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Batwoman (2011)
Batwoman by Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III
Eisner Award winning authors Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III team up to show a new side of Gotham through the eyes of Batwoman. As one of the first openly gay superheroes in the DC Universe, Kate Kane has broken down boundaries since taking on the the beloved Bat mantle. Batwoman returns to the spotlight when a mysterious villain comes straight from the rabbit hole in BATWOMAN BY GREG RUCKA AND J.H. WILLIAMS III.
Batwoman's crime-fighting nights in the city of Gotham are collected in BATWOMAN BY GREG RUCKA AND J.H. WILLIAMS III. Collects DETECTIVE COMICS #854-863.
Batwoman's crime-fighting nights in the city of Gotham are collected in BATWOMAN BY GREG RUCKA AND J.H. WILLIAMS III. Collects DETECTIVE COMICS #854-863.
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2017
42 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Greg Rucka
1,493 books1,925 followersGreg Rucka, is an American comic book writer and novelist, known for his work on such comics as Action Comics, Batwoman: Detective Comics, and the miniseries Superman: World of New Krypton for DC Comics, and for novels such as his Queen & Country series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
August 18, 2017
Expands on Batwoman: Elegy by giving us an additional 3 issues drawn by Jock that apparently haven't been collected before. It's a standalone story told in parallel with Batman and Batwoman both searching for missing women. I liked it quite a bit even if it doesn't really expand Batwoman's story.
The main story by Rucka and J.H. Williams III is just stunning. Williams has an incredible sense of design and makes each panel a work of art. I could just sit and look at these pages again and again without even reading the story. Spinning out of 52, the Religion of Crime is back with a new leader, Alice. She's nuts and only speaks in dialogue from Lewis Carroll books.
The latter part of the story tells of Batwoman's origin and I have to say it's one of the better ones in modern comics. Kate is the top cadet in her class at West Point when she's brought up on charges for being gay. She's asked to follow the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy but refuses to lie because that is also part of the Army creed. All she's wanted to do is protect people by serving her country like her father and is lost for a long time once she's separated from the military. After seeing Batman in action, she's once again inspired on how to help people.
The main story by Rucka and J.H. Williams III is just stunning. Williams has an incredible sense of design and makes each panel a work of art. I could just sit and look at these pages again and again without even reading the story. Spinning out of 52, the Religion of Crime is back with a new leader, Alice. She's nuts and only speaks in dialogue from Lewis Carroll books.
The latter part of the story tells of Batwoman's origin and I have to say it's one of the better ones in modern comics. Kate is the top cadet in her class at West Point when she's brought up on charges for being gay. She's asked to follow the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy but refuses to lie because that is also part of the Army creed. All she's wanted to do is protect people by serving her country like her father and is lost for a long time once she's separated from the military. After seeing Batman in action, she's once again inspired on how to help people.
July 5, 2022
This was actually pretty good!
We get to see the origins of Kate Kane and the tragic things in her life that made her this way and I love the lesbian angle here and how it informs her character and how she won't apologize for it and then meeting Renee and ultimately Batman and getting inspired by him to take up the cowl and cape and the tragic thing with her sister was sad and also in the present fighting against Religion of crime and those fabled monsters were amazing and just makes you love that character and that short story showing how she and Batman rescue hostages was so awesome and gives a contrast between the two cousins really well!
One of the best modern superhero origins plus the art of JHW is so good, omg every page is a poster and I just love it. Also the villain Alice and who she is, is so sad and yeah makes you root for Kate even more and I love how she gets a sidekick in Flamebird too, I freaking love the origins of that character too and going into new 52, it should be a great read!
We get to see the origins of Kate Kane and the tragic things in her life that made her this way and I love the lesbian angle here and how it informs her character and how she won't apologize for it and then meeting Renee and ultimately Batman and getting inspired by him to take up the cowl and cape and the tragic thing with her sister was sad and also in the present fighting against Religion of crime and those fabled monsters were amazing and just makes you love that character and that short story showing how she and Batman rescue hostages was so awesome and gives a contrast between the two cousins really well!
One of the best modern superhero origins plus the art of JHW is so good, omg every page is a poster and I just love it. Also the villain Alice and who she is, is so sad and yeah makes you root for Kate even more and I love how she gets a sidekick in Flamebird too, I freaking love the origins of that character too and going into new 52, it should be a great read!
September 19, 2021
Batwoman by Greg Rucka and JH Williams collects the Batwoman stories from Detective Comics #854-863.
Up until now, my only exposure to Batwoman was in 52 when she went up against the Church of Crime and got stabbed through the heart. I don't know what made me pick this up but I'm glad I did.
