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By Jason Bourgeois
It's probably gone unnoticed over all this time, but I have written almost no rants about Batman and friends. It may even be none, but I'm not sure. Anyways, the Bat Family is not a corner of the DC Universe I visit often. I've never been a big fan of the Bat. The way I look at it, I'm reading comicbooks, where literally anything is possible. The characters can do anything. The only limitations are imagination and the ability of the artist. So when a character is just a regular guy in a spandex suit, it doesn't do anything for me. I don't want to read about people like me. I want people with powers. I want amazing abilities and situations. Now, saying that, I do recognise that Batman is a great character. He's become archetypal. Some of his stories are absolute classics of the industry. I'm just not a fan. I don't hate the character, I just don't buy his adventures.
I do like to read some of his supporting cast though. I dip into Nightwing on occasion, but mostly when he's with the Titans. Barbara Gordon is one of my favourite characters, in both her Batgirl and Oracle guises. I couldn't tell you what seperates Babs from Bats for me, that makes her more interesting. Maybe it's as simple as me being a guy. Maybe I find female characters more interesting. Maybe through all the trauma and adventures she's had, she's just become a more interesting character to me in some way. Maybe I just ended up with a story in my hands somehow that really resonated with me and she's stuck in my head. Maybe it's all of the above.
For whatever reason though, I have no significant runs of any Batman title in my library. It's been very rare that I've even gotten it monthly. In fact, I don't think I have ever gotten any of his main titles regularly, which would also explain the lack of rants about him. However, that all changed a few months ago when I started getting Detective Comics.
So, what changed?
Would it be surprising to learn that Batman's no longer the star of the title? Much like the Superman books, the title character has been shifted from the title so intensely associated with him, for lesser stars. Detective Comics is a much better title to do this with, since the title in no way demands that Batman be in the comic, much like Action Comics. Moving Superman out of his eponymous book was probably not as wise of an idea. So, with Detective Comics giving Bruce the boot, they brought in someone familiar to the mythos at least, and kept it in the family with Batwoman.
This particular Batwoman debuted in the pages of 52 a few years ago, and made a few appearances in assorted books since then. Many of those appearances were written by Greg Rucka, and he follows his semi-creation to Detective.
For anyone who doesn't remember, this Batwoman appeared with huge publicity about her gayness. She didn't get much development beyond that, however Greg gave her a personality at least. Finally though, she's being given her own book, her own adventures, and isn't just following other people around. This has already done quite a bit for Kate Kane in her few issues of Detective.
She is very much like Bruce Wayne, playing the part of a rich socialite by day, with all the trappings that involves. She has the reputation of - well, not as bad as Paris Hilton, but that sort of person. However, by night, she's the bad-ass female caped crusader, and deadly serious. Unlike Bruce, she appears to have a military background thanks to her father, a colonel, but just how deep that goes we don't know yet. Rucka is going to start telling her origin in the next few issues. Possibly already begun by the time this sees print.
Rucka's writing is always very solid, although he often covers subjects that don't interest me, and that is a little bit of a problem with the book right now for me. The character is slowly becoming more interesting, as she's drawing more into focus and we finally learn about her. However, the stories themselves aren't quite my thing.
I'm sticking with the book for one major reason that makes it unmissible for the time being; J.H. Williams on art. Holy crap, it is gorgeous. The man is one of the best artists in the business right now, and this book shows it off. This is pure art. The design of every page is so intricately designed, my paltry words could not even begin to describe it. Page layouts, often two pages, are frequently designed to resemble bat logos. There's movement between panels like they exist in dimensions we've only dreamed of, escaping the two or three they should be stuck in. When she's not being Batwoman, the panel design goes back to a more standard six panel grid, rigid borders, and very old school and normal, perfectly signifying her return to a mundane, less frenetic reality. That is one of my favourite artistic touches. Many might not notice it, but going from the action, crazy designs of the Batwoman stuff, and shifting to very normal comics design is a subtle design choice that the subconcious would notice. They even transition from one style to the other as she's getting suited up, moving back into the crazy world of crimefighting. On top of that, they even change the colouring and inking techniques to more standard usages when Kate Kane is on the page.
My only complaint with the art is that I'm not too keen on Kate's design. I get wanting to make her as different from Batwoman as possible, that makes sense from a design and logical standpoint within the world itself. However, they make Kate look way too goth, in my opinion. I can't think of a better word to describe it. Most notably are these heavy, dark circles under her eyes. Right now, I can't decide if it's makeup being added as a conscious choice to actually try and look gothy, if the character is supposed to be really tired with dark circles under her eyes, or if she's trying to make herself look tired like a socialite who partied all night long.
Frankly, if it was the last choice, I could live with that. If it's all part of her role as Kate Kane, then I can understand that, as much as I don't like the look itself. There's a certain logic to that. She's developed this whole other life - several in fact - and if it's all part of the Kate role, then fine. Frankly I'd just rather drop it, because it just looks weird.
That small little thing aside though, the art is gorgeous, and Batwoman is finally being developed by the writer who knows her best. I recommend reading this book on the art alone, everything else is just gravy. If you don't at least give this book a look, your eyes will never forgive you. The character is far more than "Oh my god, a gay Batgirl!" That's a very minor part of her character, but it is there, just as any sexual preference should be. The writing and artistic talent alone should make this book worthy of being looked at, and it just so happens it's pretty good too.
Jason M. Bourgeois
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