criminal than they are- and this may be the bext example yet.
Batman Steals Gold from The Penguin’s Own Vault
Criminality Is Batman’s Most Underrated Skill
There’s an old saying that goes something like this:if you want to catch a thief, you must think like a thief. Batman has been catching criminals since his tragic youth; it should come as no surprise that he’s studied the art of criminality as extensively as the rest of his training. It has been a consistent, recurring theme in the comics for Batman to study criminals and the means by which they commit crimes to the point of obsession, all in the name of better understanding how to beat them.
Take, for example, Batman’s stance on guns. Batman is notoriously anti-guns, but he still has his own gun collection in the Batcave and not only studies firearms, but has his wards study firearms just the same. Knowing how to use guns doesn’t make Batman a hypocrite: it means he’s adding to his wealth of knowledge without having to bring a gun onto the battlefield. Studying guns allows him to understand how to combat guns if ever confronted by one.So, in theory,if Batman is confronted by thieves on a daily basis, he has likely studied the best way to steal.
Is Batman Really a Better Thief Than Catwoman?
It’s a Close Call, Based on DC History
The big question is who is the better criminal - and specifically the better thief - of the two: Batman or Catwoman? The truth is that it’s a close call. What Batman pulls off in this issue is wholly impressive. He stole Penguin’s gold without being seen, and he was able to do so while eludingGotham’s most proficient killer. Meanwhile, Catwoman has stolen everything from jewels, artifacts, and even lives, but as a criminal, she has more examples of prime criminality than her longtime lover. IfBatmanever turned over a new leaf, one has to wonder if he’d outdoCatwomanas a thief.