In this volume, the story of Kate Kane becoming Batwoman is revealed, along with a battle with the new leader of the Religion of Crime and a serial mutilator known as The Cutter.
The origin of Batwoman is an intriguing one, getting ejected from West Point for being gay and meandering through life until a chance encounter with Batman sent her down the superhero path. There are other aspects to her origin that I don't want to spoil.
I like Batwoman for the same reason I liked Bronze Age Huntress: The stories feel like Batman stories without 80 years of baggage. They're gritty tales with a lot of action and Kate often takes a beating and/or stabbing in the course of sorting things out.
JH Williams and Jock do a fantastic job on art, though I have to admit I like the flat colors in JH William's flashback scenes more than I do the computer colored pages of the current tale.
Batwoman by Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III is a good read and a great intro into Batwoman. Four out of five stars.
Up until now, my only exposure to Batwoman was in 52 when she went up against the Church of Crime and got stabbed through the heart. I don't know what made me pick this up but I'm glad I did.
In this volume, the story of Kate Kane becoming Batwoman is revealed, along with a battle with the new leader of the Religion of Crime and a serial mutilator known as The Cutter.
The origin of Batwoman is an intriguing one, getting ejected from West Point for being gay and meandering through life until a chance encounter with Batman sent her down the superhero path. There are other aspects to her origin that I don't want to spoil.
I like Batwoman for the same reason I liked Bronze Age Huntress: The stories feel like Batman stories without 80 years of baggage. They're gritty tales with a lot of action and Kate often takes a beating and/or stabbing in the course of sorting things out.
JH Williams and Jock do a fantastic job on art, though I have to admit I like the flat colors in JH William's flashback scenes more than I do the computer colored pages of the current tale.
Batwoman by Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III is a good read and a great intro into Batwoman. Four out of five stars.
Want to read
April 4, 2018Not really a Batwoman fan, but damn these covers are killing it!
May 12, 2020
YASSSS THE POWER OF LESBIANS!!!!
July 29, 2017
True rating: 4.5 stars.
I knew nothing about Batwoman prior to buying this trade paperback, but after reading the collection of issues within, I have a solid understanding of her character and her origins. The first arc included (6 issues) is of 5 star quality, art and story both. The plot is absorbing and some of the page layouts are mind-blowing! The second arc (3 issues) falters a little, primarily because the story is as much about Batman and Bette as it is about Batwoman. However, it's still entertaining and provides what I'm sure is pertinent background information about Bette. Overall, an excellent introduction to a complicated superheroine, with stimulating writing and challenging (a good thing!) artwork.
I knew nothing about Batwoman prior to buying this trade paperback, but after reading the collection of issues within, I have a solid understanding of her character and her origins. The first arc included (6 issues) is of 5 star quality, art and story both. The plot is absorbing and some of the page layouts are mind-blowing! The second arc (3 issues) falters a little, primarily because the story is as much about Batman and Bette as it is about Batwoman. However, it's still entertaining and provides what I'm sure is pertinent background information about Bette. Overall, an excellent introduction to a complicated superheroine, with stimulating writing and challenging (a good thing!) artwork.
October 23, 2018
mostly a re-read with the exception of the last 3 issues which I had never read( The cutter story).
April 18, 2022
The first story arc was 4 stars while the second story arc was more like 3 stars.
The Elegy story arc was great and really enjoyable. I had already read 52 (and Crime Bible) so I had enough backstory on Batwoman that I was able to get right into this without any problems.
The Cutter story arc was okay, but not great. I did like the parallels with the Batman story going on at the same time though.
The Elegy story arc was great and really enjoyable. I had already read 52 (and Crime Bible) so I had enough backstory on Batwoman that I was able to get right into this without any problems.
The Cutter story arc was okay, but not great. I did like the parallels with the Batman story going on at the same time though.
March 4, 2018
Alors là... C'est du très lourd. L'histoire est très bonne et surtout l'art... l'art est juste parfait. C'est magnifique et c'est superbement raconté et mis en scène. J'adore. Je suis très contente d'avoir découvert Batwoman, ce personnage ne m'intéressait pas forcément au départ quand j'ai commencé à me plonger dans les comics, mais celui-là était génialissime et le personnage est très réussi.
September 4, 2025
The whole time I'm reading this, I couldn't help but think of Zdarsky's Daredevil Omnibus in terms of the art design and how they treat the characters, plot— basically the whole storytelling.
They give an equal amount of care towards the depth of the development of the characters, the plot, and the art without forsaking any of them.
I also just found out about Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military of Justice, which was shocking because I never really imagined that was a thing in the first place. I also would like to mention that the whole Cadet Kate character arc was so interesting to me, I was really fascinated with Kate being a soldier.
