Selina Kyle, also known as Catwoman, is one of Gotham’s most iconic antiheroes. Initially introduced as a cat burglar, her crimes often teeter between theft and far more morally ambiguous actions. Over the years, Selina has evolved from a street-level thief to a complex figure who is both a criminal and a reluctant protector of Gotham. Her relationship with Batman has made her one of his most trusted allies—yet also one of his most dangerous foes.
Catwoman’s heists are legendary, but it’s the ruthless crimes she’s committed over the years that truly highlight her morally gray character. Whether driven by revenge, personal gain, or survival, Selina has proven time and time again that she’s willing to go to great lengths to achieve her goals, even if it means bending or breaking the law. From deadly double-crosses to elaborate heists, Catwoman’s most ruthless crimes show the depth of her character and the dark side she’s capable of. These ten crimes rank among the most ruthless Catwoman has ever committed, cementing her place as one of Gotham’s most complex and dangerous criminals.
#10: The Diamond Heist Gone Wrong (Batman: The Long Halloween)
In Batman: The Long Halloween, Selina Kyle is hired to steal a precious diamond. But things go sideways when the job becomes entangled with the escalating mob war in Gotham, and Catwoman finds herself caught in a deadly game between the Falcone family and Harvey Dent.
Though Selina originally plans to sell the diamond and move on, she gets more involved than she intends, working with Batman to try and stop the madness. However, her theft of the diamond directly contributes to the chaos that follows. Not only does she have to deal with the moral implications of her crime, but her decision to hold onto the diamond later causes tension between her and Gotham’s elite, as well as a direct confrontation with Harvey Dent, who will go on to become the vengeful Two-Face.
What makes this crime ruthless isn’t just the theft—it’s the web of betrayal, manipulation, and deadly consequences that follows. Catwoman’s involvement in the theft and the ensuing fallout pushes her further into Gotham’s criminal underworld, causing more harm than good despite her initial intention to simply get away with the loot.
#9: The Theft of the Batcave’s Most Valuable Secrets (Batman #357, 1983)
In one of her most personal and ruthless crimes, Catwoman infiltrates the Batcave to steal Batman’s most guarded secrets. The heist takes her into the heart of Batman’s world, where she steals valuable information about Gotham’s heroes and villains, including the identities of various superheroes and their hidden locations.
The act is a betrayal not only of Batman’s trust but also of her own complicated relationship with him. She knows that by stealing this information, she risks ruining the fragile truce they’ve built and potentially exposing the identities of Gotham’s most protected figures. While her intention is initially to get revenge for a slight, she perceives from Batman, the consequences are far-reaching. By stealing this vital information, Catwoman jeopardizes the safety of countless people and deeply wounds Batman’s trust in her.
What makes this crime particularly ruthless is the personal nature of the betrayal. Catwoman’s actions show that even though she operates in the gray area between good and evil, her methods can be devastating and calculated when she feels slighted or hurt.
#8: Betraying the Justice League (Catwoman: The Trial #1, 1993)
In Catwoman: The Trial, Selina Kyle finds herself in a position where she is forced to betray the Justice League in a bid to protect her own freedom. After being captured by the League and put on trial for her many crimes, Selina takes the opportunity to escape, using her relationship with certain members of the team to manipulate the situation.
The trial itself is a pivotal moment in Catwoman’s journey, as it reveals her inner conflict and struggle with her criminal identity. In a rare moment of ruthless pragmatism, Catwoman turns her back on the heroes who once considered her an ally, manipulating the legal proceedings to her advantage. She escapes with the help of her allies, but the betrayal leaves a scar on her reputation among Gotham’s hero community.
What makes this crime ruthless is the sheer coldness of her actions. She doesn’t hesitate to use the trust the Justice League placed in her against them, showcasing her cunning and willingness to betray those who might try to stop her. In the end, Catwoman’s decision is both a tactical maneuver and a reflection of the complex, morally ambiguous person she has become.
