More Info On Batwoman

[Binker]

source: http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71980

Hinted and teased about for months, Sunday’s New York Times (already being delivered in the New York area) confirms that DC is brining back a staple of its Silver Age: Batwoman.

The article, entitled "Straight (and Not) Out of the Comics: At DC and Marvel Comics, new heroes are gay, black, Asian and Hispanic. Get used to it," is a full- page feature on page 25 of the Sunday Arts & Leisure section on Marvel and DC’s emphasis on increasing the diversity of their respective character libraries over the past months to year-plus. NYT writer George Gene Gustines covers, among others, the attention being placed on the upcoming Black Panther/Storm wedding at Marvel and Luke Cage's key role in New Avengers, and the new Blue Beetle - a Hispanic teen - as well as Batwoman, Kathy Kane, who, according to the article: “…is a wealthy (socialite), buxom lipstick lesbian who has a history with Renee Montoya, an ex-police detective who has a starring role in 52."

According to the article, Batwoman will "appear in costume for the first
time in a July issue of 52"

Eagle-eyed DC fans caught a first look at Batwoman in Infinite Crisis #7’s splash page showing a swath of new characters – wearing a costume apparently inspired by the original, Silver Age Batwoman, as well as a nod to the color scheme of Batman Beyond. According to the NYT, the costume was designed by Alex Ross. Of course, her name, an obvious homage to the Silver Age “Kathy Kane”.

Also mentioned is “the Great Ten”, a Chinese-government controlled/sponsored superhero team making their debut next month in 52.

According to the article, the team includes, "the Celestial Archer, with ties to Chinese mythology; Mother of Champions, who can give birth to a litter of 25 super-soldiers about every three days; and Seven Deadly Brothers, a martial arts expert who can divide into many."

The Times piece recaps the sometimes bumpy roads comic books have taken towards diversity - including DC's 1998 series The New Guardians, the mid-90's Milestone imprint, and 2000's "Planet DC" initiative - but according to Gustines, this new emphasis/push is intended to be a "sustained one,” taking place in an alternate world that nevertheless reflects American society in general and comics readers in particular, in much the same way that they multicultural casts of televisions shows like ABC's Lost and Grey's Anatomy mirror their audiences."

"I'm glad we're at the point when they're being rolled out without flourish - not 'Minority Heroes Attack!,' " DC writer Judd Winick tells Gustines. "It's important to see them as characters and not a story line about race."

The piece is also not without some examination of the online comic book community and their reaction to change. Citing the death of the Ted Kord Blue Beetle, which paved the way for the new Mexican-American Jaime Reyes version, Gustine writes, "Fans of the old Blue Beetle posted online messages decrying his death and griping about DC's new, generally more somber direction. But comics devotees are notorious for buying titles out of loyalty, whether from completist compulsion or from a need to be able to complain about what they don't like, and DC knows it".

"It's hard to introduce any new hero DC Executive Editor Dan DiDio tells Gustines, adding that using familiar names like (like Blue Beetle and Batwoman), "gives us a leg up so they're more readily accepted, I think that's the way to go."

Look for a link to the Times piece when it appears online, and an interview with DiDio on the new Batwoman and DC's drive to diversity Sunday, here at Newsarama.com.

So more info later....

 

[GoldenAgeHero]

thats an ugly arse costume! why are marvel and dc making such a huge deal on minorities?

 

[boywondernerdDC]

yeah i guess Affirmative Action applies to fictional characters too

 

[The Batman]

Kathy Kane's a lesbo?

aww...i wanted to see Bruce hit that.....ah, well, cant tap em all....

 

[Nightwing 52]

Interesting. I had suggested Kathy Kane in another thread that had been made, about who could be under the mask when most thought it'd be Barbara. The suit is a bit based on the Batman Beyond themes, in terms of the colors and symbol. Not sure how well that will sell, guess we'll have to see when she debuts in 52.

 

[The Batman]

man...if it were renee montoya, i wouldnt be upset, but its kathy kane!! damn, i was hoping Bats would get a little somethin somethin....

maybe shes bi....hmmm...

