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Batwoman: Difference between revisions
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{{quote|''"It's a '''good''' hit. I feel the blood filling my mouth. Somewhere along the line, someone taught her to '''throw''' a '''punch.'''"''|Renee Montoya, ''[[Fifty Two]]'', Week 7}}
Proves that being a [[Badass]] [[Animal
Depending on whom you ask, Batwoman is either a [[Distaff Counterpart]] [[Batman]] introduced to his series to counteract the apparent subtext in his [[Ho Yay|relationship with Robin]], or an [[Affirmative Action Legacy]] introduced to [[The DCU]] to help bring some diversity to the cast. Both are accurate, just separated by a few decades (and ''countless'' [[Retcon|Ret Cons]]).
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At the time DC was publishing stories set in two main [[Alternate Universe|Alternate Universes]]: Earth-One (with Silver Age characters) or Earth-Two (Golden Age characters and their heirs). Figuring that the familiar Batwoman was an Earth-One character, DC creators were still able to introduce an Earth-Two version. They did. This version of Batwoman/Kathy Kane first appeared in ''Brave and the Bold'' #182 (January, 1982). Besides a cameo appearance in #197 (April, 1983), this version was never reused. The [[Crisis On Infinite Earths]] was the finale of Earth-Two and most characters associated with it.
[[Post
As with Batman himself, her portrayal has varied over the years, reaching varying points on the [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism]] depending on the time of her writing (the campy [[Silver Age]] vs. the darker [[Modern Age]]) and the medium of the story (The [[DCAU|DCAU film]], though pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable, remained [[Animation Age Ghetto|restricted in what it could show]]). How much of the history of her original appearance will carry over into her new continuity is being slowly revealed, with some information already contradicting her original history, while other points seem to match.
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=== Current Batwoman provides examples of: ===
* [[Action Girl]]: The [[The Reveal|reveal]] of her [[Post
* [[Adaptational Badass]]: The current Kate Kane, and the [[Batman Mystery of the Batwoman|DCAU incarnation]], are both far tougher than the original Kathy Kane.
* [[Affirmative Action Legacy]]: The new incarnation is Gay [[Twofer Token Minority|and]] Jewish.
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* [[And Show It to You]]: The Religion of Crime is almost ''obsessed'' with tearing out Batwoman's still-beating heart. It is a prominent plot point in her introduction and her ongoing story.
* [[Angsty Surviving Twin]]: Kate has mourned the death of her twin sister Beth since she was a child {{spoiler|and learns of Beth's actual survival only moments before she (accidentally) kills her herself.}}
* [[Anti
* [[Art Shift]]: JH Williams III and Amy Reeder collaborated on ''Batwoman #0'', with Williams doing the Batwoman scenes and Reeder doing the Kate scenes in divided page spreads until they finally come together at the end. In the series proper they are going to switch off art duties for different arcs.
* [[Author Appeal]]: [[Greg Rucka]], the author who wrote her [[Post
* [[Awesome but Impractical]]: The Batwoman costume originally had high heels, which are impossible to run and fight in, and Kate herself had long hair, which Batman [[Lampshade Hanging|points out]] is ''very'' easy to grab in a fight.
* [[Awesome Yet Practical]]: The comic writers and artists have explained that, when redesigning the Batwoman costume for her appearance in ''Detective Comics'', they made a deliberate decision to have her appear more practical and realistic than she did when she first appeared in ''52''. Chief among their changes was the removal of high heels on her costume, pointing out the utter impossibility of leaping across rooftops in heels. They also dramatically cut her hair and replaced it with a wig, since even Batman [[Lampshade Hanging|points out]] that any [[Mook]] could grab her hair in a fight.
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* [[Cop Boyfriend|Cop Girlfriend]]: In the ongoing series Kate and Maggie Sawyer of the Gotham City Police Department begin dating after some flirting in the ''Detective Comics'' run. However, Maggie is unaware of Kate's vigilante activities and complains to her about Batwoman interfering in her case, despite accepting Gotham vigilantes in general.