#7: The Kidnapping of Batman’s Allies (Catwoman #80, 1999)
In this classic heist story, Catwoman decides to take matters into her own hands by kidnapping several of Batman’s trusted allies, including Robin and Batgirl, and using them as leverage in her quest to steal a rare treasure. Her plan is to force Batman into a moral dilemma: save his friends or let her get away with the loot.
The crime becomes increasingly brutal as Catwoman grows more desperate to achieve her goal. Not only does she risk the lives of Batman’s sidekicks, but she also forces Batman into a difficult moral position—choosing between saving Gotham and stopping Catwoman. It’s a chilling display of her willingness to cross any line for personal gain, even if it means putting innocent lives at risk.
Her ruthlessness is showcased not just in the kidnapping itself, but in her ability to manipulate the situation to her advantage. She challenges Batman’s moral code and forces him into an uncomfortable situation, showing just how far she is willing to go to get what she wants.
#6: The Sinister Stolen Heart (Batman #674, 2007)
In a more elaborate crime, Catwoman steals a priceless heart—a literal human heart from a historical figure in Gotham. This particular crime doesn’t just focus on the object itself but the consequences it brings. The heist triggers a series of violent events that unravel Gotham’s underground world and expose some of the city’s darkest secrets.
What makes this heist particularly ruthless is the way Catwoman plays both sides. Not only does she steal the heart, but she also exploits her own complex relationships with other criminals to manipulate them into helping her escape the consequences. She uses Gotham’s underworld as a chessboard, forcing enemies and allies alike to bend to her will.
The stakes of this heist are high, with Selina showing how easily she can exploit both her skills and her knowledge of Gotham’s criminal element to get what she wants. The heart she steals represents more than just a piece of treasure; it symbolizes the power Selina holds over Gotham’s darker forces—and how far she’s willing to go to manipulate them.
#5: Double-Crossing The Penguin (Batman: The Animated Series, “The Cat and the Claw”)
In Batman: The Animated Series, Catwoman’s actions take a ruthless turn when she double-crosses Gotham’s crime kingpin, the Penguin. Initially, Catwoman works with Penguin on a plan to steal precious artifacts, but her true motives are more personal.
Once Catwoman realizes that Penguin is planning to use her for his own gain, she turns the tables on him, stealing the artifacts and leaving Penguin to take the fall for everything. In this episode, her ruthlessness comes through in her cold calculations. She doesn’t just outsmart Penguin—she uses him as a pawn in her larger plan. What makes this crime particularly cruel is the fact that she’s willing to manipulate an ally and put them at risk just to secure her own escape and financial gain.
This betrayal isn’t just a clever heist—it’s a display of Catwoman’s darker side, her willingness to go after whatever she wants, even if it means using Gotham’s most dangerous criminals as steppingstones.
#4: Stealing the Lazarus Pit Formula (Batman: The Animated Series – “The Demon’s Quest”)
One of Catwoman’s most ruthless crimes involves her collaboration with Ra’s al Ghul in Batman: The Animated Series. In this storyline, she betrays Ra’s al Ghul by stealing the Lazarus Pit formula, a powerful secret that can grant immortality. What makes this heist particularly dangerous is the immense power of the formula, which not only has the potential to revive the dead but can also fuel a new criminal empire.
Catwoman’s manipulation of Ra’s al Ghul, a centuries-old villain who holds the secret to his immortality, shows her tactical genius and her willingness to betray even the most dangerous figures for personal gain. She teams up with Ra’s, but as soon as she has what she wants, she turns on him and uses the formula for her own purposes.
The impact of this crime is enormous, as it has the potential to change the balance of power in Gotham. Ra’s al Ghul himself is not easily outmaneuvered, so when Catwoman steals something that could ultimately keep him alive forever, it puts her in direct opposition with some of the most powerful beings in the DC Universe. Her ruthlessness is demonstrated not just by her theft, but by her cunning to leave Ra’s with nothing but anger and the knowledge that she played him like a pawn.
