Tomorrow Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) finally hits cinemas across the globe. For the last couple of weeks we’ve been introducing you to the major playings in the latest DC Films release.
Today we’re taking a look at Renee Montoya, a GCPD cop who stands up against corruption and greed in Gotham City. She is the only cop who dares stand against Black Mask in the movie. Get to know her character and find out some key comics and series to devour ahead of the film’s release!
Renee Montoya
Alias: The Question
First appearance: Batman the Animated Series, episode “P.OV.” (18/9/1992)
First comic appearance: Batman #475 (1992)
Bio: Renee Montoya is a Detective within the GCPD force under Commissioner Gordon.
The daughter of Dominican Immigrants, she rose through the ranks of the GCPD to work as part of the Major Crimes task force setup to tackle the nastier side of life in Gotham City.
She regularly works alongside Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock which bring her in to contact with Batman and the many vigilantes and criminals who inhabit the city.
Renee eventually resigns from the GCPD and takes up the mantle of The Question. A sometime ally of Batman and other assorted heroes.
A skilled detective, she has no metahuman powers but doesn’t let that stop her from solving crime.
Renee was an invention of Bruce Timm and the writers on atman the Animated Series who created her specifically for the show. She made the jump to the pages of Batman comics that same year.
Renee stands as an advocate for LGBTQ rights in comics becoming one of the first out, lesbian characters alongside the likes of Kate Kane (Batwoman).
Key reading:
- Gotham Central
- Detective Comics #854-863 “Question”
Key watching:
- Batman the Animated Series
- Gotham
- The Dark Knight (2008) – the character of Anna Ramirez was based on Montoya
Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) stars Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary and Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya. The movie will be directed by Cathy Yan and arrives in cinemas on February 7, 2020.
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