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Batwoman (originally referred to as the Bat-Woman) is a fictional character, a female counterpart to DC Comics' popular superhero Batman.

The most recent incarnation of the character, Kate Kane, appears in the series 52, operating in Gotham City during Batman's absence, following the events of Infinite Crisis.

Kathy Kane

Pre-Crisis

The original Batwoman is primarily associated with the Silver Age of comic books. She first appeared in Detective Comics #233 (July 1956). She was a costumed crime-fighter like Batman, his counterpart in many ways. For example, while Batman wears a utility belt, Batwoman carried a utility purse.

In the aftermath of the attacks on comics in the early 1950s, "The Batwoman" was the first of several characters that would make up the "Batman Family". Since the "family" formula had proven very successful, editor Jack Schiff suggested to Kane that he create one for The Batman. A female was chosen first, to offset the charges made by Frederick Wertham that Batman and Robin were homosexuals. Batman creator Bob Kane later claimed that he originally drew her to resemble his first wife. The fact that he named her "Kathy Kane" supports this statement; however, Kane used "ghost pencillers" such as Sheldon Moldoff and Dick Sprang to draw most Batman comics in the 1950s, and the question of how much input Kane actually had to the Batman stories is disputed.

Batwoman guest-starred occasionally in Batman stories published from 1956 to 1964. Batman wished for Kathy to retire from crimefighting due to the danger. Nevertheless, she remained his ally (even when she temporarily became a new version of Catwoman).

In 1961, Batwoman was joined by her niece Betty Kane, the Bat-Girl, named after Bob Kane's wife. Kathy and Betty were romantically interested in Batman and Robin, respectively. Robin seemed to return Bat-Girl's affection, while Batman remained aloof.

In 1964, DC dropped Batwoman, as well as Bat-Girl, Ace the Bat-Hound, and Bat-Mite from the Batman titles, which were undergoing a revamp under Editor Julius Schwartz that eliminated many of the "sci-fi" elements that were introduced in the 1950s . In stories published during the next few years, Batwoman makes several appearances in the Batman-Superman team-up book World's Finest, which was edited by Mort Weisinger.

In the 1970s, Batwoman only appeared a few times, often fighting crime alongside the second Batgirl, Barbara Gordon. During her retirement, she becomes the owner of a circus, which she kept until she died. She is killed by the League of Assassins and the brainwashed Bronze Tiger in Detective Comics #485 (September 1979).

There was also a Batwoman on Earth-Two, who was very much like her deceased Earth-One counterpart. This Kathy Kane retired when the Batman of that world married Catwoman. She married and had children, but her husband was never revealed. She came out of retirement following Batman's death when Gotham City was threatened by the return of Hugo Strange.

Post-Crisis

After Crisis on Infinite Earths altered DC Universe history, Batwoman's and Bat-Girl's histories are heavily changed. In the new continuity, Kathy Kane exists but apparently Batwoman never had. Bat-Girl never existed either, but a superheroine named Flamebird was introduced who had a somewhat similar costume and almost the same name ("Bette Kane").

The late Kathy Kane and her murder by the Bronze Tiger were mentioned on occasion. Kathy Kane existed but was never Batwoman in the post-Crisis DC Universe. In Batman, Dark Detective #2 (2005), a large portrait of Batwoman appeared on the wall of Batcave, although it is likely that Batman: Dark Detective does not take place in current DC continuity. In the Beast Boy miniseries, Flamebird tries to post bail for Beast Boy, with money "borrowed from Aunt Kathy", which would suggest she is still alive. In Alan Moore's The Killing Joke, Batman stares at a photograph that portrays Bat-Girl (Bette Kane), Batwoman, Ace the Bat-hound, and Batmite -- characters that did not exist in continuity at the time.

The Kingdom

Batwoman is referenced in Planet Krypton, an issue within the The Kingdom miniseries. This series introduces the concept of Hypertime, in which characters who had been removed from continuity still exist in alternate timelines. A Planet Krypton theme restaurant (modeled after Planet Hollywood) finds itself "haunted" by silent "Hypertime ghosts" of characters who are no longer part of DC continuity. Batman comes face to face with Batwoman and says, "Kathy?" Later, Batman says there is no possible way he could know her.

