Batwoman: It gets worse

[ixat_totep]

So... Three years after being introduced with much fanfare, Batwoman finally gets her own feature (and cover) in this week's Detective Comics. For the character who is supposedly DC's most prominent gay character, her profile has been extremely low. Heck, Obsidian gets more panel time. Not to mention Renee Montoya, who has assumed the identity

Comments

i respectfully disagree

[scottyquick]

No, we don't. Apparently Kate Kane is from a military family, and her father, whom she addresses as "sir", is supplying her and monitoring her during her superhero adventures

Yeah, because Bruce doesn't have Babs doing that from him.

And to top it off, what is driving her?

We don't find out! Although

Her feelings as a victim from that time when the followers of the Crime Bible ran a sword through her near the end of "52".

are terrifying her, because comic-time-wise, they happened what, a month ago? And now the newer, more powerful leader is back and wants to cut out her heart again?

Re: i respectfully disagree

[rae_beta]

Yeah, because Bruce doesn't have Babs doing that from him.

Well, no, he doesn't--and regardless, she was originally his protegee, which creates a very different dynamic from father/daughter. There's also the sense in which it's a bit of a letdown to get "strong, rebellious lady" waved around in one's face and then learn that, oh, she's basically working at the behest a dude.

also, ixat_totep i don't mean to come across as rude here and apologize if I am being rude

[scottyquick]

Well, no, he doesn't

I mean when he's alive, cheater :P!

That's hardly fair. We don't know why she's working. If her father knows what she's doing and can help, why shouldn't she take his help? If in 6 months when we know her origin it turns out she's all doing it for him, then I'll agree with you.

Re: also, ixat_totep i don't mean to come across as rude here and apologize if I am being rude

[ixat_totep]

rae_beta pretty much nailed it for me. And I don't think the fact that Bruce is currently dead and Babs is who knows where had anything to do with the comment. Even before they became more distant from each other, they had a very different realtionship in which Bruce pretty much ordered her around, or at least tried. That was one of the reasons she stopped talking to him for a while.

While you do have a point that we don't know the whole story here, the attitudes and ways of interacting point to a very different thing that is not at all what the buildup for this character was. He interrogates her, she acts generally subservient towards him even when she disagrees with him.

Also, at least one of the intervening Batwoman/Question appearances made it clear that it's been quite some time for Batwoman since she was stabbed.

Maybe this will all make sense and be better later, but it's not set up to go well as it is as far as I'm concerned.

Re: also, ixat_totep i don't mean to come across as rude here and apologize if I am being rude

[ixat_totep]

Oh and BTW I don't think you're rude and am interested in your alternate reading of the issue. I really do hope that we see an origin for her that improves this situation.

I also was really pinning a lot of hopes on this issue after what I feel is a horrible treatment of this character, nominally DC's "most prominent gay character". It took three years for her to even get an appearance as other than a supporting character, and this is it?

At least J.H.Williams' art is amazing. I'm sure someone will complain about the amped up sexuality in the interrogation scene, but I have to admit I'm OK with that part :-)

I also do appreciate the reference to Bette still being in continuity and somehow related to Kate (as the icon I've been using in this thread is of her pre-Crisis counterpart, Betty Kane). Poor Bette (Flamebird) never gets any respect, but that's been the story of her character the whole time.

Re: also, ixat_totep i don't mean to come across as rude here and apologize if I am being rude

[scottyquick]

Oh yes, I complained like hell about that.

I'm sure someone will complain about the amped up sexuality in the interrogation scene, but I have to admit I'm OK with that part :-)

Pretty much the same! I found it oddly scary, though. I mean, imagine going into your home, turning the corner, and finding a woman with a mask covering her face, blood red lips and ivory skin who won't stop smiling at you.

I like Bette! It saddens me that no one has bothered to write her.