Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Batwoman #13 Review

By J. Skyler
November 24, 2012 - 12:06

For a multitude of reasons, Wonder Woman has always been (and presumably will always be) my least favorite female superhero. For a theoretically feminist figure, being an Amazon inherently represents an archaic mindset, one that dictates men and women simply cannot function together. Besides her ridiculously convoluted fictional biography, I've never been able to get past her costume, which just makes me cringe. I have a love/hate relationship with Batwoman, only because I believe she is everything Batgirl should be in The New 52—a self-assured heroine with a multitude of contacts that can supply her with tech most people can only dream of. This coupled with the fact that Power Girl and Huntress are the stars of the World's Finest monthly title only makes me ache even harder for a revival of an ongoing series pairing Batgirl and Supergirl, the comic book industry's original Best Friends Forever (BFFs).

My personal biases aside, J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman have made an excellent pairing with these two characters. A number of writers in The New 52 have devoted a great deal of scripting to their character's inner dialog, helping readers get a real sense of what makes them tick. Williams and Blackman are superb at writing stream of consciousness and I always enjoy a bit of vulnerability in the depiction of a superhero. Part of the reason Batwoman has a tendency to strike a nerve with me is that she likes to pretend she's invincible (even more than Batman does), so it's a bit gratifying to read a story where she has to admit to herself that she's terrified to face something entirely supernatural—equally gratifying as it is to see her "solider on" in spite of her fear. Wonder Woman also shows her vulnerability here, but like Batwoman, forces herself to "stand firm" in order to complete their mission. In the midst of their hunt for Medusa, Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO) continues to act as the proverbial governmental bully, mapping out a variety of ways to extort and exploit Batwoman to suit their needs.

An interesting development in this storyline is that Jacob Kane has agreed to train his niece Bette in the same way he did Kate. Batwoman previously attempted to stop her cousin's exploits as a superhero because she lacked what she considered to be a proper motivation. Now that Bette has more or less recovered from a grueling physical mutilation, she's more determined than ever to prove she has the resolve to be just as effective as any hero out there, especially her cousin. Like a Phoenix, Flamebird may emerge as a more dynamic character than her previous incarnations as the series progresses, but will she continue to try and partner herself with Batwoman, or will she strike out on her own?

Rating: 7 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12