Batwoman

Nov 11, 2011 Seth Hahne rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics

On Monday, I read two comics. One was pretty great and the other was Batwoman: Elegy. This is not to say that Elegy was bad. Unfortunately, it never actually gets better than pretty good.

The Rucka-penned adventure comic certainly has some worthwhile moments and Williams' art is varied enough to impress, but the book has several problems that prevent it from being better than it could be. But let's put the problems on hold for a moment to focus on what the book gets right.

[I suppose some caveat

...more

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Mar 18, 2012 Stephanie Griffin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

BATWOMAN: ELEGY, written by Greg Rucka and illustrated by the fabulously talented J. H. Williams III, collects Detective Comics #854-#860 in one volume. It is the story of Batwoman’s battle with Alice, the High Madame, in protecting Gotham from Alice’s evil plot. Also included is the back-story of Kate’s growing up, her coming out at West Point and to her father, Colonel Kane, and the origins of her career as Batwoman. All of this is in one trade paperback!
Alice, the Lewis Carroll-quoting villai...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Paper Droids rated it 4 of 5 stars

My first foray into the DC comic universe.

Okay, I admit it: I’m a bad geek. I’ve never been much into superheroes or comic books. Masked vigilantes just have never really done it for me – I was always more a fan of Middle Earth than Metropolis, and I’d take a bow and arrow over a cape and cowl any day.

But then my favourite internet blogger/television recapper/geek-girl extraordinaire Heather Hogan started reviewing Batwoman’s solo title in The New 52 over at www.afterellen.com, and I got hooked....more

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Jul 03, 2012 Anna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics-graphic-novels, three-stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 22, 2012 Miz Moffatt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, detective, action, lgbtq, mystery, superhero

Full review posted on Across the Litoverse

Kate Kane has taken over as Gotham City's caped crusader in the wake of Batman's apparent death in the DC event Final Crisis. Kane's a former marine, forced out of the U.S. Armed forces under the tenets of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", a policy barring gay and lesbian soldiers from serving openly in the military; however, her drive to protect Gotham, and her desire to overthrow a mysterious cult that tried to kill her six months earlier, motivates Kane to tra...more Full review posted on Across the Litoverse

Kate Kane has taken over as Gotham City's caped crusader in the wake of Batman's apparent death in the DC event Final Crisis. Kane's a former marine, forced out of the U.S. Armed forces under the tenets of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", a policy barring gay and lesbian soldiers from serving openly in the military; however, her drive to protect Gotham, and her desire to overthrow a mysterious cult that tried to kill her six months earlier, motivates Kane to transform herself into the vigilante Batwoman.

As Kane rises to power, a new madwoman and her minions threaten the good citizens of Gotham with a toxic death cloud and an unrelenting urge for chaos. But Alice—the Lewis Carroll–quoting High Madame of the Religion of Crime—has more than poison in her arsenal, and the dizzying revelations she carries will alter Batwoman's life forever…

To start, I have to praise J.H. Williams III and his remarkable, panel-shattering artwork. Whenever Kane dons her iconic suit and takes to the crime-filled streets of Gotham, readers are treated to non-linear fight scenes saturated with Kane's taste for blood-red accents, and the very layout of Williams's panels take on a highly-stylized, shattered design that begs for hours of careful study.

Of course, due credit should be given to author Greg Rucka who's been praised for his nuanced, thoughtful depiction of Kate Kane, the modern incarnation of Batwoman herself. Here, Rucka takes the time to explore the motivations behind Kane's vigilantism and fills out her backstory with salient political issues, namely her dishonourable discharge under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." She's sacrificed a career with the armed forces to live an honest life, and her aim to bring justice to Gotham's streets makes perfect sense in this context. When it comes to personable, complicated superheroines, I can think of no better vigilante to start with than Batwoman.

Ideal for: Readers craving lush, groundbreaking artwork and a capable, complicated superheroine; Folks who'd like to see LGBTQ issues rendered in a thoughtful, action-packed story arc; DC fans and members of the Bat-clan.(less)

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May 28, 2012 Xavier Guillaume rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: any comic book fan, especially gay comic book fans

Shelves: lgbt-themed, graphic-novel

If you haven't read Batwoman yet, what are you doing?! Get off your butt and get a copy of this book because it's one of the best comic book series going on right now.

Jokes aside, this book is incredible, and I was blown away by the character, the story, and the artistry of this book, and it really is artistry. J.H Williams III doesn't just draw these comics, he paints them, and some of these pages are downright creatively genius.

As for the black-and-red-suited heroine herself, Batwoman is the m...more If you haven't read Batwoman yet, what are you doing?! Get off your butt and get a copy of this book because it's one of the best comic book series going on right now.

Jokes aside, this book is incredible, and I was blown away by the character, the story, and the artistry of this book, and it really is artistry. J.H Williams III doesn't just draw these comics, he paints them, and some of these pages are downright creatively genius.