Anyway, I'm also pleased that the comic really did a good job with their presentation of queer characters– especially on Kate.
Overall, I really enjoyed following the storyline of this comic book, and obviously, I am in it for a treat after the cliffhanger on the coven plot. The storyline is just intriguing and fascinating as a new reader of the Batwoman lore/ Kate Cain Lore. I also love her character design here so much 😫.
I'm excited to get into the next proper volume 🫶
They give an equal amount of care towards the depth of the development of the characters, the plot, and the art without forsaking any of them.
I also just found out about Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military of Justice, which was shocking because I never really imagined that was a thing in the first place. I also would like to mention that the whole Cadet Kate character arc was so interesting to me, I was really fascinated with Kate being a soldier.
Anyway, I'm also pleased that the comic really did a good job with their presentation of queer characters– especially on Kate.
Overall, I really enjoyed following the storyline of this comic book, and obviously, I am in it for a treat after the cliffhanger on the coven plot. The storyline is just intriguing and fascinating as a new reader of the Batwoman lore/ Kate Cain Lore. I also love her character design here so much 😫.
I'm excited to get into the next proper volume 🫶
June 4, 2021
A HQ conta com 2 histórias: uma primeira a respeito de uma seita em Gotham que, anteriormente conforme explica história, tentou matar a Batwoman. É uma excelente história que, além de tratar os crimes da seita, também explora as relações pessoais da Batwoman com a família.
A segunda história é menor, com 3 volumes. Nela, é contado a história da Batwoman antes de ser combatente do crime, suas relações sociais familiares e amorosas, sua trajetória no exército e, o preconceito que ela sofreu por ser sapatona.
Top demais!! História muito boa para introdução da Batwoman no universo do Batman.
A segunda história é menor, com 3 volumes. Nela, é contado a história da Batwoman antes de ser combatente do crime, suas relações sociais familiares e amorosas, sua trajetória no exército e, o preconceito que ela sofreu por ser sapatona.
Top demais!! História muito boa para introdução da Batwoman no universo do Batman.
November 17, 2024
Wow. This was incredibly well done. Plot was enticing and it’s great for anyone who doesn’t know Batwoman as there’s a lot of backstory. But above all, the artwork was just STUNNING. The layouts of the pages, the switch between styles for past vs. present. It was *chefs kiss* perfection! Highly recommend, if for the artwork only!
November 16, 2025
Beyond the very good art I fail to see why this has the reputation it has.
The main story is perfectly alright but fails to make the main character engaging further than that she’s a lesbian, so the big reveal means absolutely nothing.
The second storyline, lacking the Williams art is pretty damn bad.
The main story is perfectly alright but fails to make the main character engaging further than that she’s a lesbian, so the big reveal means absolutely nothing.
The second storyline, lacking the Williams art is pretty damn bad.
July 23, 2021
Sometimes something is technically very good but doesn't really resonate. I loved the art in this! Idk! It was good!
May 5, 2020
So I’ve got a lot of thoughts about this, most stem from my dislike of Batwoman and Kate Kane as a character.
Greg Rucka, for the most part, tells a really awesome story here. Especially when we get into the history of Kate Kane. Im not a fan of her character at all and never have been. which is not to say that I don’t like female characters because Montoya and even Cpt. Sawyer from GC are some of my favourite characters and when they appeared in this I was very interested in what was happening.
I just think Kate Kane and Batwoman in general is a boring, uninspired, one dimensional character and the last 3 issues of this trade typifies this. Those issues are well written, the story is as very interesting but all it achieved was making Batwoman a b grade knockoff version of Batman. And I think Kate Kane can be used better as that, but she NEVER is. It’s usually comparing how bad ass she is compared to batman but never adding any depth whatsoever to her already painfully thin personality.
Now the first 2 thirds of this trade was a pretty great story that did what I wanted, it showed us Kate’s backstory in a really interesting way (flashbacks) while something was happening in the present time. The big issue I had with that was for some reason Greg decided to use an Alice in wonderland schtick like it hasn’t been used before by another villain in Gotham. I don’t want to see another Lewis Carroll inspired villain it fuckin SUCKS. That’s what was so disappointing about it too, it could’ve been awesome but you decided to use Alice. Why. Fuck me why.
Greg Rucka, for the most part, tells a really awesome story here. Especially when we get into the history of Kate Kane. Im not a fan of her character at all and never have been. which is not to say that I don’t like female characters because Montoya and even Cpt. Sawyer from GC are some of my favourite characters and when they appeared in this I was very interested in what was happening.
