BATWOMAN #1 (DC COMICS)
“How do you fight the devil when the devil is real?”
That is a question that has plagued Kate Kane since she was 10 years old. A doomsday religion has cast its’ shadow over her. Now it’s time to step into the light and hand them justice. Kane has been many things over the years. Solider. Hero. Sister. Now she looks to add another name to her resume: Victor.
BATWOMAN #1 by Greg Rucka, Dani, Matt Hollingsworth, & Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (DC COMICS) reunites Kate Kane with her co-creator for a brand new mission.
Let’s take a closer look at how this debut issue plays out!
BATWOMAN #1 by Greg Rucka, Dani, Matt Hollingsworth, & Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (DC COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Rucka back writing Batwoman is a such a welcomed moment in comics. Readers can sense this from the opening pages. Set in Petalon, Greece, Kane is in a very rough state. The writing shows her wearing the scars of the past. This leads into an intense face-off with her sister Alice. Once the flashback it over, Dr. Sidaris takes over the conversation. Her words start cutting into the fragile Kane. It is met with strong pushback as Kane deals with this emotional trauma. There’s no avoiding the rage behind each word.
The story moves back to that fateful showdown. Every move peels back a layer of Kate’s attempt to save her sister. It proves futile as she is enamored with the prophecy at hand. This sparks a quick attack into stopping the deranged plan to hatch. It comes with mixed results. Rucka holds nothing back on these pages. Readers watch the struggle spill into something greater. As events snap back to the present, the writing dances in the shadows with the true reasons of Kate’s residency. These revelations move towards a shocking conclusion. Just when you think you know the game, Rucka changes the rules. All for the better to become entangled in this story’s web.
Dani & Hollingsworth open with a deceptive look at Kate’s current surroundings. There’s a feel on intrigue with each panel. Once Kate enters the scene, the mood shifts. Her face and body have been through an uncomfortable altercation. This leads into a probable reason why. A phenomenal two-page splash shows her fighting with Alice. Everything about this image hits the mark. Once events go back to the Doctor’s office, Kate’s expressions start looking into the rage she’s keeping inside. This eventually explodes after more prying by Sidaris.
Readers see Alice and the cult try subduing Kate. It leads to another incredible two-page spread. The desperation in Kate’s face is undeniable. It is countered by the madness encompassing Beth. As the riddle is being spoken, both have varying looks on their faces. This speeds into more action to stop Alice from unlocking something evil. As each advance hits the page, the anxiety rises. It comes to a startling halt with a two-page finish. From here, the art starts peeling back the truth of Kate’s current dilemma. This leads into a strong closing section. The final page hits a bullseye in revealing a new wrinkle in plans. It cements the long game at hand and what a parting spot to depart on for now. Excellent work.
FINAL GRADE: 9.4
The odds are not in her favor, but Kate Kane is ready to fight in this thrilling debut issue. Rucka locks in readers in the ever-twisting mystery with superb writing. Dani & Hollingsworth take the audience on a stunning trip via the visuals. Kate Kane has returned in a monster way fans can’t miss!
Let me know your thoughts on BATWOMAN #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
