Batwoman
Batwoman is a comic book character that first appeared in Detective Comics #233
The modern day version of Kathy Kane, Kate Kane is the new Batwoman, defender of Gotham City, and heiress of a wealthy family.
First Appearances
The original, Pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths Batwoman first appeared in Detective Comics #233. Batwoman's final appearance is in Detective Comics #485.
The modern, Post-Crisis of Infinite Earths Batwoman appeared first in 52 #9.
History
Pre-Crisis
On a particular mission against Catman, Kathy Kane infiltrated Catman's gang and became the Cat-Woman, his partner. However, this was a ruse to simply tell Batman and Robin where Catman's headquarters were.
Kathy Kane eventually retired her secret identity and purchased a carnival, in Providencetown. She sporadically donned the Batwoman identity to help out the newest Batgirl, Barbara Gordon, on some adventures, but not too often.
The League Of Assassins targeted Kathy Kane for a job under the order of their leader, Ra's al Ghul. His true intention was simply to manipulate Batman. Batman appeared in Providencetown to assist Kathy, but it was too late. He was knocked out and she was killed by the assassin known as the Bronze Tiger.
Post-Crisis
One Year Later
One year later, the Penguin asked Batman to bring a date to the opening of his club. He ask "Why don't you bring that new Batwoman? I hear she's kind of hot." Batwoman returns in Countdown #39. She appears after the Question, Renee Montoya, confronts Trickster and Pied Piper, who they trailed from the Penguin's Iceburg Lounge nightclub. However, the Question lets them go, not believing them to be killers.
Final Crisis
During the events of the Final Crisis, Batwoman fell prey to the global brainwashing of Darkseid and his gods. Batwoman became one of Darkseid's newest members of the Female Furies, alongside Catwoman, Wonder Woman, and Giganta. Batwoman's appearance resembled that of the original Female Fury known as Mad Harriet. When Darkseid was eventually defeated, Batwoman reverted to her normal self.
It has been revealed that she will soon join the Justice League.
Alternate Realities
The Nail
In the Elseworlds story called The Nail, Martha Kent and Jonathan Kent get a flat tire the fateful night that they should have come across an infant Superman, and never crossed paths. In this world, Selina Kyle, also known as the criminal Catwoman, assists Batman after he fights against an empowered Joker that killed both Batgirl and Robin. Catwoman decided she wanted to help Batman and they soon fell in love. To be Batman's partner, Selina Kyle adopted the personality of Batwoman in a costume that was very similar of Kathy Kane's Pre-Crisis costume.
Superman/Batman
In an alternate reality where the gender of DC's superheroes are reversed, Batman and Superman encounter Helena Bertinelli, more commonly known as the Huntress, as the Batwoman, wearing a costume very similar to the one worn by Batman.
Titans Tomorrow
On a mission of the Teen Titans, where they ended up in a bleak future reality, the super-heroine known as Flamebird adopts the identity of Batwoman, in a costume very similar to Kathy Kane's Pre-Crisis costume. This Batwoman is a member of the team known as the Titans East.
Batman: Dark Knight Dynasty
In the Elseworlds story Batman: Dark Knight Destiny, Brenna Wayne is a descendant of Bruce Wayne, taking up the identity of Batwoman to fight Vandal Savage, an immortal who has plagued her family since the middle ages.
Wonder Woman as Batwoman
In JLA #90, Wonder Woman has a vision where she and Batman are lovers. In one particular vision, Wonder Woman becomes the Batwoman, Batman's dark counterpart. She uses her Amazon skills with deadly efficiency, having been hardened by the streets of Gotham.
Powers
Pre-Crisis
To help fight crime, Batwoman used a Bat-Cycle and her gimmicky weapons. She carried a red purse, or pouch, that housed her weapons, which included her lipstick tubes that released tear gas, charm bracelets that served as handcuffs and a giant hair net. She employed a grappling hook as well to travel. She was acrobatic due to her life as a carnival entertainer and knew some self-defense.
Post-Crisis
Kate Kane is skilled in hand-to-hand combat. She has been trained by Nightwing in the use of a batarang. She also uses a baton-like device which can extend from the center in length and has bat-shaped attachments at each end, which is called the bat-club. She is proficient in the use of a grappling hook as well.
| Super Name: | Batwoman |
| Real Name: | Katherine Kane |
| Aliases: |
Katherine Kane Kathy Kane Kate Kane |
| Publisher: | DC Comics |
| Gender: | Female |
| Character Type: | Human |
| 1st Appearance: | Detective Comics #233 |
| Appears in: | 102 issues |
| Birthday: | |
| Died: |
