Cat-Man (Thomas Blake) Appreciation (2021)

[MajorHoy]

First appearance: Detective Comics #311 (January 1963)


to be continued . . .

[The Cool Thatguy]

So what should be the modern motivation of Blake?

Gail Simone made him a bad ass, but I think she left his motivation vague. Thoughts on who he oughta be? I like anti-hero

[Restingvoice]

Did someone say hot bi guy? ^^
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Honestly I don't know his story yet I just love his New 52 design. The mask, the jacket, the scar, and the hair.

[OBrianTallent]

I knew of Catman prior to Villains United and Secret Six of course but I really fell in love with his character during S6. He's one character I would love to see get at the least a mini series if not a full ongoing.

[SJNeal]

This could turn into a beefcake thread very quickly...

[vitaminbee]

I always loved this design of him.

[signalman112]

Cat-Man like Hostess Cup Cakes. YUM!

hostessCatMan.jpg

[signalman112]

My favorite Bat-Artist Don Newton draws Cat-Man in DETCETIVE COMICS #509.

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[signalman112]

Cat-Man was voiced by Thomas Wilson on B:TB&TB.

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[MajorHoy]

from Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Vol. IV (June 1985)

[signalman112]

Norm Breyfogle gives Thomas Blake a new Cat costume in Detective Comics #612.

CatMan612NB.jpg

[MajorHoy]

from Who's Who in the DC Universe #13 (October 1991)

[godisawesome]

So what should be the modern motivation of Blake?

Gail Simone made him a bad ass, but I think she left his motivation vague. Thoughts on who he oughta be? I like anti-hero

I like the idea of him being a former rich big game hunter who went through crippling depression and cast everything aside before pursuing a death wish hunting big cats with only primitive weapons... but wound up both surviving much longer than he expected but coming to feel an affinity for the animals, as well as reinventing himself as more “pure” hunter.

Then, a bit like the classic mad hunter, he wound up hunting people as well for the challenge of it, but generally needs *a* solid reason beyond the pure joy of the hunt, because he feels sport hunting just for sport hunting is pathetically “human.” He was hired to hunt Batman during the early days, got embarrassed, decided to try beating him at his own game, and put on the costume... and wound up hunting his initial employer when they became a more “worthy” target of his hunt.

He’s still moody, still battle depression, is openly misanthropic and is knowingly living an unhealthy lifestyle, but kind of like Deadshot, doesn’t care. He’s the greatest pure hunter in the DCU, and one of Bruce’s few rivals in that field. Danger and glory are his addiction.

[MajorHoy]

from 52 #28 (January 2007)

[marhawkman]

I forget the name, but I remember there was one book from the mid 2000s some time where he teamed up with Huntress. It had a rather odd scene of heavy flirting at their base when he takes off his shirt in front of her and she's like "yes, please!"