As for the black-and-red-suited heroine herself, Batwoman is the most badass lesbian superhero ever. Ever! And what makes her character so appealing is she wants to be the hero and protector of Gotham so badly, it kills her. She fights for good and justice anyway she can — tooth and nail. And she might look scary and intimidating, but she's beautiful at the same time. It's like she's a tiger that you know is going to kill you, but you are in awe from its beauty all the same.

As a gay comic book fan myself, I don't even have to tell you how much I admire the LGBT themes in this book. Because Kate Kane is so truthful and honest to herself and others, she doesn't mind treating her relationship with women as normally and openly as a heterosexual relationship, and I LOVE THAT! What I mean is, she doesn't mind being true to herself, and if she wants to dance with a woman at a fancy function, despite the stares she gets from others, she goes for it. Living as a gay man myself, I know how hard it is to be out and open in public when countless yokels and ignorant folk are so easily offended and downright rude and nasty, and then there is the staring from everybody else, which is nerve wracking, but Kate doesn't let that bother her, and I greatly admire her for that. Of course, she could probably break anyone's arm that gives her trouble, but still, that just makes her even more badass and awesome in my book. :) (And I call myself a pacifist!)

It's kind of like Kate Kane/Batwoman channels my inner desire to kick ass and take out all the scum of the earth one dirt bag at a time. But yeah, forget Wonder Woman, Batwoman is where it's at!

I suppose another thing that's so appealing about this series is how dangerous the writers make these fight scenes appear. Batwoman goes up against some of the toughest gangs in Gotham, and we're talking dozens of heavily armed thugs all with their pistols and assault rifles pointed at her. Yet she takes them out one by one. What I really like about this is that she makes it look kind of easy, but at the same time, there is that element of us knowing that what she is doing isn't easy. Let me remind you, she is just a regular woman. She doesn't have any superpowers. She just has military training, works out a lot, is really good at gymnastics, and has a cool suit with lots of gadgets. It's not like she's Superwoman that can only die from some funky green stone. No, she can easily die from any pistol wielding gangbanger out there, but she puts her life on the line despite all the odds going against her.

I should also mention that this book is violent, and I mean vi-o-lent. We're talking blood spewing across the page, people bleeding from every orifice of their body, and bullet holes going straight through innocent people's heads. This is mad Gotham. This is the you better watch your back while walking home at night or you will be murdered and then thrown into some gutter, or even worse, kidnapped and forced to watch your friends and family get shot in the head simply because these villains are just that crazy and bloodthirsty. With all that in mind, each fight scene is so well done. When I read this book, I feel for Batwoman. What I mean is, I feel like I'm fighting moment by moment with her, and I know at every moment how extremely dangerous it is for her, so I'm at the edge of your seat hoping and praying that things turn out okay because I think she's so amazing and awesome, and if she were to die, I would be collapsing onto my hands and knees while bawling like a babe.

So if you haven't read Batwoman already, I highly recommend it. It puts 90% of the other comic books that are out there to shame. There seriously is nothing about this book that I don't like. 7 stars!(less)

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May 12, 2012 Brandon Cox rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourite-comics

I wasn't expecting much from this book. I borrowed it from my local library because I thought it had something to do with Batman and I liked the cover art. As I read through it I was amazed at just how different it was, and how eerily beautiful it was. Batwoman: Elegy by Greg Rucka should be read, if only for J.H. Williams III's illustrations.

I must state that, as a member of the male gender, most novels with female leads are less interesting to me. Female leads always tend to be difficult to re...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Rattoni rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Imagine a comic book where different charaters are drawn in different graphic styles, it may sound a little weird but in this book, it´s done great and goes along all the time with the storytelling. Thats part of what this Comic book has. The art is Amazing, the story starts ok, then it gets a little weird, but the last part of the whole book is really great.

When I first knew that there was a batwoman charater and that she was a redhead, I was not interested in the character, I thought she was...more

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Feb 16, 2012 Marissa rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: comix, lesbian-lit

So, I picked this up after reading some of the hype about how Batwoman is a lesbian and it is awesome, but I kind of felt like it was just ok and maybe people were overreacting to the whole thing in general. One of the interesting things about Batwoman is that it is one of the few comic books that actually uses a full-on cover style of art throughout the entire book. And like any comics fan, there have definitely been a lot of times when I've bought a comic based on the cover art and felt sort o...more So, I picked this up after reading some of the hype about how Batwoman is a lesbian and it is awesome, but I kind of felt like it was just ok and maybe people were overreacting to the whole thing in general. One of the interesting things about Batwoman is that it is one of the few comic books that actually uses a full-on cover style of art throughout the entire book. And like any comics fan, there have definitely been a lot of times when I've bought a comic based on the cover art and felt sort of disappointed that the entire book couldn't be drawn in that same cool, elaborate style. But reading Batwoman, I think I actually get why most comics DON'T try to do that and not just because of the production values of creating and printing it.