* [[Creator Cameo]]: JH Williams III [http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ltinvnuttM1qdwxz5o1_500.jpg drew himself as a background character] in #2 of the ongoing (he's the guy with the beard with his back to the camera).
* [[Cruel to Be Kind]]: After nearly being drowned by an enemy, and thinking about the dangers of the heroism lifestyle, Kate tries to drive away Bette by ridiculing her skills and motivation, criticizing her for playing a game when other heroes are driven by tragedy. Bette, however, [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero|just reclaims her Flamebird identity and starts operating solo]], and in the next issue {{spoiler|nearly gets beaten to death and stabbed by a thug}}.
* [[Cut Short]]: Batwoman's run as the headliner of ''Detective Comics'' managed to finish the last three-part mini-arc, but from one issue to the next it went from "featuring Batwoman" to "featuring Bat'''''man'''''" without any warning. There was no notice that the current author and artist would likewise be leaving the series, and the change came right after her cousin made [[Left Hanging|a pretty shocking revelation to Kate]]. Fortunately, the establishment of her ongoing series allowed the story to be continued after a years hiatus.
* [[
* [[Damsel in Distress]]:
** Save for a single instance (where she was tied up and gagged as part of a ritualistic sacrifice), the modern version has steered clear of this trope.
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* [[Honor Before Reason]]: When confronted by her commanding officer over accusations that she is gay, Kate is given the option of denying the charge and having the entire affair swept under the rug. However, she admits to the charge and resigns from the United States Military Academy at West Point, quoting the Cadet Honor Code as she does: "A cadet shall not lie, cheat or steal, nor suffer others to do so...I'm Gay." Her father, when she tells him what happened and why, says he [[So Proud of You|is proud that she "kept [her] honor and [her] integrity."]]
* [[Hot Chick in A Badass Suit]]: Wears a tuxedo to a charity ball, and Maggie Sawyer later shows up wearing the same thing.
* [[Hot Dad]]: Issue #3 of the ongoing has Cameron Chase drop in on Jacob Kane while he's at the pool, and shows that [[Grandma, What Massive Hotness You Have!|despite being in his 50s or 60s Colonel Kane has aged very well]].
* [[Internal Reveal]]: Bette's identity as Flamebird was revealed to the readers early in her arc, even earlier for those who were aware of the character in relation to the [[Teen Titans (Comic Book)|Teen Titans]], but Kate only found out after she rescued Bette from a serial killer and Bette asked to be her sidekick. [[Cut Short|Then they were kicked off the series]].
* [[Interplay of Sex and Violence]]: Issue #4 of the ongoing series features intertwined scenes of {{spoiler|Bette being stabbed by a thug}} and {{spoiler|Kate and Maggie making love}}.
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* [[Les Yay]]: She is gay in her latest incarnation.
* [[Lipstick Lesbian]]: As Renee Montoya says, "Kate Kane has the kind of beauty that leaves you ''breathless''" when she appears for the first time. Her redesign for ''Detective Comics'', as drawn by Williams, seems to deliberately play around with mixed butch and femme elements in her civilian wear, like wearing a tux with feminine hair and make-up, or a halter-necked top with a buttoned shirtfront and tie printed on the front.
* [[Long
* [[Military Brat]]: Kate's father was a SpecOps trooper, and her mother an Intel officer.
* [[Military Superhero]]: She considers the [[Bat Signal]] a call to arms and her life as Batwoman her way to serve after being separated from the army.
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** Before she started dressing up like a bat and beating up thugs for fun, when Kate was leaving a bar she was approached by a mugger demanding her phone and wallet. Seeing as how at this point she was a recent student at West Point, top of her class, she beats him quite handily, and when Batman shows up the mugger is already unconscious.
** Batman himself "attacks" Kate Kane in order to test if she is the person behind the Batwoman mask, gauging not just her skills but also her attitude.
* [[My God, What Have I Done?]]: Kate did not know it then, and tried her best to avoid it, but by defeating her first primary villain she was actually {{spoiler|killing her long-lost twin sister, who had been kidnapped as a child.}} She does not take this revelation well.