Kate Kane

Fictional character biography

52

After the Infinite Crisis series, a new Katherine "Kate" Kane is introduced. Kate is Renee Montoya's former lover and heiress to one of the wealthiest families in Gotham City, owning that which the Wayne family does not. Renee refers to her as "Katherine the younger" and asks Kate to help find the connection between the Kanes and the address 520 Kane Street. While still upset from their breakup, Kate agrees to help Renee, but punches her after Renee mentions their prior relationship. Renee suggests they once loved each other, and Kate tells her to leave. Not long after that, Batwoman is shown to be observing Montoya from the rooftops as Renee converses with the Question (in his guise as "Charlie") in an alley.

Kate meets with Renee and Charlie in Gotham Park and confirms that the warehouse was being leased by Ridge-Ferrick until six weeks ago. Renee refuses to tell Kate what's going on saying that she doesn't owe Kate anything, which shocks Kate and prompts her to tail them as Batwoman. When Renee and the Question break into Ridge-Ferrick's Gotham offices, they are attacked by Whisper A'Daire's shapeshifting minions, and Batwoman arrives to rescue them. Making quick work of two monsters, Batwoman stops Renee from shooting the third, instead kicking the monster out a window. Batwoman informs them the police are coming, asks that she not be mentioned, and leaves.

After Renee learns that the Book of Crime, a sacred text of Intergang, contains a prophecy foretelling the brutal murder of the "twice named daughter of Kane," she and the Question return to Gotham. They contact Kate by flashing a batsignal, and the three join forces to avert Intergang's plans. As Kate continues the case, she is joined by Nightwing, who has recently returned to Gotham and becomes infatuated with her. On Christmas Eve, he gives her an 'official' Batarang. She also celebrates Hanukkah with Renee, and the two kiss shortly before Christmas.

Intergang realizes that the image of Batwoman in the Crime Bible and the cited "twice-named daughter of Cain" were one and the same, and ransack Kate's apartment, kidnapping her with the intention to sacrifice her. Renee finds her, seemingly too late to save her, as during the fight, Kate pulls the knife out of her own chest to stab Bruno Mannheim and then collapses in Renee's arms. Kate survives her wounds after Renee stops the bleeding in time, however, and as she recuperates in her Penthouse, Renee, dressed as the Question, shines the batsignal into her apartment and asks "Are you ready?"

One Year Later

One year after the start of 52, Alfred Pennyworth mentions Kathy Kane to Bruce Wayne, when listing the various women Bruce dated in his playboy days and the Penguin suggests Batman bring a date to the opening of his club, asking, "Why don't you bring that new Batwoman? I hear she's kind of hot."

Batwoman later appears in a story written by Greg Rucka for the DC Infinite Holiday Special. This story fleshed out some of the current Batwoman's background, including the fact that she is Jewish.

Skills, resources and abilities

As Batwoman, Kate lacks any superpowers, and instead relies on her martial artistry and Batman-inspired equipment when fighting crime. In the ten years since her breakup with Renee Montoya, she has learned to fight and is able to defeat three monsters, as well as spy on Renee and the Question with relative ease.

Being the heiress of a family whose fortune is comparable to the Waynes, Kate possesses the finances to produce an arsenal of equipment, similar to Batman. This includes a baton-like device which can extend from the center in length and has Bat-shaped attachments at each end. She also makes use of Batarangs and a Batman-like grappling hook.

Personal life

Unlike the Silver Age Kathy Kane, who was written as being romantically attracted to Batman, the new version of Kane is portrayed as a "lipstick lesbian", while still hiding this fact from nearly everyone she knows. In her civilian identity as a socialite, she is acquainted with Bruce Wayne and is friends with a doctor named Mallory, who treats the Question's cancer and later Kate's stab wound. Her homosexuality was announced at the same time as the character was revealed in the spring of 2006. Kate is also Jewish, and celebrated Hanukkah with Renee during the events of 52.

Early media coverage

Her homosexuality attracted substantial media coverage when the character was announced in the spring of 2006. Stories appeared on television news outlets such as CNN, general news magazines such as "USA Today", and gay culture magazines such as Out.

Other characters named Batwoman

In the Teen Titans storyline "Titans Tomorrow", Bette Kane is Batwoman, and wears a costume similar to Kathy's pre-Crisis one.

In Mark Waid and Alex Ross's Kingdom Come limited series, a Batwoman character is portrayed as a Batman admirer from Jack Kirby's Fourth World. Her costume mixed Kirby-esque elements with those of the original costume. The character rode a giant bat-winged dog named Ace.

