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A long-lingering plot thread in Catwoman sets up a major figure from her recent stories to go down a potentially dark path.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Catwoman #38, now on sale
The events of Rebirth, Doomsday Clock, and Dark Nights: Death Metal all radically altered the landscape of the DC Universe, introducing surprising tweaks for number of characters. Some were even restored to their proper place in the universe — but have remained hidden from their fellow heroes.
One long-overdue reunion between Lian Harper and her parents has finally begun in Catwoman #38 (by Ram V, Caspar Wijngaard, & Tom Napolitano) — but with Lian only meeting her mother (the typically villainous Cheshire) she could end up taking a darker path going forward.
Lian Harper was the daughter of Roy Harper — Green Arrow’s former sidekick — and the villainous Cheshire. Born in the Post-Crisis DC Universe, Lian’s death during the events of Justice League: Cry for Justice was a major tragedy for the hero community and splintered the Green Arrow family. However, the Post-Rebirth DC Universe saw Lian revived in a surprising fashion. In the current continuity, she was believed dead — but in reality, had been given up for adoption by her mother. Growing up in Gotham City, Lian has found a surprising place as one of Catwoman’s best lieutenants during her tenure as the Queen of Gotham’s Alleytown, training under her and even taking up the costumed identity of the Cheshire Cat.
There have been multiple teases about Lian discovering the heroic (and villainous) lineage that preceded her, with Roy Harper even using his drive to find her as a means to fight off the corruption of Darkseid in Infinite Frontier. But Cheshire has officially found their daughter first, thanks in large part to their shared connection to Selina Kyle. Cheshire is among the typically villainous group who fought alongside Catwoman to protect Alleytown from the influence of the Magistrate. After the dust settled in Catwoman #38, Cheshire is seen approaching Lian and introducing herself. It’s likely their connection is apparent from their shared abilities and costumed identities.
Lian has been previously revealed to remember little about her childhood except Cheshire’s mask, recalling how the woman had protected her life and left her at a Church in Gotham City. She has already shown a great deal of potential as a vigilante too, fighting crime in Gotham alongside Catwoman and — in the reality glimpsed in Future State — even taking up a major role by Catwoman’s side as a protector of the downtrodden population of Gotham. With her daughter’s help, Cheshire could even become a more overtly heroic figure in the DC Universe (as she’s been growing in adaptations like Young Justice).
However, the opposite might also be true. Cheshire’s influence and training could make Lian a more dangerous fighter and person. Cheshire has largely been a villainous figure in the current DC Universe, and — still under the assumption that Roy Harper is dead — could push Lian to follow in her own footsteps. This could make their eventual confrontation with Arsenal more dramatic, as Harper has recruited his teammates in the Titans to help him track down his daughter. The young hero’s future in the DC Universe might be more in flux than anyone expected, and Lian’s reunion with her mother could tease her as a surprisingly potent wildcard going forward — if not fully transforming her into a villain.
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