Broken Frontier

The Batwoman makes her official debut, answers and new questions arise, and Ralph closes in on the elusive Cult of Conner.

After weeks of hype, Gotham City’s newest defender finally gets the spotlight. It’s time for Batwoman to dust off the mothballs of the 1950s and leap headlong into the 21st century. Based on this issue, she’s doing an admirable job.

Once more, Renee Montoya meets with her old flame, socialite Kate Kane, to swap notes on the shady doings at 520 Kane Street. The information exchange gives Renee and The Question a solid lead, bringing them closer to the party responsible, uncovering a few obscure (but welcome) Greg Rucka-created villains, and giving us a hint to just who’s been collecting mad scientists like they’re going out of style. When Renee and Question get a bit over their heads, it’s up to a certain lady vigilante to save the day. And, well, it ain’t the Huntress. Meanwhile, the resurrection-obsessed Cult of Conner prepares to cross a line that Ralph Dibny may not have anticipated.

Here at last the writing quartet brings the "new" Batwoman to the forefront in an entertaining script that answers a few questions while playfully enticing us with more. Overall, the writing on this issue is strong and creates a satisfying mix of tension, mystery, and action. I’m intrigued by this version of the Batwoman character and the dynamic she’ll bring to the Bat-Family. We’ve come a long way, baby, and it’s good to see DC embrace diversity without (so far) sacrificing character. My only real gripe is the shameful way her predecessor Batgirl has been written out to presumably make way for her in the cast. That has little bearing on the solid story DC’s Fab Four are crafting in these pages however.

Joe Bennett returns once again to the art chores and the work he turns in is of his usually excellent standards. While other artists on 52 have given the impression of being somewhat rushed, Bennett seems to only be growing as an illustrator lately. His stylish pencils and the inking team’s steady hand have crafted some crisp and lovely images this time around. The Ralph Dibny segments were contributed by Todd Nauck, a favorite of mine but one whose style I feared would clash with Bennett’s. In truth, I didn’t even notice the change on first reading and the styles blend reasonably well.

It should be noted that Dan Jurgens’ "History of the DCU" feature concludes this issue. I found this to be a rather disappointing backup, too limited to truly tell the history but too broad to form a coherent story on its own. It’s nearly redeemed (or further muddled, depending on your opinion) by a surprising ending here.

Wondering what all the media hubbub is about or just who is that masked lady? Look no further and prepare for a fun ride.