Your attention please, outraged denizens of the internet.
Since this is becoming a point of contention and DC has done many complete full stop reboots, I feel the need to point out the following.
There are two people who’ve worn the mantle of Batwoman. Yes, two. With the same name. But they’re different characters altogether. Confused yet? OK, let’s move on.
This is Katherine “Kathy” Kane. The original Batwoman.
She debuted during the dawn of the Silver age and served a somewhat similar role to Catwoman, in that she was both a problem at times for Batman, but also a love interest. She set out to do the vigilante thing as well, and she and Batman would occasionally find themselves competing to see who could solve a crime and capture the villain first. There was even an issue that flashed forward to the “future” in which she married Bruce, who retired, and Dick Grayson became the new Batman, with their son becoming his Robin. (It’s later revealed to be a story being written by Alfred, one of the first in-universe depictions of fanfics. Go figure.)
She was later retconned in the new continuity as being Bruce’s Aunt by marriage then lover until she appeared to have been killed. Yes, no one ever accused DC of not being a mite rawng in the relationship department. After her apparent death, she ditched her mantle and is now working as an assassin. (Odd decision altogether, given she was introduced after the new Batwoman who bore the same name but... -shrug-)
THIS is Katherine “Kate” Kane, the current Batwoman.
Kate here was introduced back in 2006 in “52″ #7. Kate came into being when an editorial decision to heal Barbara and allow her to walk again in the new continuity was, at the time, reversed, opting to instead revamp the original Batwoman concept. She is the one they are adapting. She is also a lesbian. That much was established in her first appearance.
Why am I pointing this out? Because a lot of people who aren’t following modern comics will often assume the original Batwoman is the one being discussed.
Alternatively, some people mistakenly assume that Barbara Gordon, now in adulthood, uses the name Batwoman as opposed to Batgirl. Not all ignorance is malicious.
It is, however, ignorance. But hopefully, this will educate some folks at least.