While I really do think the Batwoman art style would look gorgeous as a poster on the wall or as a cover and I like her character design a lot, I think using that same art style throughout the main narrative of the book is actually kind of jarring. I mean, I really appreciate artistic flourishes in comic books. I appreciate the unique stylistic touches comic book artists put in. I can dig a creative layout. And not only that, I think comic book artists SHOULD be experimenting with that stuff and pushing the boundaries and really striving not just to illustrate the story, but to tell the story through the art. However, I also think that sometimes when artists get too caught up in the look of the comic book it can actually start to get in the way of your immersion into the story. By the time I finished reading the book, my eyes felt exhausted by taking in all of the colors and slick graphics and layout designs. It is kind of like when you get a huge piece of an incredibly rich chocolate torte. The first couple bites are amazing, but by the time you finish the whole slice you're really grossed out.

In terms of the writing, the story felt like pretty standard comic book fare to me. Ok story, but not really knocking my socks off and the whole don't ask, don't tell component felt a bit forced to me. I did enjoy getting the chance to read about a lesbian superhero character I guess, but as a long-time Hothead Paisano, maybe not as novel or important seeming to me as it was to some folks who place a higher value on the "mainstream" comics industry. I also kind of felt like the radical potential of having a lesbian superhero was also a bit dampened for me by the fact that she's Batwoman, a female retread of a male mainstay of superhero comics. I mean, yes it's cool she's a lesbian, but she's also not really a hero in her own right, but still a weird, ghettoized offshoot of the big tent in the circus. Call me when one of the big, main male superheros turns out to be gay or when a female superhero really breaks into superstardom in her own right. (less)

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Feb 07, 2012 Miss rated it 3 of 5 stars

Okay but why can't comic books number their volumes? T_T There's clearly at least a volume's worth of plot I missed before this. I was able to stumble my way through based on the introduction and characters referencing prior events but reading the first book would have really helped.

Let's break this down! The art in this is great, I love the distinctive red, white, and black colour palette Williams uses for Batwoman. He's aiming to establish her as an iconic character and it works, she's easily...more Okay but why can't comic books number their volumes? T_T There's clearly at least a volume's worth of plot I missed before this. I was able to stumble my way through based on the introduction and characters referencing prior events but reading the first book would have really helped.

Let's break this down! The art in this is great, I love the distinctive red, white, and black colour palette Williams uses for Batwoman. He's aiming to establish her as an iconic character and it works, she's easily distinguishable based on her character design. On a shallow note I really like the way he draws her hair, it's very pretty. I tuned out some of my politics of race lecture today to finish the volume and there was one awkward moment where I had to battle my desire to linger over the panels with Renee and Kate waking up (so many pretty hairstyles, what to do with this) and the worry somebody would look over and conclude some unsavoury prurient things about my character. :l I prefer that people to think me an intelligent politically minded women for at least a few days before I burst their illusions. The only issue I have to raise is that the panel configurations got very confusing at points. I like that Williams is creative with his page design! But if I have to experiment with the panel order on a page multiple times before I can make sense of it that is too creative. Clarity shouldn't be sacrificed for originality.

I liked Kate and found her back story to be the most emotionally affecting part of the volume. I also liked that the narrative emphasized that she takes on the role of Batwoman not as a way to work through emotional trauma (-cough-Batman-cough-) but from a genuine desire to serve. Good! Call me an idealist but I wish more of DC's ouevre would focus on similar characters, the whole dark and gritty 'there are no heroes here' mentality that pervades Gotham is a big reason as to why I've never been attracted to most of the franchise. When I think about the exceptions I've made they generally stick out for their sense of optimism; the last DC comic I read was Bryan Q. Miller's run on Batgirl and Stephanie Brown is one of the most cheerful and positively inclined characters I've seen in the Batverse.

The storyline requires you to take it on faith that things will be explained at some point but if you're willing to suspend disbelief it's enjoyable. I find it hard to believe Alice could organize the plans she does while only speaking in lines from the Lewis Carroll books (pretty sure there are no references to planes and chemical warfare in Alice in Wonderland, please correct me if I err) but who knows, maybe she only does that around Kate to screw with her. With regards to the big reveal: I hope there's an adequate explanation to how Alice came to play the role she does in this volume because I will be otherwise very unsatisfied. I felt like the story ended just when it had piqued my interest, I could really do with further Alice information. 3 stars(less)

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Dec 15, 2011 Bryan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novel

I'm not a fan of traditional superhero comics, but if they could all be this good, I'd read a whole lot more.

For those of you who don't know, Greg Rucka is an excellent writer, and excels at writing strong, believable women. Look no further than Whiteout, another graphic novel I'd highly recommend. JH Williams III pencils are sumptuous and translate seamlessly throughout the book from current day to past events, showcasing three different looks, depending on what time period we're reading. The...more I'm not a fan of traditional superhero comics, but if they could all be this good, I'd read a whole lot more.

