Rating the Super Hunks #24: Catman

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In honour of Cat Week, I am going to examine a guy who has been around the DCU for a long time, but has only recently converted to hunkdom. Not unlike Kiefer Sutherland, Catman only became sexy when he was given a starring role in a series. For this we can thank Gail Simone, who saw the potential for hunkiness where no one else did. So let's all take a good, long, dreamy look at

Thomas Blake, aka Catman

HE WISHES SHE WAS DEADSHOT.

HE WISHES SHE WAS DEADSHOT.

Costume/Appearance:

Well, y'know. His costume is basically Batman's. And it doesn't help that he broke onto the scene back in the sixties as a villain who was ripping off both Catwoman and Batman.

I WONDER IF THOMAS EVER LOOKS BACK ON THIS AND IS DEEPLY ASHAMED.

I WONDER IF THOMAS EVER LOOKS BACK ON THIS AND IS DEEPLY ASHAMED.

But the claw marks on the front, matching the real scar underneath, add a bold, seductive touch. And the brown and gold colour palate he has gone with as of late is working for him. And he fills the suit out nicely.

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT. MY COSTUME IS NOTHING LIKE THIS ONE."

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT. MY COSTUME IS NOTHING LIKE THIS ONE."

Sans costume, Thomas Blake is a blonde (or possibly red-headed depending on the artist), ripped, square-jawed and frequently shirtless dreamboat. He has a macho permanent stubble and loose locks thing going on, not unlike Sawyer from Lost but possibly with more shampoo.

MAN. CATMAN.

MAN. CATMAN.

I am going to give Catman full marks for looks, but he will lose points on the unoriginal costume choice.

7/10

Personality:

Who doesn't love a sexy anti-hero? We all love Superman and everything, but there's something extra delicious about a villain with morals. He's the unofficial leader of the Secret Six, commanding respect with his relative sanity, his awesome fighting skills, and his perfectly sculpted chest.

"DON'T MAKE ME REMOVE MORE OF MY COSTUME! BECAUSE I WILL!"

"DON'T MAKE ME REMOVE MORE OF MY COSTUME! BECAUSE I WILL!"

DEADSHOT WILL PROBABLY SHOW HER HIS IF SHE ASKED.

DEADSHOT WILL PROBABLY SHOW HER HIS IF SHE ASKED.

Let's not forget that this guy hit rock bottom not long before joining up with the Six. He was fat, disgraced, and suicidal when he decided that, rather than offing himself, he would move to Africa, get ripped and come back with a vengeance. And you have to respect that.

MACHO!

MACHO!

Not as terrifying as his sexy pal Deadshot, but by no means a sappy good guy, Catman has a perfect balance of good and...well, I don't want to say 'evil', but certainly 'self-interest.'

She smells like catnip.

She smells like catnip.

9/10

Sexiness of Super Powers:

According to Wikipedia, Catman is "an Olympic-level athlete and skilled hand-to-hand combatant. He is also one of the world's finest hunters and trackers." So basically, if you are choosing a partner for The Amazing Race, this is your guy.

"LET HER GO OR I SWEAR I WILL TAKE MY SHIRT OFF AND MAKE OUT WITH YOU SO HARD."

"LET HER GO OR I SWEAR I WILL TAKE MY SHIRT OFF AND MAKE OUT WITH YOU SO HARD."

10/10

Day Job:

The only job Catman has is working with the Secret Six to kill people who are even worse than they are for large amounts of money. Since I didn't fault Jonah Hex for being a bounty hunter, I can't really take points away from Catman on this one. Or can I? Hex is an entrepreneur, and he works alone. That makes his work slightly sexier.

But I do love the "will-they-or-won't-they" romance he shares with Deadshot.

"I SEE YOU ARE WEARING YOUR TIGHTEST SWEAT PANTS. AS AM I."

"I SEE YOU ARE WEARING YOUR TIGHTEST SWEAT PANTS. AS AM I."

9/10

Cons:

You could argue that Catman is a much lesser Batman, and why eat hamburger when you can eat Bruce Wayne? He's a B-lister for sure, but he clawed his way up (pun!) from D-list, so that's something. We can't really ignore the fact that, for many decades, this guy was a total joke. And, y'know, he kills a lot of people.

COOKING WITH CATMAN!

COOKING WITH CATMAN!

HE HAS REALLY NICE EYES, TOO.

HE HAS REALLY NICE EYES, TOO.

He's the first villain, if we can consider him that, to be rated among the Super Hunks, so I'll go easy on him. For a villain, he has surprisingly few flaws.

- 2

FINAL SCORE: 33/40

THIS WOULD ALSO MAKE A GOOD COSTUME.

THIS WOULD ALSO MAKE A GOOD COSTUME.

I'm afraid so, Catman. But that is a perfectly respectable score! In fact, that ties you with Iron Fist, so not bad at all! Especially considering the dramatic and sexy comeback from being a fat loser.