In Alan Davis's "Elseworlds" tale:JLA: The Nail, Catwoman wears a Batwoman costume that looks very similar to the costume worn by Kathy Kane . In the sequel JLA: Another Nail, she fashions her own Batwoman persona.

Helena Wayne appears as Batwoman in an alternate Earth where the genders of Superman, Batman and other heroes are reversed. Batwoman's closest ally is Superwoman.

Appearances in other media

Batwoman appeared in the direct to video animated film Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman. This version is actually three different women: Gotham Police Detective Sonia Alcana (voiced by Elisa Gabrielli), Dr. Roxanne 'Rocky' Ballantine (Kelly Ripa), and Kathleen 'Kathy' Duquesne (Kimberly Brooks). (Kathy Duquesne (pronounced "du-kane") is a homage to Kathy Kane. The creators wanted to use the name Kathy Kane, but DC Comics made them change it because Batwoman acts somewhat like a villain.) The disguised voice of the Batwoman is provided by Kyra Sedgwick.

The three women team up to avenge wrongs by the Penguin, Rupert Thorne and Carlton Duquesne (Kathy's father), each taking on the identity to avoid connection with any one individual. Detective Alcana wants retribution on Rupert Thorne after he burned down her parents' shop when she was a child and ruined her family's lives. Dr. Ballantine's goal is to clear her fiancé's name after he was framed by the Penguin for gun smuggling. Finally, Kathy wants her father Carlton Duquesne's criminal career to end because it led to the death of her mother. Detective Alcana met Dr. Ballantine when they were in college, and Kathy Duquene on an art class.

Batwoman uses methods that are more violent than what Batman uses, causing him to investigate. Detective Alcana acts as the leader of the trio, Dr. Ballantine, who works for Wayne Enterprises, uses her scientific background for their operations, and Kathy finances the team's equipment and activities. Alcana decides to base their shared costumed identity on Batman, who rescued the detective from a fire in her home years ago, despite the protests of Dr. Ballantine and Kathy. Each woman is also proficent in martial arts and an Olympic-level athlete. During the investigation, Bruce Wayne and Kathy develop a romantic affection after the two met at a department store. Bruce enjoys Kathy's company and is fond of her spiritual personality. Wayne's ward, Tim Drake, also became a friend with Dr. Ballentine, after they played the computer game Death Castle 3000 together in the office at Wayne Enterprises. Detective Alcana is paired with Gotham PD detective Harvey Bullock for this investigation, who's unaware of his partner's activities as Batwoman.

Dr. Ballantine designs the team's equipments and gadgets that were used throughout the film that are easily comparable with Batman's. She built a Batglider for flight which can be remote-operated by the team's utility belts. She also develops a new alloy that capable to program into any shape, which the team and Batman utilize as a type of restraining tool. The trio also uses weapons and gadgets that are based from Batman's, such as his batarangs and grappling gun. The trio's batarang design is a red miniature version of Batman's, an amalgam of the boomerang used by Australian Aborigines and ninja shuriken by Japanese shadow warriors. The grappling gun is not unlike the compact-climbing gear for commando units. It fires an explosively propelled grappling hook attached to a fast-uncoiling reel of jumpline. The team's headquarter is an abandoned subway station, accessible through a maze of sewer tunnels, and its entrance can be open through Batwoman's remote from her belt or glider. The headquarter is equipped with some advance computer, gymnasium, and laboratory equipments.

The costume is made from a grayish-black tight-fitting body suit which allows complete freedom of movement and camouflage, consisting of a scalloped cape emulating the shape of a pair of batwings, a bat-like cowl which conceals the entire face, a pair of red gloves, a yellow utility belt, and the stylized red insignia of a bat emblazoned on the chest. The cowl also carrying a voice-altering device to disguise to wearer's voice.

References

1. Fred Grandinetti. "Remembering Kathy Kane: The First Batwoman". Newsarama. Retrieved 2006-05-30.
2. Batman: the Complete History, Les Daniels 1999
3. 52 #7
4. 52 #27
5. 52 #28
6. Batman #652
7. Detective Comics #824
8. Newsarama-Dan Didio on DC Infinite Christmas Special
9. 52 #11
10. Out - Batwoman Comes Out!
11. Out - Batwoman Comes Out!
12. Superman/Batman #24 (November 2005)

• Articles with unsourced statements from February 2007 You have to read articles by other golden age creators to find info on Kane's presence at DC in 50s
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