For those of you who don't know, Greg Rucka is an excellent writer, and excels at writing strong, believable women. Look no further than Whiteout, another graphic novel I'd highly recommend. JH Williams III pencils are sumptuous and translate seamlessly throughout the book from current day to past events, showcasing three different looks, depending on what time period we're reading. The strong pencils of Williams are complimented beautifully by the colours of Dave Stewart who transforms the great into the truly luscious, most notably in the "current day" segments of the book where the fully painted panels are so beautifully coloured that the small size and jagged comic panels do them a disservice. Not only that, but the Williams/Stewart duo does an amazing job of switching up looks for past and present sections of the story. This is art that should be blown up large and hanging on your wall. It's that good. It's actually amazing that these two artists had enough time between issues to produce such superlative work. Nowhere does it look rushed, hurried or slapdash, as can happen when art has a deadline.

Aside from the impressive art, Rucka's writing shines. Batwoman, aka, Katherine "Kat" Kane is, above all, believable. Strong, smart, flawed, sexy, she has it all. A former military cadet and rising star, she runs afoul of the American military's conduct rules regarding homosexuality. Rather than lie, she's tells the truth and admits that she's gay, despite knowing it will force her out of the military.

After such a short-sighted and ignorant discharge from the military, she drifts aimlessly until a chance encounter with Batman gives her new drive and purpose. From then on out she begins her own vigilante crusade, aided by her highly ranked military father.

Elegy revolves around not only exploring Batwoman's origin, but she also battles a woman named Alice, who is by all accounts quite mad and models herself after Alice of Alice in Wonderland fame. As expected, the story resolves in such a way as to leave an open thread for more down the line. Plus we're given a juicy mystery that threatens to explode much of Batwoman's past, and what, for me, is the most compelling aspect of that past. For the sake of those who haven't read it, I won't mention any spoilers at all. I definitely look forward to reading further volumes to find out where Rucka, Williams and Stewart take this title.

If I have one complaint about the book, it would be the previously mentioned comic panels. They come in all shapes and sizes and many of them are arranged in symmetrical patterns across two pages. While I appreciate the original and interesting panels in and of themselves, at times they make it hard to read the comic and really detract from the flow. As English speakers we are habituated to read each page from top to bottom, left to right and when this entirely natural feeling mode is regularly interspersed with panels or entire pages that don't follow the pattern, it sometimes makes it difficult to figure out which order we should be reading things in. I regularly found myself rereading sections in different directions in order to figure out which order the panels were supposed to run. As far as complaints go, this is a pretty minor one, but I still hope that in future issues of Batwoman this experimental bent with panel layout is toned down somewhat or at least reserved for high impact scenes, rather than every single page.

Go out and grab this title. You get 192 pages of excellent storytelling and art, all for under twenty bucks. It's a can't miss deal.

Greg Rucka
Whiteout

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Nov 26, 2011 Jim Black rated it 5 of 5 stars

Sometimes a series happens that you hear a lot of good press about but, for one reason or another, never read until later. This is such a series.

Greg Rucka is at the top of his game with this book. He is one of the best at writing street level characters. As Rucka reveals Kate's background, it is believable. Her training in the military and the support of her father helps to give us a rich, fully realized character. And the anatagonist of the series, Alice, is a perfect foil for Batwoman. Rucka...more

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Nov 03, 2011 Sesana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cover-love, comics, lgbt, mental-illness

I have some mixed feelings about this one. I'll start with the good.

This Batwoman was an entirely new character to me. Apparently she'd shown up in 52, but I avoided that and so went in knowing nothing. And Kate Kane is a really likeable character. The big news when she was introduced was the fact that she's a lesbian. I was honestly relieved to discover that it's not a major plot point or source of drama: she simply is a lesbian. It only becomes an issue in her backstory, when she falls afoul o...more I have some mixed feelings about this one. I'll start with the good.

This Batwoman was an entirely new character to me. Apparently she'd shown up in 52, but I avoided that and so went in knowing nothing. And Kate Kane is a really likeable character. The big news when she was introduced was the fact that she's a lesbian. I was honestly relieved to discover that it's not a major plot point or source of drama: she simply is a lesbian. It only becomes an issue in her backstory, when she falls afoul of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. And even that is beautifully understated, in a way that makes it even more emotionally resonant and honest. I also like how her motivations for crime fighting differ from Batman's: like Superman, she fights crime because of a sense of duty, not because of a tramatic past.

The art is just fantastic. It's stylish and atmospheric. There's a definite effort to make Batwoman every bit as iconic as Batman, with her very white skin, blood red hair, and black and red costume. If this version of Batwoman really takes off, it'll be easy to recognize her in even very short appearances. That's good, obviously. It's a dull superhero indeed who isn't instantly recognizable. The art is even great in Kate's private life. Some of the best panels in the entire book deal with her personal life. I'm thinking especially of the ones where she has to leave the army, and later comes out to her father. They're silent, subtle, and powerful. However, the layouts can sometimes get a bit too clever for their own good, getting a touch confusing. Doesn't happen often, though.

