WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Catwoman #33 by Ram V, Fernando Blanco, Jordie Bellaire & Tom Napolitano, on sale now.
The DC Universe has been shifted and retconned multiple times over the years thanks to the reality-shaking events of the heroes' lives, with some characters getting new leases on life in unexpected ways. This includes Lian Harper, the daughter of a hero and a villain who has only recently been revealed to be alive again in the current DC Universe. After months of teasing her true identity, Lian might already be getting a major reunion.
Catwoman #33 may have just set up a reunion between Cheshire and Lian Harper, and it's possible that they might be working together soon.
While Croc, Knockout and Firefly are all unsurprising figures for this journey, the fourth is Cheshire, the world-renowned assassin. While it's always good for Catwoman to have more allies -- especially with the streets of Gotham becoming increasingly dangerous for anyone who wears a mask -- Cheshire's presence creates the potential for a momentous reunion. In the Post-Crisis DC Universe, Cheshire briefly had an affair with Roy Harper, aka Green Arrow's former sidekick, Arsenal. The pair had a daughter, Lian, who Roy raised with love and care. Lian was killed in the events of Justice League: Cry for Justice, and was seemingly retconned away by the new DC Universe created after the events of Flashpoint.
But things have changed recently, with the Infinite Frontier-era DC Universe revealing that Lian was indeed born on this world. Still the daughter of Cheshire and Arsenal, she was believed dead at the hands of the Electrocutioner. Instead, Cheshire had faked her death (even to her father) and secretly left her with a church in Gotham City, reasoning this way she wouldn't be targeted by enemies trying to strike at her parents through her. Lian grew up on the streets of Gotham, eventually taking the nickname Shoes and becoming one of the Strays of Alleytown. She's also proven herself to be one of the most promising of Catwoman's young proteges and has even taken to a heroic identity of her own as the Cheshire Cat, inspired by her stray memories of the woman who abandoned her years ago.
Future State even suggested she not only excels in this position but becomes something of an active partner for Catwoman, hinting at Lian's importance in the long run of the DC Universe. Catwoman is unaware of this connection though, which means Cheshire might get the chance to meet the young woman her daughter has grown into. It'll be interesting to see if the pair make the connection of how they know each other -- and how this affects Catwoman's potential alliance with the longtime assassin. It's possible Cheshire is even only there because of Lian, giving her even more incentive to work with Catwoman. But if their conversation takes a more chaotic turn, it could invite even more trouble for Catwoman.
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