* [[Name of Cain]]: Probably named after Batman creator Bob Kane. The Post-Crisis Batwoman has been drawn into the inner workings of the Religion of Crime due to her presence at the heart of their prophecies regarding the "twice-named Daughter of Cain." Because of this, the religion has become somewhat preoccupied with her sacrifice.
* [[Never Found the Body]]: {{spoiler|Alice}}, and previews heavily imply this will be followed up on in the ongoing.
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* [[Parent With New Paramour]]: Kate is always quick to point out that Catherine is her ''step''mother, and while they seem to get along well enough Kate seems to enjoy seeing her squirm.
* [[Real Person Cameo]]: Dan Choi was consulted for the issue detailing Kate's discharge, and received both a credit on the cover and a cameo.
* [[Red and Black And Evil All Over]]: [[Badass]] [[Anti
* [[Relationship Upgrade]]: Kate Kane and Maggie Sawyer had some light flirting at a fundraiser during the ''Detective Comics'' run; as Batwoman she approached Captain Sawyer to feel out [[The Commissioner Gordon|a professional relationship]]. In issue #1 of the ongoing, Kate arrives at Maggie's office to ask her on a date, which is seen in issue #2. In issue #4 {{spoiler|they sleep together}}.
* [[Religion of Evil]]: Like Renee Montoya, it looks like her main antagonists belong to the Religion of Crime.
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* [[Schedule Slip]]: The first issue of her new series was originally supposed to be released in February 2011. It was pushed back to April, and then to September as part of DC's company-wide relaunch.
* [[Secret Identity]]: Beneath her mask, Batwoman is Katherine "Kate" Kane, member of a socialite family [[Rich Idiot With No Day Job|and spoiled layabout]]. The first arc of her ongoing series involves the Department of Extra-normal Operations investigating Batwoman to find out who she is under the mask; {{spoiler|in issue #4 Cameron Chase discovers information that all but confirms that Kate is Batwoman}}.
* [[Secret Keeper]]: [[
* [[Secret Test of Character]]: In ''Batwoman #0'' Bruce Wayne observes Kate to determine whether she really is Batwoman, and in the end decides that the best way is to pretend to be a mugger and see how she reacts.
* [[Sex for Solace]]: Anna, whom Kate was dating at the start of her run on ''Detective Comics'', accuses Kate of sleeping around at night because of Kate's late-night escapades. However, though she is mistaken as to the cause of Kate's sleepless appearance, she also claims that Kate is using her as a rebound relationship and Kate never actually denies it.
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** Averted when she visits Doctor Kimball {{spoiler|with blood samples from herself and Alice}}. The script specifies that she is not trying any ninja-tactics this time and is just waiting in plain view rather than lurking.
* [[Stood Up]]: Kate left Maggie waiting at the entrance to a concert when she was delayed by a fight as Batwoman. When the concert starts the event staff tell Maggie she should wait inside and leave Kate's ticket at the booth, but Maggie says she does not even want to see the show, she was only there for the date. When Maggie calls Kate to find out where she is, Bette answers the phone [[Mistaken for Cheating|and Maggie assumes that is why Kate did not show up]].
* [[Technical Pacifist]]: She has no qualms with roughing up her enemies, or even ''[[What Measure Is a Non
* [[Thou Shalt Not Kill]]: Referred to as "The Batman Rule" in-story. Like many other heroes, a violent pummeling is okay, but Batwoman will not actually go so far as to kill a foe, and even intervene when others are going use lethal force themselves (See [[Technical Pacifist]] above). However, she does have limits - when she learns that Abbot {{spoiler|knew Alice was her sister the whole time}}, she threatens to kill him and the rest of his group if they come near her family ever again.
* [[Twin Switch]]: Flashbacks reveal that, in their childhood, Kate and Beth at least once changed places in school, fooling their teacher. Later, unintentionally, Beth was mistaken for Kate and Larry Quinones rushed up and declared his love.
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