The storyline here is a continuation of her appearances in 52, which can be a bit of a barrier to a new reader like myself. I mean, werewolves show up out of nowhere, and how am I supposed to deal with that in a Bat book? Some more context would have been nice. It also ends very abruptly, but this is just the first few issues of an ongoing series. Obviously, this is meant to be the start of a great mythology. It isn't exactly compelling, though.

That can be mostly attributed to the villain that's the focus here. Her name is Alice, and she speaks only in lines from the Alice books. She seems to be an attempt to make a character every bit as striking and menacing as Joker (she even has white facepaint) with trendy Alice in Wonderland references. She just doesn't work for me. I have a hard time believing that somebody who speaks only in quotes from a Victorian children's book could plan, let alone communicate, the evil plot Alice has in this book. Her connection to Batwoman is way too neat to be plausible, too.

This could be a really great book, but it falls just a little short. Part of that is probably because it is part of what is meant to be an ongoing story, and maybe reading it all together would help. But the unconvincing villain would need to be improved first.(less)

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Sep 20, 2011 Martin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Greg Rucka likes (and is good at) writing strong female characters. Starting with "Whiteout" and then with "Queen & Country", he gave us complex, layered characters that never felt *clichéd* or stereotypical, with emotional, action-packed storylines. He continues this in "Batwoman: Elegy".

In this book, he establishes the modern Batwoman as a compelling character by giving her a dark, heart-breaking origin story and by giving her her own nemesis: Alice. It is hard to elaborate without spoili...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Victoria Wheeler rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics-graphic-novels

I should start by saying that this is the first series I had read that featured Batwoman or Karen Kane. That said, I feel very ambivalent about this graphic novel, and grow more ambivalent the longer it is since I have read it. I'll just quickly outline a few of the pros and cons.

Pros:
- The art style is completely gorgeous. It is why I still debate over what to ultimately rate the book, because I spent a lot of time just starting at panels, they were so gorgeous.
- I found all the characters pret...more

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May 22, 2011 Kathleen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, fiction, read-in-2011

I know that everyon has been talking about this book for a while, and perhaps everything that needed to be said has been said, but do lets keep talking. We should talk about the art, which is beautiful and perfect--especially those splash panels and the bat-shaped frames. Because this Batwoman is everything that Batgirl always should have been: strong, separate, and capable. She stands on her own, inspired by Batman but never his in any material way. We should talk about Batman's cameos and how...more

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Feb 24, 2011 Erik rated it 3 of 5 stars

When Gotham’s newest crime-fighter was introduced a few short years ago, I was at first excited. Not just because she sported a sartorial look reminiscent to Terry McGuiness’s Batman suit in the futuristic Batman Beyond TV series, but more because she was written as an out-of-the-closet lesbian from day one; truly one of the first of its kind in comics. (Earlier lesbians in mainstream comics being cleverly closeted to varying degrees.) But I found her character, when she showed up in the curious...more When Gotham’s newest crime-fighter was introduced a few short years ago, I was at first excited. Not just because she sported a sartorial look reminiscent to Terry McGuiness’s Batman suit in the futuristic Batman Beyond TV series, but more because she was written as an out-of-the-closet lesbian from day one; truly one of the first of its kind in comics. (Earlier lesbians in mainstream comics being cleverly closeted to varying degrees.) But I found her character, when she showed up in the curiously odd ensemble piece 52, to be a trite rehashing of the Batman/Bruce Wayne bit. Katherine Kane – her name a nod to Batman’s creator, Bob Kane, no doubt – as a bored-rich-girl-turned-superhero-on-her-off-hours? Yeah, that’s real original. Except for her sleek and sexy black and red leather outfit, her character lacked any real dramatic tension or for that matter originality – other then being a lesbian version of Batman. And a pale one at that.

Fortunately, Rucka has luckily proved me entirely wrong with this six-issue series Elegy. (I do have to remind myself that he was, after all, a co-writer on Gotham Central; hands-down the best Batman series in recent times. Even if the Bat himself rarely showed up.) Rucka provides a back-story to Kate that makes her far more interesting than I originally thought. Imagine a West Point cadet who is dishonorably discharged for being gay – and don’t forget a cameo appearance by Daniel Choi, real-life USMA cadet – and then turns to crime-fighting to right wrongs. But wait, there’s more. Imagine a horrific event in her childhood in which her mother and twin sister are brutally murdered during a kidnapping gone-awry when her family is stationed in Belgium. Both of these things converge and play out beautifully within the main narrative of Batwoman’s search for Alice, the new leader of Gotham’s thirteen organized crime covens.

Oh, and as for the art duties here? Williams’s pencils and inks never been finer. Not to mention Dave Stewart’s vividly stunning colors. (If you read Hellboy or BPRD, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.) Williams was great on Alan Moore’s Promethea early this last decade. And his work here on Batwoman is even better.