I just think Kate Kane and Batwoman in general is a boring, uninspired, one dimensional character and the last 3 issues of this trade typifies this. Those issues are well written, the story is as very interesting but all it achieved was making Batwoman a b grade knockoff version of Batman. And I think Kate Kane can be used better as that, but she NEVER is. It’s usually comparing how bad ass she is compared to batman but never adding any depth whatsoever to her already painfully thin personality.
Now the first 2 thirds of this trade was a pretty great story that did what I wanted, it showed us Kate’s backstory in a really interesting way (flashbacks) while something was happening in the present time. The big issue I had with that was for some reason Greg decided to use an Alice in wonderland schtick like it hasn’t been used before by another villain in Gotham. I don’t want to see another Lewis Carroll inspired villain it fuckin SUCKS. That’s what was so disappointing about it too, it could’ve been awesome but you decided to use Alice. Why. Fuck me why.
May 9, 2019
J.H. William's III is perhaps the best artist in modern comics. And his pencils come in full force in this series. I cannot even find the words to explain how much I adore his lines and his inks. His panels are some of the most unique you will find in any superhero book. Greg Rucka has a fun time letting William's tell his crime fighter story of Batwoman. He opens with what seems like a routine villain with a dastardly plot but slowly works into the book Batwomans origin. Like all superheroes it is a gloomy one. One that has social commentary of the military lifestyle as well as the "don't ask don't tell policy. It was never preachy but it was emotional. The series also leads to a 3 issue series, drawn by another favorite artist Jock, that shows the parallels between Batwoman and Batman. Fun stuff. My problems were that on occasion, William's panel progression became hard to follow especially during splash pages. He makes his pages look like tapestries. Beautiful yes. Hard to follow...kinda. Also the book becomes a bit convoluted with Ruckas interweaving stories but overall I was impressed they gave an LGBTQ character real genuine pathos that felt both unique yet streamlined.
December 13, 2017
This collection really contains 3 different stories and I want to address them separately:
First up is Elegy with art by J.H. Williams III. The story for Elegy didn't blow me away but the art is gorgeous. The second story is Go, also with art by J.H. Williams III. It's an origin story and the strongest part of the collection. The third story features art by Jock, which was fine but definitely a huge step down over the beautiful art from the first two stories. The third story frankly wasn't that strong, art aside. While, paralleling Kate's case with Batman's is an interesting enough idea I didn't feel the execution really did it for me.
On the whole I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in the character, but be prepared the third story to not live up to the first two.
First up is Elegy with art by J.H. Williams III. The story for Elegy didn't blow me away but the art is gorgeous. The second story is Go, also with art by J.H. Williams III. It's an origin story and the strongest part of the collection. The third story features art by Jock, which was fine but definitely a huge step down over the beautiful art from the first two stories. The third story frankly wasn't that strong, art aside. While, paralleling Kate's case with Batman's is an interesting enough idea I didn't feel the execution really did it for me.
On the whole I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in the character, but be prepared the third story to not live up to the first two.
May 14, 2020
This was great! The art was astonishing (i thought Michael Lark was drawing on the Cutter arc, but it is awesome to see how Williams can adapt to the writing). Rucka is some of the writers that i most trust to read something and i was right again! Haha!
It's a must for any super hero readers. Kate is not just another bat-family character. Rucka gives her a really nice background, a great personality and a great origin. I think she's really high at my not so important super hero ranking. Anyway, you have to read this!
It's a must for any super hero readers. Kate is not just another bat-family character. Rucka gives her a really nice background, a great personality and a great origin. I think she's really high at my not so important super hero ranking. Anyway, you have to read this!
September 22, 2020
This is my review of Elegy:
4.5 stars. A bit of the cult stuff was hard to follow, but it was a beautiful book and the backstory was so well done.
And this is for Batwoman:
The extra 3 issues that weren't in Elegy, the cutter storyline, weren't as good as the other issues. Alone I'd probably give them 3 stars but the rest of the book was great, so it's still 4 stars from me.
4.5 stars. A bit of the cult stuff was hard to follow, but it was a beautiful book and the backstory was so well done.
And this is for Batwoman:
The extra 3 issues that weren't in Elegy, the cutter storyline, weren't as good as the other issues. Alone I'd probably give them 3 stars but the rest of the book was great, so it's still 4 stars from me.
August 13, 2020
Que leitura senhora e senhoress.
Uma origem de peso e com muita representatividade lésbica sempre com muita presença e com uma arte incrível de realmente tirar o chapéu. Eu realmente n tenho palavras para designar o significado dessa obra mas é algo muito positivo para a sociedade. Enfim fico muito feliz de uma personagem lésbica ganhar seu encadernado lindo.