#3: The Murder of Batman’s Greatest Allies (Pre-New 52, Batman: Hush)
While Catwoman is often seen as a rogue antihero, in Batman: Hush, her role takes a darker turn when she is manipulated into betraying Batman. Under the influence of Hush, a mysterious villain with a personal vendetta against Bruce Wayne, Catwoman is tricked into committing a series of criminal acts that ultimately put Batman’s closest allies at risk. While she doesn’t directly kill anyone, her involvement in the plot—leading to an attack on Gotham’s heroes—pushes her into territory she typically avoids.
In Hush, Catwoman is forced to choose between her loyalty to Batman and her involvement in a sinister scheme orchestrated by Hush. Her betrayal feels personal because she’s aware of the stakes. What makes this crime particularly ruthless is the emotional toll it takes on Batman and the long-term consequences for their relationship. Though she didn’t actively murder anyone, her role in the manipulation leaves her standing at the edge of morality.
Her actions in Hush represent one of the rare instances where Catwoman’s ambition and self-interest are used for dark purposes, crossing into the realm of betrayal and deep psychological manipulation. This arc shows that, while she’s a criminal at heart, Catwoman has a capacity for much greater ruthlessness when her own desires or emotions are involved.
#2: The Betrayal of Gotham’s Elite (Catwoman #1–10, 1993–1994)
In the 1993–1994 Catwoman series, Selina Kyle’s moral boundaries blur when she targets Gotham’s elite for a series of high-stakes heists. Initially, her motivations seem to revolve around self-gain, as she steals from the rich and powerful without much regard for the consequences. However, as the series progresses, it becomes clear that her actions are more calculated than simple theft.
Her crimes target some of Gotham’s wealthiest and most corrupt figures, including a shady businessman who has ties to some of the city’s most dangerous criminals. Selina uses Gotham’s elite for her own ends, playing them against one another and manipulating the rich to get what she wants. What makes these crimes so ruthless is how she exploits Gotham’s power dynamics, using both physical and emotional manipulation to steal from those who think they’re untouchable.
What truly solidifies this as one of Catwoman’s most ruthless moments is how deeply she involves herself in Gotham’s criminal underworld. She doesn’t simply steal for personal enrichment—she seeks to destabilize the systems that protect Gotham’s wealthiest individuals. This vendetta turns her into not just a burglar, but a more complex and calculated character, using her intellect and wit to topple entire criminal empires from within.
#1: The Stolen Secrets of the Bat-Family (Catwoman #70, 1999)
Catwoman’s most ruthlessly personal crime involves her taking the Bat-Family’s most guarded secrets. In a storyline where trust and betrayal are central themes, Selina Kyle’s decision to steal Batman’s files on Gotham’s other vigilantes is perhaps her most calculating and dangerous act. The files contain sensitive information on the identities and strategies of other Bat-family members like Robin, Batgirl, and even Gotham’s other costumed criminals.
What makes this theft particularly ruthless is the collateral damage it causes. Not only does Selina violate Batman’s trust, but she also jeopardizes the safety of his allies and all the individuals whose secret identities could now be exposed to Gotham’s criminal elite. This crime isn’t just a heist—it’s a betrayal of the people who have worked alongside her, and it plays on the personal ties she shares with the Bat-family. She may have stolen from them for her own survival and gain, but the consequences ripple far beyond just her immediate benefit.
Catwoman’s theft of these secrets is ultimately about proving her autonomy and her ability to outmaneuver even the most trusted figures in Gotham. The crime reveals the depth of her ruthlessness—she’s willing to sacrifice her friendships and alliances to protect herself and get what she wants. In doing so, she sets herself on a collision course with the very people who once considered her an ally.
Catwoman is one of Gotham’s most iconic antiheroes, but her ruthlessness knows no bounds. From calculated heists to devastating betrayals, Selina Kyle has shown time and again that she is willing to go to extreme lengths to achieve her goals. Her crimes reveal a woman who is both a master thief and a master manipulator, willing to use both brains and brawn to get what she wants. These top 10 ruthless crimes show the darker side of Catwoman, proving that she is not just a burglar—but a force of nature capable of challenging Gotham’s most formidable heroes and criminals alike.
