Kate Kane
| Batwoman | |
|---|---|
| File:BatwomanOYL.JPG Character design of the new Batwoman. Art by Alex Ross. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | (I)Detective Comics #233 (July 1956). (II)52 #11 |
| Created by | I)Bob Kane, Sheldon Moldoff (II)Alex Ross |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Kathy Kane |
| Team affiliations | (I)Batman Family |
| Notable aliases | (I)Bat-Woman |
| Abilities | (I)Acrobatic crimefighter, equipped with a 'utility purse' with items such as charm-bracelet handcuffs, sneezing powder, expanding hairnet, etc. |
Batwoman, or (less commonly) Bat-Woman, is the name of a fictional character, the female counterpart to DC Comics' popular superhero Batman. Her secret identity is Kathy Kane.
In comic books
In the Silver Age
Batwoman is primarily associated with the Silver Age of comic books. Her first appearance was in Detective Comics #233 (July 1956). She was a costumed crime-fighter like Batman. In many ways she was Batman's female counterpart, but she was not exactly a feminist heroine. For example, while Batman wore a utility belt, Batwoman carried a utility purse.
Batman co-creator Bob Kane later claimed that he created Batwoman, and indeed that he drew her to resemble his wife. The fact that her real name was "Kathy Kane" aided his statement. On the other hand, in the 1950s Kane used "ghost pencillers" such as Sheldon Moldoff and Dick Sprang to draw most Batman comics, and the question of how much input Kane actually had to the Batman stories is disputed.
Batwoman was an occasional guest in Batman stories from 1956 to 1964. Batman wished for Kathy to retire from crimefighting due to the danger it placed her in -- hypocritically so, given that he expressed no such qualms over Robin's presence by his side. Nevertheless, she remained his ally.
In 1961, Batwoman was joined by her niece Bat-Girl, named after Bob Kane's wife Betty. Kathy and Betty were romantically interested in Batman and Robin, respectively. Robin seemed to return Bat-Girl's affection, while Batman seemed to be trying to remain aloof from Batwoman.
In 1964, Batwoman, as well as Bat-Girl, Ace the Bat-Hound, and Bat-Mite were dropped from the Batman titles, which were undergoing a revamp by editor Julius Schwartz that eliminated elements that were considered too "silly". Over the next couple of years Batwoman, along with a few other characters, made a few appearances in the Batman-Superman team-up book World's Finest, which was edited by Mort Weisinger.
In the Bronze Age
In the 1970s, Batwoman was revived but only appeared a few times, often fighting crime alongside the second Batgirl Barbara Gordon. During her retirement, she became the owner of a circus, which she kept until she died. She was 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 the Catwoman. She did marry and have children, but her husband was never revealed. However she later came out of retirement following Batman's death when Gotham City was threatened by the return of Hugo Strange.
After Crisis on Infinite Earths
After the Crisis on Infinite Earths, the histories of Batwoman and Bat-Girl were heavily retconned. In the new continuity, Kathy Kane existed 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 Kingdom
Batwoman was referenced in Planet Krypton, an issue within the Kingdom miniseries; this appears to be her first mention in any post-Crisis comic. In said issue, a Planet Krypton restaurant (modeled somewhat after Planet Hollywood) finds itself "haunted" by silent spectral beings resembling characters from DC Golden Age and Silver Age continuity. Batman comes face to face with Batwoman and says, "Kathy?" Later, he denies there being any possible way he could know her.
Aside from this reference, the late Kathy Kane and her murder by the Bronze Tiger have been mentioned on occasion. It may be that Kathy Kane existed but was never Batwoman in the post-Crisis DC Universe. In Batman, Dark Detective #2 (2005), Bruce Wayne is seen in the Batcave and on the wall is a large portrait of Batwoman. Whether she is a part of DC Comics current mythos is inconsistent.
Titans of Tomorrow
When the Teen Titans traveled to an alternate future (known as "Titans of Tomorrow"), they found that Bette Kane had assumed the mantle of Batwoman, and even had a costume similar to Kathy's.
The 2006 series Infinite Crisis implied (but never stated) that there was an Earth-Two Betty Kane aka Bat-Girl in the pre-Crisis universe, and that this Betty Kane survived the Crisis as Flamebird instead of Bat-Girl.
52 and One Year Later
Template:Spoilers One year after the events of Infinite Crisis, a new Batwoman will appear for the first time in present day continuity. The new Batwoman is seen among the group of heroes at the end of Infinite Crisis #7. According to the New York Times and an interview with Dan DiDio this Batwoman will debut in 52 #11. This version of Kathy ("Kate") Kane will be a socialite crime fighter who was romantically involved with Detective Renee Montoya. Template:Endspoilers
Other characters named "Batwoman"
In Mark Waid and Alex Ross' Kingdom Come miniseries, Batwoman was portrayed as a Batman "admirer from the Fourth World" of Jack Kirby. She wore a costume which implemented Kirby-esque elements and those of the original costume. The character also rode a giant bat-winged dog named Ace.
In Alan Davis's elseworld tale:JLA: The Nail, Catwoman takes up a costume that looks similar to Batwoman's.
A Batwoman, apparently a female version of Batman from an alternate Earth, appeared in Superman/Batman #24 (November 2005). Batman recognises her as "Helena", implying that she is her reality's version of the Huntress from the main DC continuity. Although she recognises Batman as "Bruce", it can be assumed that in her reality, Bruce Wayne never became Batman, but circumstances led to Helena taking on the role instead. In her reality, her closest ally is Superwoman.
In the media
Batwoman appeared in the direct to video animated film Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman. This version is actually three different women avenging wrongs by the Penguin and Rupert Thorne. The name of one of them, Cathy Duquesne (pronounced "du-kane"), is an homage to Kathy Kane.
Wild World Of Batwoman was a 1966 film that was mocked in an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Beyond the name, the movie has no connection with the DC comics characters.
A Batwoman of no relation exists in Spanish media. This Batwoman is a wrestler and government agent whose duty is to stop a mad scientist who has created a sea-creature to terrorize the seas.