Uma origem de peso e com muita representatividade lésbica sempre com muita presença e com uma arte incrível de realmente tirar o chapéu. Eu realmente n tenho palavras para designar o significado dessa obra mas é algo muito positivo para a sociedade. Enfim fico muito feliz de uma personagem lésbica ganhar seu encadernado lindo.
October 15, 2019
Finally took the time to read this what with the new show. Pretty solid run (i mean, it's greg rucka), I love this take on Alice even if it's obviously impossible to keep up for more than a few issues. Also the "Cutter" story they included was brilliantly crafted.
July 20, 2017
A nice introduction for people who are not familiar with Kate/Batwoman's story.
August 13, 2022
Introduced briefly in 52, Batwoman’s story in the DC Universe starts proper as her creator Greg Rucka gives her the starring role in his new Detective Comics run to establish Kate Kane’s character and story so well that her own solo series launched as part of the new 52.
Rucka is one of my favourite comics writers and this volume contains all the charm and readability his writing always does. The real star though is probably the art. JH Williams III brings the Elegy arc to life with stunning visuals and innovative panel placement. Then Jock illustrates the Cutter arc with his usual brilliantly unique style.
Part of what makes Batwoman work so well is that despite the bat on her chest, she is almost entirely unassociated with him. She wears the symbol of the Bat because she believes in his mission but she’s an entirely independent operator not sanctioned or mentored by Bruce Wayne in any way.
The opening scene shows exactly how Kate is different to Bruce. The red in her costume pops off the page with a bright brilliance Batman never could. She’s a creature of the night who brings the same terror as Batman but also something more persuasive or even seductive. When her prey won’t give up information because ‘they’ll’ kill him, she takes him in her arms with the promise she won’t let them and has him whisper the information in her ear.
Kate’s womanising love life being genuinely a mess rather than an act for cover is another interesting parallel. As is her support base - the Alfred role played by her actual father. Alfred always hid his espionage background behind class and respectability. Jacob Kane hides none of his army background, running Kate’s missions like military operations. Blood does not prove thicker than water though as Jacob’s lies are revealed in Elegy, showing he is not the trustworthy ally Alfred is.
The character designs by in the JH Williams arc are all gorgeous and the villain of the piece is no exception. Alice is the new leader of the Religion of Crime and at first glance fits right into the pantheon of Gotham’s nutjob villains. But, talking only in Lewis Carroll quotes, she’s actually probably weirder than the majority of Batman villains. She does remind me of Jeph Loeb’s quote-obsessed takes on Scarecrow and Mad Hatter.
Alice’s all-white design cleverly gives her a ghost-like appearance that is fitting given her true identity and she and Batwoman are fantastic visual contrasts. The final battle between the two is great and Rucka and Williams make the final moment, a reveal that ultimately means nothing until the context is revealed, feel like a huge and memorable moment.
The decision to make the second half of the arc 90% origin flashbacks as Kate investigates if Alice was really her sister is a bold decision with pros and cons. The Alice reveal would mean more if we knew Kate and Beth’s story before but would also be more predictable.
Kate’s story is beautifully crafted and exceptionally detailed. It would be easy to create a new variation on Batman’s origin for her but Rucka does something wholly original with real depth and meaning. With backstory as strong as this, Kate really feels like a real person and these 3 issues do vital work for giving Kate longevity as a character.
With the reveal of Alice’s identity and the ending of Kate’s partnership with her father, there’s a sense Elegy would potentially work better as an ending to a Batwoman saga rather than the start. If it was a tv show you’d expect this as a season finale, or the opening of season 2 not the first season. (There actually is a tv show but I haven’t seen it yet so can’t comment on how they handle it.) That said, particularly in comics, it’s usually best to go big early so maybe Elegy is the perfect start for Batwoman as you don’t expect the rug to be pulled out from under you in arc 1.
The other arc in the book is the three part Cutter arc that introduces a sadly uninspiring serial killer named Cutter and sees Batman and Batwoman working the same case from different angles. The story and art choices effectively highlight the similarities and differences between Bruce and Kate.
Rucka also starts to develop Bette Kane as a character ready to become Batwoman’s sidekick. This is really the only reminder of the existence of Batwoman/Kathy Kane from the silver age when Bette was her sidekick, the original Batgirl. Given Batgirl obviously already exists in the modern age, Rucka settles on the identity of Flamebird for Bette but leaves her journey for the next writer.
This is a brilliant start for Batwoman and Rucka basically writes volume 0 to establish everything ready for Batwoman issue 1 to launch in the New 52. Batwoman is one of the best new-er characters from DC Comics and that all comes back to Rucka’s excellent work establishing her here.
Rucka is one of my favourite comics writers and this volume contains all the charm and readability his writing always does. The real star though is probably the art. JH Williams III brings the Elegy arc to life with stunning visuals and innovative panel placement. Then Jock illustrates the Cutter arc with his usual brilliantly unique style.
