Batwoman #1 – Greg Rucka, Writer; DaNi, Artist; Matt Hollingsworth, Colorist
Ray – 9.5/10
Ray: Greg Rucka has been responsible for much of Batwoman’s history as a character, introducing her in 52 and writing her signature run in Detective Comics before handing the baton over to other writers for a series of runs over the years. But the character seems to come and go, being relegated to crowd shots in between solo runs. Now, years after her previous run, the creator is back at the helm for a run that’s going to bring her back to her noir roots. He’s partnering with DaNi, the acclaimed horror artist who has previously worked on acclaimed DC horror comics and indie work with Dan Watters and other writers. But the Kate Kane we meet as this issue starts isn’t the confident, ruthless vigilante we know so well. She’s shaken, almost broken as she tries to navigate a mysterious asylum in the Greek Isles, sleepwalking through her days and reacting strongly when she’s questioned in therapy.
It soon becomes clear that the source of her trauma is none other than her sister Beth – better known as Alice, the deranged villain who haunted her through much of Rucka’s tenure on the character. This is one of the most tragic dynamics in DC Comics – sisters torn apart by a terror attack, with Beth being presumed dead for much of Kate’s childhood and eventually returning as a villain. When we last left off, Beth seemed to be doing better – but that’s very much not the case now, as she’s become an acolyte of something truly evil and forces Kate into a showdown that only one of them can survive. This issue asks a lot of questions it’s not ready to answer yet, and is a fast read, but it really shows just how good Rucka’s grip on the character is. It throws us back into her world with no preamble, and wastes no time engrossing us in a mystery as compelling as any other in the Bat-line.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