 

[Nightwing 52]

If she has history with Renee, I doubt she is.

 

[The Batman]

I dunno. Bi people go out with lesbians/gays all the time.

The funny part about this is, Kathy was created to be Batmans love interest to end rumors that Bats was gay....

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Great, more Silver Age throwbacks. I guess I'll wait and see if she's actually a decent character in 52.

 

[Nightwing 52]

I dunno. Bi people go out with lesbians/gays all the time.

The funny part about this is, Kathy was created to be Batmans love interest to end rumors that Bats was gay....

With Bette as Robin's, who Bob Kane based her name upon his wife's. And drew Batwoman to resemble her, along with adding the name "Kane" to support his claim.

 

[The Batman]

Yup...and the old stories would have robin trying to shun bat-girl's advances, making him look even gayer, while batwoman would fantasize about Bats....

Strange era of bat history. They tried so hard to rip off the superman books at the time

 

[Nightwing 52]

Other way around. Robin was the one returning Bette's affection toward him, while Batman tried to keep his distance from Kathy.

 

[The Batman]

Not in Batman 144, the issue where bat-mite tries to play cupid with bat-girl and robin.

 

[MaskedManJRK]

Kathy Kane's a lesbo?

aww...i wanted to see Bruce hit that.....ah, well, cant tap em all....

Or...

COMING NEXT YEAR...

CHASING KATHY

 

[The Batman]

Or...

COMING NEXT YEAR...

CHASING KATHY

niiiiiiiiiiice. I like how you connected that.

It can be about Bruce chasing kathy, with Dick being very negative about the relationship because hes secretly in love with bruce, with bruces black, gay friend commissioner akins....

the potential is limitless

And the Dark Knight convert a lesbian? Find out next week, same bat time, same bat channel.

 

[MaskedManJRK]

niiiiiiiiiiice. I like how you connected that.

It can be about Bruce chasing kathy, with Dick being very negative about the relationship because hes secretly in love with bruce, with bruces black, gay friend commissioner akins....

the potential is limitless

And the Dark Knight convert a lesbian? Find out next week, same bat time, same bat channel.

ATKINS: ...And then you have Darth Vader, the blackest motherf**ker in the galaxy--a Nubian god--

DICK: What's a Nubian?

ATKINS: SHUT THE F**K UP!

 

[The Batman]

lol. that movie was great.

 

[MaskedManJRK]

lol. that movie was great.

Yeah--a bit of a sore movie to watch, since I went through the same thing as he did, but without the hooking-up part.

 

[Nightwing 52]

Not in Batman 144, the issue where bat-mite tries to play cupid with bat-girl and robin.

He was a bit shy, while she was being forward. There was an old story from the "Batman in Space" adventures where they were stuck together in an alien world. That's when Dick admitted he liked her, and they kissed.

Even with their feelings for one another, all they managed to do was maintain a friendship.

 

[Fledermaus]

Yeah--a bit of a sore movie to watch, since I went through the same thing as he did, but without the hooking-up part.

Did you decide to have a threesome with the girl you love and your best friend? You know, to help resolve the hate they have for each other with their love for you?

 

[MaskedManJRK]

Did you decide to have a threesome with the girl you love and your best friend? You know, to help resolve the hate they have for each other with their love for you?

No--crushing on a lesbian.

I barely have a best friend anyway, therefore making your assumption impossible.

Pour salt on the open wound, why don't ya?

 

[Ben Urich]

Oh, like Batman hasn't gotten enough ass already.

 

[MaskedManJRK]

Oh, like Batman hasn't gotten enough ass already.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ENOUGH ASS.

I thought you would know this, being a man and all.

 

[kiuju2k]

Man. I don't care what her sexual orientation is. She isn't going to be as good as barbra. I already know she can't compete with Cassandra. Cassie brought a credibility to the bat family in certain circles. I doubt this new one will be up to it. No way no how. Might as well have shiva be batwoman. At least she can kick some ass.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

If Shiva sold out and became Batman's underling, after already basically becoming Black Canary's *****, I would have to shoot myself.