Part of what makes Batwoman work so well is that despite the bat on her chest, she is almost entirely unassociated with him. She wears the symbol of the Bat because she believes in his mission but she’s an entirely independent operator not sanctioned or mentored by Bruce Wayne in any way.
The opening scene shows exactly how Kate is different to Bruce. The red in her costume pops off the page with a bright brilliance Batman never could. She’s a creature of the night who brings the same terror as Batman but also something more persuasive or even seductive. When her prey won’t give up information because ‘they’ll’ kill him, she takes him in her arms with the promise she won’t let them and has him whisper the information in her ear.
Kate’s womanising love life being genuinely a mess rather than an act for cover is another interesting parallel. As is her support base - the Alfred role played by her actual father. Alfred always hid his espionage background behind class and respectability. Jacob Kane hides none of his army background, running Kate’s missions like military operations. Blood does not prove thicker than water though as Jacob’s lies are revealed in Elegy, showing he is not the trustworthy ally Alfred is.
The character designs by in the JH Williams arc are all gorgeous and the villain of the piece is no exception. Alice is the new leader of the Religion of Crime and at first glance fits right into the pantheon of Gotham’s nutjob villains. But, talking only in Lewis Carroll quotes, she’s actually probably weirder than the majority of Batman villains. She does remind me of Jeph Loeb’s quote-obsessed takes on Scarecrow and Mad Hatter.
Alice’s all-white design cleverly gives her a ghost-like appearance that is fitting given her true identity and she and Batwoman are fantastic visual contrasts. The final battle between the two is great and Rucka and Williams make the final moment, a reveal that ultimately means nothing until the context is revealed, feel like a huge and memorable moment.
The decision to make the second half of the arc 90% origin flashbacks as Kate investigates if Alice was really her sister is a bold decision with pros and cons. The Alice reveal would mean more if we knew Kate and Beth’s story before but would also be more predictable.
Kate’s story is beautifully crafted and exceptionally detailed. It would be easy to create a new variation on Batman’s origin for her but Rucka does something wholly original with real depth and meaning. With backstory as strong as this, Kate really feels like a real person and these 3 issues do vital work for giving Kate longevity as a character.
With the reveal of Alice’s identity and the ending of Kate’s partnership with her father, there’s a sense Elegy would potentially work better as an ending to a Batwoman saga rather than the start. If it was a tv show you’d expect this as a season finale, or the opening of season 2 not the first season. (There actually is a tv show but I haven’t seen it yet so can’t comment on how they handle it.) That said, particularly in comics, it’s usually best to go big early so maybe Elegy is the perfect start for Batwoman as you don’t expect the rug to be pulled out from under you in arc 1.
The other arc in the book is the three part Cutter arc that introduces a sadly uninspiring serial killer named Cutter and sees Batman and Batwoman working the same case from different angles. The story and art choices effectively highlight the similarities and differences between Bruce and Kate.
Rucka also starts to develop Bette Kane as a character ready to become Batwoman’s sidekick. This is really the only reminder of the existence of Batwoman/Kathy Kane from the silver age when Bette was her sidekick, the original Batgirl. Given Batgirl obviously already exists in the modern age, Rucka settles on the identity of Flamebird for Bette but leaves her journey for the next writer.
This is a brilliant start for Batwoman and Rucka basically writes volume 0 to establish everything ready for Batwoman issue 1 to launch in the New 52. Batwoman is one of the best new-er characters from DC Comics and that all comes back to Rucka’s excellent work establishing her here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2024
As I remembered, this is an incredible run by Rucka and Williams III that clearly, powerfully defines the character of Kate Kane/Batwoman in a relatively scant few issues. More than just a female Batman, Kate is a complex and nuanced person right out the box, as she splits a more overtly military M.O. and mentality with the explicitly non-lethal, anti-authoritarian ethos of a Bat-family member. It's an interesting implicit contradiction that, unfortunately, doesn't get fully explored here (Rucka's run was unceremoniously cut short by the arrival of the New 52).
Reading these issues again, there were two things that stuck out to me, keeping this from being a total win. First of all, while Kate is explicitly military and comes from a U.S. army family, I think it was a HUGE mistake to tie the traumatic incident that motivates her (the murder of her mother and sister when she was a child) to the War on Terror. There's just a lot of weird jingoism and Islamophobic scare-mongering in how the book depicts Jacob Kane cavalierly killing terrorists with a smirk on his face, and said terrorists somehow kidnapping a woman and three children from urban Brussels. It's ugly and gross and doesn't actually add anything to the story, since terrorism and criminality are COMPLETELY distinct concepts.
