Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Batwoman #15 Review

By J. Skyler
December 23, 2012 - 22:42

I've never cared much for Maggie Sawyer's character. My heart still belongs to Gotham City Police Department's former detective Renee Montoya, who succeeded Charles Victor Szasz as the Question prior to The New 52 relaunch and who has yet to make an actual appearance in the new continuity (along with several other fan-favorites). Nonetheless, Williams and Blackman evoke a deep sense of empathy for Sawyer with this issue. Any Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender (LGBT) reader who has ever felt the bitter sting of unrealistic family expectations or religious persecution will instantly be able to identify with Maggie Sawyer's story.

I've mentioned in previous reviews that Williams and Blackman have a knack for scripting stream of consciousness, and Batwoman #15 is yet another perfect example. We see how Sawyer attempts to reconcile the existence of the Greek pantheon of gods with the monotheistic God of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic traditions, while at the same time desperate to keep her fellow officers, as well as civilians, alive while Gotham City descends into battle between devotees of Medusa and the grieving parents-turned-vigilantes who have lost their children to them. Revisiting the memories of her own childhood where she was abused by a "concerned" father over the possibility of being sent to Hell by a vengeful God due to her gender-variant expression, Sawyer affirms her resolve to forge a better relationship with her daughter and laments over the fact that she may not be capable of saving the children who have been stolen by Medusa's henchmen. It's an emotion internal memoir, filled with shame, guilt, awe and hope.

Trevor McCarthy pencils match the fluidity of sequential art that Williams (and Batwoman by extension) is famous for. Guy Major's coloring is dim in comparison to the intense vibrance of David Stewart, but his choices perfectly match the tone of Sawyer's narrative. This is a solid issue all around and is highly recommended.

Rating: 8 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12