Now, if only Nolan were going to do more than three Batman films. Katherine Kane/Batwoman is a character worth exploring on screen.
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Jan 31, 2011 William Thomas rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bad-asses-doing-bad-ass-things, modern-art, sleepers, graphic-novel

Prior to this gorgeous incarnation, Batwoman has always seemed to me to be a weak character. One that nobody seemed to write well and in turn made the fans care very little. She was little else but a spin-off of the Batman mythos, just another Robin, and nothing so interesting as to warrant an in-depth analysis of her character or her stories. Batwoman and Batgirl both seem to harken back to that time before the Frank Miller 80's revamp of the caped crusader, candy colored clowns that were comic...more Prior to this gorgeous incarnation, Batwoman has always seemed to me to be a weak character. One that nobody seemed to write well and in turn made the fans care very little. She was little else but a spin-off of the Batman mythos, just another Robin, and nothing so interesting as to warrant an in-depth analysis of her character or her stories. Batwoman and Batgirl both seem to harken back to that time before the Frank Miller 80's revamp of the caped crusader, candy colored clowns that were comic relief or filler in a brightly colored world that should have been written in black and white.

But here we have something altogether new. A new start to the Batwoman character that is most assuredly worthy of her own stories and her own mythos with little to no help from the Bat himself. A character that is deserving of being seen solo in the pages of Detective Comics. A character I am craving more of.

I've just finished reading this only minutes ago. It was mesmerizing. Mainly because of the expert art. I'm a man who is a fan of confident lines. And the highly stylized art in this book made me think at times of Alphonse Mucha, father of graphic design from the early 1900s. It was reminiscent of fin de siècle Vienna with all of it's handbills and gorgeously designed announcements. It spoke to a higher form of art in it's paneling and in it's confident style, almost breezy in places, at times possibly narcissistic. And I loved it's arrogance and sense of bravado. Because it matched the character and the writing.

The greatest part of the writing, of the story, is that Rucka did not hand her Batman's leftovers, but instead gave her her very own antagonist. A new and very deadly villain, so intriguing to me for the likeness to the Mad Hatter and the Joker, but that it could stand out so sharply and not simply be a simulacrum of those characters.

And the same is said for the Batwoman in these books. She is nor just an effigy, nor is she wholly a mirror of Batman. She is something altogether her own and I thank Greg Rucka for giving me something I could never have expected.(less)

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Dec 28, 2010 Robert rated it 4 of 5 stars

An excellent expansion of the Batman mythos -- or perhaps I should say an excellent parallel to the Batman mythos. Tight, briskly paced storytelling from Greg Rucka accompanied by gorgeously stylized art from J. H. Williams III.

I'd only read Rucka's non-superhero comics before (Queen and Country; Whiteout), and his run on DC's Checkmate title. Rucka excels at writing female lead characters and Kate Kane is no exception. The new Batwoman garnered attention by being DC's openly gay superhero, but...more

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Dec 09, 2010 James rated it 5 of 5 stars

First Impressions!

This hardcover collection by DC Comics of Detective issues 854-860 attracted me for several reasons. Batwoman, Kathy Kane, has been out of circuulation for a few decades. [The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines] She was originally created in response to Dr. Wertham's (Seduction of the Innocent,[Seduction of the Innocent] a treatise on the "evils" of comic books and its supposed influence on juvenile delinquency in the paranoid 1950s)...more

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Nov 30, 2010 Jays rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: orphan-lit, just-for-the-pictures

probably the most innovative new character in the batman franchise in a long time. i was skeptical of the character and the story when i first heard about it and put off reading it and am now sorry i did. Greg Rucka has written an intelligent story that goes far deeper than what it superficially suggests.

Kate Kane comes off as a full character in her own right and the more salacious nerd-boy bait aspects (i.e., her sexuality) are treated as they should be - as a component of her life, but not th...more

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Nov 23, 2010 Nancy O'Toole rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels, library

During a time when The Dark Knight was absent, Gotham began to recognize a new heroine in black, Batwoman. What Gotham doesn't know is that Batwoman is Kate Kane, a tough woman from a military family with a powerful stubborn streak. When a a new cult leader, The High Madman of the Religion of Crime, comes to town, she knows she needs to get involved. After all, the previous High Madam drove a knife into Kate's heart. But what Kate has no idea of is that there's more to the new cult leader than s...more During a time when The Dark Knight was absent, Gotham began to recognize a new heroine in black, Batwoman. What Gotham doesn't know is that Batwoman is Kate Kane, a tough woman from a military family with a powerful stubborn streak. When a a new cult leader, The High Madman of the Religion of Crime, comes to town, she knows she needs to get involved. After all, the previous High Madam drove a knife into Kate's heart. But what Kate has no idea of is that there's more to the new cult leader than she suspects.

I'm not hugely into comics. Each month I buy the new Buffy: Season 8 issue, and then go on my way. But as Season 8 is coming to a close in a couple months, I decided that I wanted a new title to follow. Batwoman is a series that I've heard such great things about. Despite the fact that she's only had one mini-series (Batwoman: Elegy) dedicated to her, I've already seen people lauding her as their favorite superhero. As a result I decided to pick up Elegy from my library before digging into her ongoing series (the first issue Batwoman: Issue 0, comes out tomorrow 11/23/2011), to see if it's something I would enjoy.