And secondly... the Cutter story just sucks. Switching the art duties from J.H. Williams III to Jock is like trading a medium-rare filet mignon steak for a reheated McDonalds hamburger. The motivation for the villain is trash, as he's an obsessive, possessive stalker, but his victim ends up with Stockholm Syndrome and ends up HELPING him (so, victim blaming). It's a sour note for the collection to end on.
But otherwise, this is some damn fine stuff!
Reading these issues again, there were two things that stuck out to me, keeping this from being a total win. First of all, while Kate is explicitly military and comes from a U.S. army family, I think it was a HUGE mistake to tie the traumatic incident that motivates her (the murder of her mother and sister when she was a child) to the War on Terror. There's just a lot of weird jingoism and Islamophobic scare-mongering in how the book depicts Jacob Kane cavalierly killing terrorists with a smirk on his face, and said terrorists somehow kidnapping a woman and three children from urban Brussels. It's ugly and gross and doesn't actually add anything to the story, since terrorism and criminality are COMPLETELY distinct concepts.
And secondly... the Cutter story just sucks. Switching the art duties from J.H. Williams III to Jock is like trading a medium-rare filet mignon steak for a reheated McDonalds hamburger. The motivation for the villain is trash, as he's an obsessive, possessive stalker, but his victim ends up with Stockholm Syndrome and ends up HELPING him (so, victim blaming). It's a sour note for the collection to end on.
But otherwise, this is some damn fine stuff!
July 15, 2021
Dopo aver visto la serie tv di Batwoman, piazzandosi tra una delle mie preferite, non potevo perdermi i fumetti!
I disegni sono meravigliosi. Il tratto è preciso e pulito, e i colori hanno quelle tonalità dark che caratterizzano l’atmosfera di Gotham alla perfezione.
La trama non è scontata, ci sono alcuni bei plot twist (alcuni già li sapevo perché ho visto la serie ma se avessi letto prima i fumetti non ci sarei mai arrivata). C’è tanta azione e un pizzico di drama romantico che non fa male.
Kate Kane è una protagonista veramente tosta, la amo. Amo il fatto che nonostante tutto si batta sempre per ciò in cui crede. Amo che rimanga sempre fedele a se stessa.
Essendo membro della lgbt+ anche io, non posso che amare come non abbia paura dei giudizi altrui. Kate è lesbica, ama le donne, non lo nasconde e per questo la ammiro.
Kate è anche una combattente, lo dimostra durante tutto il fumetto. Combatte in memoria della madre e della sorella, combatte perché quando loro sono morte lei non ha potuto fare nulla. Combatte per salvare persone innocenti, proprio come lo erano loro.
(Menzione speciale per Alice perché non importa in quale versione, amo anche lei nonostante sia una psicopatica assassina lol).
I disegni sono meravigliosi. Il tratto è preciso e pulito, e i colori hanno quelle tonalità dark che caratterizzano l’atmosfera di Gotham alla perfezione.
La trama non è scontata, ci sono alcuni bei plot twist (alcuni già li sapevo perché ho visto la serie ma se avessi letto prima i fumetti non ci sarei mai arrivata). C’è tanta azione e un pizzico di drama romantico che non fa male.
Kate Kane è una protagonista veramente tosta, la amo. Amo il fatto che nonostante tutto si batta sempre per ciò in cui crede. Amo che rimanga sempre fedele a se stessa.
Essendo membro della lgbt+ anche io, non posso che amare come non abbia paura dei giudizi altrui. Kate è lesbica, ama le donne, non lo nasconde e per questo la ammiro.
Kate è anche una combattente, lo dimostra durante tutto il fumetto. Combatte in memoria della madre e della sorella, combatte perché quando loro sono morte lei non ha potuto fare nulla. Combatte per salvare persone innocenti, proprio come lo erano loro.
(Menzione speciale per Alice perché non importa in quale versione, amo anche lei nonostante sia una psicopatica assassina lol).
December 21, 2021
4.5 stars!
What a collection! I think I read the stories that came before these, but either way, the presentation here makes what happened before abundantly clear without rehashing any of it. The art is top notch, Kate is top notch, and it overall just feels more real than a typical Bat-family story. Kate gets her ass kicked often, and so does Batman when he makes an appearance. It's hard to watch sometimes, and they always seem to bounce back much more quickly than is at all reasonable, but it's at least better than never feeling like they're in peril at all.
The second included story, Cutter, is really great. Maybe I was a bit slow on the uptake, but when the big twist/revelation came around I was genuinely shocked. It was confusing at first and oddly specific, but definitely all worth it in the end.
Well worth your reading time if you're into gorgeous art and layouts, superheroes, bat-people, or even-handed representation in your stories. Get it!
