Batwoman #1 is written by Greg Rucka and published by DC Comics. Artwork is by DaNi, colours by Matt Hollingsworth and letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Main cover art (left) is by DaNi and Hollingsworth.
Batwoman #1 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
Batwoman. Daughter. Sister. Soldier. Hero. But since she was 10 years old, Kate Kane has lived in the shadow of a prophecy and the machinations of a religion devoted to the end of all things. How do you fight the devil when the devil is real? And how do you win? Acclaimed writer and co-creator of the modern Batwoman Greg Ruck returns to the story of Kate Kane alongside visionary artist DaNi for aDC Next Level series that will redefine Batwoman and her mission fora new generation.
Review
After two incredible runs writing Batwoman both in her solo title and Detective Comics Greg Rucka is back! DC has coaxed the superstar writer back into Kate Kane’s orbit for a densely woven mystery which begins to unravel in comic book stores from today.
After the better part of a decade Kate Kane’s return with a solo series doesn’t disappoint. On first read I felt like Rucka had me completely on the back foot right from page one. Knowing the character as he does Rucka doesn’t miss a beat, instead dropping us into a story which is already fully in motion. As a jumping off point for new readers Batwoman is instantly seductive. With Kate holed up in some kind of mental health facility in Petalon, Greece we’re immediately bewildered to see this normally authoritative character in a moment of weakness.
Whilst Batwoman #1 is being pitched as a new entry point it does still pick up on thematic elements of Rucka’s previous works. Though not required reading on the Kate Kane syllabus a working knowledge of Rucka’s origins for her is useful. Particularly when the book begins to focus on her relationship with her sister, Alice. Fans of the Batwoman TV series will know the dynamic well. Here it seems Alice got caught up with some kind of Darkseid-adjacent cult who wants to bring about the end of humanity. Everyday stakes for an ex-military kid like Kate.
Batwoman #1 juxtaposes Kate’s daytime activities in the sanatorium, bathed in Matt Hollingsworth’s warm summer tones, against Batwoman’s nighttime investigations. All is not what it seems and Batwoman has us hooked by page three when it seems Alice may not quite be dead after all. Once night falls Hollingsworth shifts tactics to create something gothic and statuesque that almost feels like entering the world of Batman: Gotham by Gaslight. That abstract, courageous style is exactly why DaNi is perfect for a story like Batwoman.
I wasn’t overly familiar with DaNi’s work coming in to this issue. So I was delighted to see what DC is once again embracing indie comic book sensibilities in designing this world. I felt like I was picking up a moody horror book from BOOM! Studios rather than a DC book. Seeing one of the big two publishers breaking the mould for superhero fare is always a thrill. Seeing what that means for a hero like Batwoman, as she stalks the Darkseid cult, revealing herself in DRA-MA-TIC fashion on the final page is electrifying.
This is really only the opening salvo in Rucka’s latest arc but it still has an engaging, well-defined arc. It drops only breadcrumbs of information as to the bigger picture but it’s more than enough to secure my return for issue #2. Rucka displays a keen eye for creating a heavy serialised mystery that isn’t afraid to tease the audience. But vitally it doesn’t ask the reader to do all the heavy lifting in the investigation. Neither does it treat us like fools and hand us everything on a plate.
All signs point to this creative team being lightning in a bottle, giving Kate Kane a triumphant return after a long time out of the spotlight. Now we just have to hope that readers get on board with a darker-skewing, psychologically complex story which promises to be a long and rewarding read.
Verdict
With Batwoman #1 Rucka returns like he never left, crafting a densely atmospheric mystery that gives Kate Kane the triumphant comeback she deserves. Batwoman is back — and she means business.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐
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