A new version of Batwoman first appeared in “52”, a weekly comic book maxi-series. The reality that the new version of the character, Kate Kane, was a lesbian would stir both controversy and kudos. It was all part of a conscious effort to make the DC universe more inclusive. Secretly wealthy heiress Kate Kane, Batwoman romances some of the most prominent lesbian characters in the DC universe, including Renee Montoya and Maggie Sawyer. Kate is the first cousin of Bruce Wayne, on his mother’s side.

Kate Kane’s Debut and Her Old Flame

“52” was an experiment, a weekly comic book that would feature four or more interlocking superhero storylines that would unfold over an entire year. During that time several new and established characters would be set up to be launched as independent, standalone series.

One of those storylines central to 52 featured Renee Montoya, the lesbian detective of Gotham Central, trying to find her way after resigning from Gotham’s police force. Along the way, Montoya partners up with a mysterious hero named the Question. And an unfolding mystery leads Montoya to wonder if the wealthy Kane family might be in the center of it. As it happens, wealthy heiress Kate Kane is an embittered ex-lover of Montoya’s and the two verbally spar in issue #7 And unbeknownst to Montoya, she is readying to launch her career as the new Batwoman, which happens two issues later. “New” may be something of a misnomer, as in 2006 story continuity there never was an earlier one. Two issues after that in 52 #11, Montoya realizes that Kate Kane is Batwoman.

The first Batwoman was one DC Comics was ready to put behind them, having debuted fifty years earlier. But as we will see, longtime readers weren’t so ready to forget.

The First Batwoman, Straight and Decidedly Femme

The first Batwoman debuted in Detective Comics 233, the August 1956 issue. Secretly Kathy Kane, this Batwoman was no relation of Bruce Wayne. A circus trapeze artist and motorcycle stunt rider, Kathy Kane reflects on her early desire for a life of crimefighting.

“I wish I could be like Batman,” she thinks while performing on the trapeze, “the greatest acrobat of all time! He uses his skill not for shows, but against crime!”

But when she inherits her uncle’s entire fortune, she realizes she now has the freedom to use her skills “as Batman does! I, too, will fight crime–I’ll be a Batwoman.”

While this backstory provided a legitmate sense of her being qualified for her endeavor, the tools she devised to aid her reflected a decidedly fifties sense of what a female crimefighter might be like. There had been plenty of non-stereotypical heroines in the forties, but if anything there was backsliding by the fifties.

Batwoman’s shoulder bag (at least they didn’t call it her purse) was Kathy Kan’es version of Batman’s utility belt. But its contents contained “feminine tricks”: A powder puff that contained sneezing powder. Charm bracelets that doubled as steel handcuffs. A compact mirror that could blind crooks. A seeming perfume flask that contained tear gas. A super-strong, large “hairnet” large enough to entangle a full-sized criminal. Only her “bat bolo” was not a feminine marker.

For all of that, the first Batwoman was competent, courageous and ethical, even passing on an opportunity to discover Batman’s secret identity. She soon became an integral part of the Batman family of the fifties and early sixties, appearing nearly 50 times in Batman, Detective and World’s Finest comic books. Batwoman soon became Batman’s rather chaste romantic interest for several years. Kathy Kane appeared only briefly after 1964, the aforementioned Batman family seen as badly dated as the swinging sixities took hold.

Just as a lesbian Batwoman could not have appeared any earlier than 2006, the original Batwoman was clearly emblematic of a different era. But many more conservative Batman readers didn’t approve of so-called revisionist history geared towards ensuring more non-dominant groups were represented in the pages of contemporary comic books.

Batwoman’s significance as a lesbian character

That Kate Kane has remained a central player in the world of Gotham City is a credit to DC’s editors and writers. They’ve kept the character front and center. That said, an early plan to have Kate marry Maggie Sawyer was nixed by the higher ups at DC. The editors couched the decision as one to prevent “settled romances” among DC’s characters. It may or may not have also reflected a skittishness about portraying a same sex marriage. A more nuanced look at the relationship is warranted.

Kate Kane and Maggie Sawyer

Kate Kane’s romance with Maggie Sawyer began in 2009 in Detective Comics in Batwoman’s first solo series. The two women meet at a gala and soon are dancing together.

As told by the creative team of J. H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman, in issue #17, Kate kisses Maggie as Batwoman and proposes to her. As such, she both reveals her secret identity and declares her love. Williams and Blackman leave as the creative team when DC nixes their plan for the two of them to marry.

Putting aside the possible motivations aside, Marc Andreyko–an openly gay writer–takes over the title with issue #25. Andreyko pens a complex storyline which focuses on a custody dispute between Maggie and her ex-husband. The struggle is complicated when the daughter sees Kate bruised and bloodied after a particularly brutal night as Batwoman. Kate makes the sacrifice in issue #34 to leave the relationship to ensure Maggie continues to enjoy joint custody. While this brief description this development may seem negative–the sacrifice makes story sense. It’s made in the context of Kate’s ongoing therapy to curb her antisocial tendencies.

Kate returns to her more adventurous romantic self. She soon is a very (literally) unhealthy relationship with a sexy female vampire named Nocturna. But by the end of volume two of the Batwoman comic book, Kate shows up at Maggie’s door wanting to talk. Andreyko leaves the character on a hopeful note, making for a very satisfying run as writer.

Batwoman and Renee Montoya Redux

Batwoman’s second comic book series has her sharing an adventure with old flame, Renee Montoya. Marguerite Bennett has the series end on a similarly positive note, this time being open to what might happen with Montoya. The artwork in the final issue is particularly evocative. 

For a humorous comic strip on another Jewish heroine, see Levy’s Law.

Notable appearances of Kate Kane as Batwoman

“52” (as Kate Kane) 7, 9, 11 (as Batwoman), 28, 30, 33-34, 36, 47, 48, 52 (6/21/06-5/2/07)

DC Universe Infinite Holiday Special 1 (2/07)

Countdown 51, 41, 39-38 (5/07-8/07)

Crime Bible 3 (2/08)

Batman 20-22 (9/08-11/08)

Detective Comics 854-863 (8/09-5/10)

Batwoman 0-40 (1/11-5/15) DC Comics

Batwoman Annual 1-2 (6/14-6/15)

DC Comics: Bombshells 1, 3-6, 10-13, 15-18, 21-26, 33 (10/15-10/17)

Detective Comics 934-962, 965-981, 992, 1000… (5/16-5/19…)

Batwoman (vol. 2) 1-18 (5/17-10/18)

Bombshells United 6-12, 16-17, 19 (1/18-8/18)

Mark Carlson-Ghost