Despite being a story girl at heart, the first thing that caught my eye about this series was the artwork. The comic is skillfully drawn and filled with vibrant, eye catching colors. This is well represented in the Batwoman suit itself, which features Kate Kane's bright red hair and pale white skin against the stark black of the costume. I found that I really liked the design of the costume. It's manages to be sexy, while functional at the same time (we don't see Kate running around in Battle lingerie). Another interesting thing about the artwork is how Williams creates unique layouts for many of the pages. Admittedly, there are some times when the panels seem too busy during action sequences, and it can be a little difficult to understand what's going on. I find this didn't happen too often.

As far as the story goes, Elegy shows the reader Batwoman's current challenges, while giving us information on her back story. One thing I found a little jarring is the fact that we're entering Kate's story not at the beginning, but part-way into it, much like starting a book series with the second book. I'm sure someone a little more knowledgeable about the events in the DC universe would have less of an issue. I found the most satisfying parts of the comics to be the those that focused on Kate Kane the woman. I loved discovering what made her tick. I thought that her homosexuality was handled quite well. Although not the main focus of the comic, it's an important part of who Kate is, so the comic does spend time acknowledging it. The main storyline involving the Religion of Crime was less interesting to me. Don't get me wrong, I loved the parts where Batwoman faces off with the antagonist Alice, but the sections that didn't include Alice were less interesting to me.

What makes Batwoman: Elegy such a success to me is the complex character of Kate Kane, combined with it's starkly beautiful art. I couldn't help but become fascinated with the woman known as “the red bat” and look forward to continuing her story in her ongoing series.(less)

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Sep 08, 2010 Eric rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics

The art in this was really amazing. It was pseudo realistic and definitely stylistic, too. The panel layouts were interesting, but a little confusing at times and distracting.

The story was written well, although I would be disappointed if there wasn't more. Not sure if this is part of an ongoing story or not. I really liked the pacing of the story and how her origin was revealed. There seems to be one glaring hole in the plot, though. The spoiler is below and would ruin the story if you haven't...more

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Aug 23, 2010 Aaron rated it 5 of 5 stars

The recent arrival of Batwoman to the world of DC Comics came with much excitement. She is the first major superhero from either of the two big houses (Marvel or DC) to be gay or lesbian. This was my first chance to actually read some of her title, and this book is actually made up of a series of issues from the comic.

Kate Kane is not what most people would think of when they think of superheroes. She is a bit of a goth-girl with tattoos, short hair, and a gruff exterior. But when darkness falls...more The recent arrival of Batwoman to the world of DC Comics came with much excitement. She is the first major superhero from either of the two big houses (Marvel or DC) to be gay or lesbian. This was my first chance to actually read some of her title, and this book is actually made up of a series of issues from the comic.

Kate Kane is not what most people would think of when they think of superheroes. She is a bit of a goth-girl with tattoos, short hair, and a gruff exterior. But when darkness falls, she dons the cloak that was made famous by Batman and takes to the streets of Gotham City to fight crime.

She is actually still recovering from a battle she had with the Religion of Crime, a cult that bases its faith on doing wrong. She was actually captured, drugged, and even stabbed in the heart during her last run-in as she was believed to be meant as sacrifice. She was able to dispose of their prophet/leader, but word is that a new leader is coming to take over.

It does not take her long to run into this new leader, who calls herself Alice and seems to be obsessed with all this Wonderland. Alice is also a goth-chick, though she has the form of the more doll-like appearance. This doesn't make her any less deadly, but she clearly does have issues with her sanity. In some ways, she is a cross between Batman's foes the Joker, the Hatter, and Harl E. Quinn.

As the tale strides toward its expected good vs. evil conclusion, the readers join Kate as she looks back over her life to explain how she has ended up the woman she is. This includes the fact that her twin sister and mother were killed decades earlier when they and she were kidnapped by terrorist. Her mother and her father, who now serves in the role that Alfred has for Bruce Wayne/Batman, served in the military ... a path that made her want to follow in their footsteps. She also goes over how she had to resign from the Marines because of the country's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy and how that action was received by her father.

Readers also get a chance to see Kate as she tries to date and build a relationship, something that is always difficult for those hiding behind a mask. Being Batwoman creates a number of problems in that arena.

The artwork is interestingly drawn. It nicely draws on the psychedelic nature of the story and the characters Batwoman is dealing with. Williams nicely interprets Rucka's story not only in function, but by also using interesting framing that symbolizes the diametric opposition between Alice and Batwoman as well as the dark nature of the story.

