Comments | ixat_totep: Batwoman: It gets worse

ixat_totep

Batwoman: It gets worse

Jun 24, 2009 20:06

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 ( Read more... )

dc, batwoman, women in comics, batman, reviews, comics

Comments 9

i respectfully disagree scottyquick June 27 2009, 05:26:11 UTC

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 June 28 2009, 01:36:58 UTC

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 June 28 2009, 03:09:53 UTC

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 June 28 2009, 03:27:00 UTC

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.

Thread 6

Batwoman: It gets worse anonymous June 28 2009, 20:08:59 UTC

I understand the upset. I have some other issues with the whole Kate Kane situation myself.

However, just throwing this out there. to be devil's advocate, you know?
maybe Kate's just intimidated by her dad and finds it hard to break out of the child/parent context. I know I often still have that dynamic with my mom. One could argue Peter Parker is the same way with Aunt May and that's why he keeps her in the dark. because he doesn't have the backbone to tell her to let him make his own decisions. It's not how it's been justified in the comics, but who is to say that PP is honest with the audience? or himself for that matter? anything's possible.

sorry if length of comment is excessive.

marfisa June 30 2009, 04:54:04 UTC

Based on the flashback sequence showing a somewhat younger-looking Kate tied up wearing civilian clothes, I got the impression that the near-fatal Religion of Crime incident wasn't the first time Kate had been kidnapped. If so, the fact that she'd recently gone through a near-repeat of a previous traumatic experience might explain why she was particularly freaked out/obsessed about it ( ... )

jlbarnett July 7 2009, 02:56:16 UTC

Crime Alley wasn't it's nickname at the time. It was supposed to be a neighborhood Thomas knew but was deteriorating.

I'm not sure about the military father thing. It doesn't really jibe to me but I can think of something. Perhaps they're from a money family but when WW2 came around her grandfather got drafted and found his calling in the military and encouraged his son to go it.