What a collection! I think I read the stories that came before these, but either way, the presentation here makes what happened before abundantly clear without rehashing any of it. The art is top notch, Kate is top notch, and it overall just feels more real than a typical Bat-family story. Kate gets her ass kicked often, and so does Batman when he makes an appearance. It's hard to watch sometimes, and they always seem to bounce back much more quickly than is at all reasonable, but it's at least better than never feeling like they're in peril at all.
The second included story, Cutter, is really great. Maybe I was a bit slow on the uptake, but when the big twist/revelation came around I was genuinely shocked. It was confusing at first and oddly specific, but definitely all worth it in the end.
Well worth your reading time if you're into gorgeous art and layouts, superheroes, bat-people, or even-handed representation in your stories. Get it!
December 22, 2021
Aquele em que a Kate vira a Batwoman
Esse foi o meu primeiro contato com as histórias da batwoman e acho que foi um bom primeiro contato. A personagem me cativou muito e me deixou com vontade de ler mais.
A HQ tem muita ação, mas também conta o passado da personagem e os dramas que levaram a Kate a se tornar a batwoman.
Os dramas familiares mexeram bastante comigo, ainda mais depois do primeiro grande plot twist da HQ.
O que eu mais gostei da personagem foi que ela trabalha com o batman, mas, ao mesmo tempo, não. Quando comecei a HQ fiquei com medo dela ficar na sombra do batman pelo “bat” no nome, mas ainda bem que isso não aconteceu.
A Kate tem seu próprio jeito de resolver as coisas, seus próprios segredos e dramas. O contato dela com o batman é mais de colega e mostra que ela é bem capaz de resolver as coisas sem precisar recorrer a ele.
Esse foi o meu primeiro contato com as histórias da batwoman e acho que foi um bom primeiro contato. A personagem me cativou muito e me deixou com vontade de ler mais.
A HQ tem muita ação, mas também conta o passado da personagem e os dramas que levaram a Kate a se tornar a batwoman.
Os dramas familiares mexeram bastante comigo, ainda mais depois do primeiro grande plot twist da HQ.
O que eu mais gostei da personagem foi que ela trabalha com o batman, mas, ao mesmo tempo, não. Quando comecei a HQ fiquei com medo dela ficar na sombra do batman pelo “bat” no nome, mas ainda bem que isso não aconteceu.
A Kate tem seu próprio jeito de resolver as coisas, seus próprios segredos e dramas. O contato dela com o batman é mais de colega e mostra que ela é bem capaz de resolver as coisas sem precisar recorrer a ele.
Read
December 6, 2022Now this is the Greg Rucka I love back in his groove. While I wasn't crazy about Alice and the Religion of Crime, the twist on her identity and the subsequent flashback issues made this stand out incredibly. Kate and her dad are a great duo to read, and JH Williams III continues to be unbeatable, distinctive, and versatile. Every page of this is scrumptious. The final story with Jock pairs a present day Kate story with an early career Batman investigation that gives Gotham and the Bat family depth and a real history, and makes Kate's world feel more tangible and her decision to put on a mask make sense in this world. I also love any appearance of Bette, so I hope Williams keeps her around as a sidekick for Kate in the New 52 stories.
April 23, 2021
A dark and twisted tale about service, identity and filled with suspense.
The flashbacks allow the shadows that haunt Kate Kane to have weight and connect to her present with new newest villain, the new High Madame, Alice, is revealed. Tying everything together is the honour and rule of Batman, but it doesn't necessarily make Kate Kane derivative or a genderbent Batman. Instead, she stands on her own and feels more rooted in reality with her military career and civilain life compared to the glamour and fractured darkness of Bruce Wayne.
Overall, a story I'd recommend to any fan of Batman and the Bat family.
The flashbacks allow the shadows that haunt Kate Kane to have weight and connect to her present with new newest villain, the new High Madame, Alice, is revealed. Tying everything together is the honour and rule of Batman, but it doesn't necessarily make Kate Kane derivative or a genderbent Batman. Instead, she stands on her own and feels more rooted in reality with her military career and civilain life compared to the glamour and fractured darkness of Bruce Wayne.
Overall, a story I'd recommend to any fan of Batman and the Bat family.
November 28, 2021
I haven't read any of the Batwoman comics prior to this compilation. I'm not sure if Rucka and Williams' Batwoman was a good place to start but I was totally enthralled. The artwork and design were spectacular and the flashbacks and juxtapositioning of the narrative were superlative. Artistic, edgy, intriguing: what more you want? I have the 2011-2015 and 2017-2018 collections lined up. Maybe after them I'll look for earlier stories.
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