I would say that this is definitely a must for anyone looking to get a first look at DC's newest hero. She is a really interesting addition to the Batman "family of characters, which includes the original Batman, Alfred, Nightcrawler (the original Robin), a number of newer Robins, Oracle (the original Batgirl), Catwoman, Huntress, and a newer Batgirl.(less)

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Aug 05, 2010 Sophie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, owned, lgbt, dc, favorites

When I first read about Batwoman, my initial reaction was: "Cool! A gay, bat-related superheroine!" Then I thought, pretty much immediately right after: "Let's hope that gay isn't all she is." And then I waited.

Then came the previews. I still remember that I was taken aback by the red and black, and I wasn't sure I could like this. But then I actually read the preview and knew that I *had* to have this.

When the first issue was finally, finally released I was completely blown away. I had somewha...more

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Jul 26, 2010 TJ Shelby rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dc

Greg Rucka hit a home run here. Controversy from having the highest profile openly gay ensured people would be talking about this book and series. Since Batman's death, Batwoman assumed the lead role in the Detective Comics series.

From Rachel Maddow's gracious and heartfelt introduction to the brilliantly crafted artwork page after page to Rucka's compelling storyline, this book is a must read. While the Bat-world already has one Lewis Carroll inspired villian, my initial reaction to seeing Alic...more

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Jul 05, 2010 Sebina (Classicmaiden) rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: To anyone who loves reading great comics

Recommended to Sebina (Classicmaiden) by: No one, since I collect Detective Comics in which this first appeared.

Shelves: _comics_graphic-novels, _comics_batman-universe, _comics_dc, _type_owned-book-copy

I first read Greg Rucka's stint on Batwoman in the Detective Comics #854-860, and I was truly excited to get it collected in this graphic novel. Because, like everyone else, I was truly impressed by the sheer originality and versatility in the art by J.H. Williams III, together with the beautiful coloring by Dave Stewart. Furthermore, I became in love with the thought-provoking take on the Batwoman character as written by Greg Rucka (hands down!). His storytelling is so rich with detail and huma...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Melani rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, comic, funny, graphic-novel, sexy, monster, romance

As a huge Batman fan, I absolutely adored this comic. The artwork was so deatailed, vibrant and just downright beautiful. The writing was smooth and interesting and as the first openly gay comic heroin, I feel Greg Rucka did a wonderful job in portraying Kathy Kane's life. A military brat from the day she was born, Kathy was always the tomb boy like her sister, whom was kidnapped along with her and her mother who were brutally murdered by terrorists because of her fathers occupation. Since that...more

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May 31, 2011 Jace rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics

I liked this book. But given all the hype and high-praise it has received, I was expecting to love it.

Batwoman is a very interesting character. I enjoyed reading about her exploits in 52, and I was glad to learn more about her background here. My favorite aspect of Batwoman is that her motivations for putting on the cape present a nice contrast to Batman's origins. While Batman was born out of personal tragedy and a quest for vengeance, Batwoman (a Marine discharged under Don't Ask, Don't Tell)...more I liked this book. But given all the hype and high-praise it has received, I was expecting to love it.

Batwoman is a very interesting character. I enjoyed reading about her exploits in 52, and I was glad to learn more about her background here. My favorite aspect of Batwoman is that her motivations for putting on the cape present a nice contrast to Batman's origins. While Batman was born out of personal tragedy and a quest for vengeance, Batwoman (a Marine discharged under Don't Ask, Don't Tell) fights crime out of her sense of duty and commitment to service. It's a refreshing take on heroism, to follow a character who isn't as brooding and damaged as Batman can be in the hands of some writers.

This story begins as a continuation of Batwoman's adventures in 52, and suffers a little for it. The chapters from 52 are not included in this collection, so this story starts out in media res. I've read 52, but that was a few years ago. New readers picking up this volume would probably have a hard time getting up to speed. Hopefully, Batwoman's adventures across various books will be collected in a concise omnibus one day... Anyway, once this volume's story revs up, it comes into its own as something good, but never great. Batwoman's new nemesis, Alice, is fun (she speaks only in lines from Lewis Carroll works), but she overall seems pretty inconsequential of a villain. (And, as the reader learns at the end of this book, her origin is far too tidy and convenient...)

The art in Batwoman is gorgeous, but I'm not crazy about the panel layout. It's definitely "experimental," but the jagged panels are far too fragmented, making it difficult to follow along. The odd panel arrangement leaves action scenes particularly muddled.

Overall, this was an enjoyable book. I really like the character of the Batwoman. I only wish her adventures had been a bit more memorable. Greg Rucka is one of my favorite comic writers, but I wish he would have done more during his time on this series.(less)

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Aug 03, 2012 Heather rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels, superheroes, lgbt

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Plot was a bit thin, especially on why Kate's mother was killed and twin sister taken. So her dad was a high-level person in the army... okay, I get that... and that made his family a target... okay... it would have made more sense, though, if they'd been taken hostage for a purpose rather than just randomly killed and kidnapped. Why steal a little girl and raise her up into a mentally ill criminal? What's the point? Kate's father said that he tried to find Beth, but I never got the impression t...more

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Batwoman: Elegy

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