Description: Batwoman, Kate Kane, is a great female character, despite being a fairly recent one, and this is her chance in the spotlight. Female characters can sometimes fall victim to gender stereotypes or just not get treated with respect. Sometimes they look like they’re trying too hard. Not Batwoman. Batwoman is interesting because she is a strong character who happens to be female. That isn’t to say that her character isn’t strongly defined around her gender, but what I’m getting at is that, despite the similar motifs, Batwoman isn’t just a “Girl Power!” version of Batman, she’s her own person with a completely separate story and cool personality. In summary, Kate Kane likes to kick ass and just happens to have lady parts. Oh, and she’s also a lesbian, and even that is handled tastefully. Kate Kane is awesome.
The Creative Team: And this is the part that seals the deal.
J.H. Williams III is a masterful artist. He has a unique art style that is just beautiful to look at. Even his panel shapes are dynamic and creative. And not just that, but he can change his style to suit different situations in the comic. His art for the Kate Kane segments of the story are grounded compared to the grit and flair of the style he uses when Kate is in costume. Action scenes are visually striking and brutal. When some more fantastic elements are involved, the art becomes downright surreal. And his spreads, holy crap. Words don’t do him justice.
All of his pages are even better in-context, and in Elegy it’s beautiful to see his art mesh so perfectly with the story. Williams is one of THE best artists on an ongoing series, along with Francis Manapul.
As for the writing? Well. That’s another story. J.H. Williams III is an unknown in terms of writing ability. He hasn’t written anything, although he has worked on Batwoman before as an artist. And the other guy? The most I can find on him is that he’s written some Star Wars comics. That’s a very different game than Batcomics! No one really has any clue what to expect, but Batwoman is a solid character with a lot of potential, so hopefully it’ll turn out for the best. And there’s always DAT ART.
Accessibility: Here’s the catch. This ongoing series has been planned for about a year, well before even the writers knew about the relaunch. But the series kept getting delayed indefinitely, and now we know why. The creators have already gone on record as saying that they plan on continuing the character from where she left off. While there will be a recap for newcomers, I wouldn’t expect anything extensive, as the major details like her backstory, supporting cast, and main villain were already taken care of recently in Batwoman: Elegy. She is a recent character though, and doesn’t have much outside of that and 52 (although there were a LOT of other things going on there). If you do want a better background, pick up Elegy.
Recommendation: If you want a book with a strong female lead, or want to see how comics can excel as a visual medium, then this is the book for you. If you’re interested in Batman but not quite sold on the idea of a Batfamily, then Kate Kane could be the girl who could change your mind. And if you already wanted to explore the rest of Gotham’s cast? You were probably already sold! We might not have an answer on writing just yet, but the art is guaranteed to be some of the best in the market, and that and the character should carry the book. And if it’s on the same level as Elegy, we’re in for a treat.
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You have no time to ponder such questions, as Link has just grabbed a Smash Ball.
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