Batwoman #0

For those who are familiar with my reviews, I praised the arcs in Detective Comics featuring Batwoman.  The major chunk of her story that was written by Greg Rucka was collected in Batwoman: Elegy.  My review for that Deluxe Hardcover can be found Here.

The Premise: This comic is that hiatus area, in which Batwoman looked like Greg Rucka was going to take her to new heights with Alice.  Greg Rucka would end up leaving DC Comics when Batwoman lost her ongoing tale in Detective Comics.  While Batwoman was in Limbo again, J.H. Williams III, who was the main artist on Batwoman, decided to carry one but making sure to respect Rucka's plot points and notes.

The Team and why they will work well: Along for the ride are three new members to the creative team co-scribe W. Haden Blackman (Starwars) and the Madame Xanadau artist team of Amy Reeder Hadley (Penciler) and Richard Friend (Inker).  The Colorer Dave Stewart returns which is nice, since he makes the art pop and Letterer Todd Klein as well, who may just be the world's best letter. This comic visually is great with the dual styles weaving between each other.  J.H. Williams constructs the actual Batwoman scenes which are fluid, while Amy Reeder pencils out the Kate Kane pages.  This gives the book a night and day effect that works.  During the day, Kate looks like a normal woman and Batman is determined to prove she is Batwoman.  At Night, Batwoman is tested. Tested by The Religion of Crime and by Batman to see if she is Kate. 

Basic concepts will be carried on in the upcoming Batwoman ongoing series, which is set for February. Such concepts are Batwoman verses the Religion of Crime.  This personal war she has on the Religion of Crime really builds up from the events in 52, The Question: The Five Books of Blood and Batwoman: Elegy.   
 

Batwoman is evolving so quickly since her return to the DCU in 52.  Greg Rucka has done well to establish her as her own hero, in her own right.  Without Rucka, Williams has taken responsibility to make sure Kate grows and prosper.  This is part of the reason in which I am happy that Batwoman did not fall into limbo. Her character is a fresh take on the fight against crime.  With Batman Inc. now launched It is obvious that Bruce is recruiting and Batwoman's future has to be addressed since us fans will ask and want to know.  I am glad this book does not carry the Batman Inc stamp.  It seems that the Batman mythos now is pulled in three directions, (1) the primary direction in which is Grant Morrison's, (2) the more reader friendly Paul Dini direction and now (3) Batwoman.  It is very likely that Rucka left DC Comics because Batwoman was miss handled.  Her plans were likely minimal when DC Comics decided to take Detective away from Rucka, to focus on another set of Batman stories in an over saturated market of Batman stories.  That would enrage me to leave DC Comics as well, especially since the fan reaction for Batwoman was so strong.  With Williams and Blackman co-writing there is better chances they were more willing to work within the Batman mandates.  This comics is truly fit for the number zero, because it is not quite Rucka's Batwoman and it gives this new creative team enough set up for any new people to jump in come no or February.
 
The Issue itself is only 16 pages of story and 4 preview pages, which is 20 pages of content for $3.  DC Comics is going in a 20 page content format, so this is what we should be expecting from the future. I loved the original run on Detective Comics and loved this issue.  I was very happy with the investment.

Cheers
 - Silkcuts