'Batwoman' Delayed Again

Did you catch those gorgeous preview pages for J.H. Williams III, W. Haden Blackman and Amy Reeder's long-awaited Batwoman series at the end of all your DC books this week? Good. You’ve just learned a valuable lesson in bad timing.

Unfortunately, DC has canceled orders for issues #1 and #2 of the series with no new date for the series’ eventual publication. While Batman has experienced a renaissance in 2010, 2011 appears to be on its way to becoming the year of delays for Bat-books—Batman: Europa (originally scheduled for January), Batman Odyssey (orders for issues #7 and #8 have been cancelled), Batman Inc. (ran almost 3 months late), and Batman: The Dark Knight (the first issue came out in November).

I was an enormous fan of last year’s Batwoman #0 and was excited to read the follow-up series. Unfortunately, I lose my interest in books that are solicited, delayed, solicited, and delayed again. I think DC should just take Batwoman and offer it as a mini–series when it is ready and completely forego their plans to publish an ongoing monthly if it isn’t possible for the creative team to produce the book on time.

Wednesday's Finest: 'Batwoman' #0 (DC)

By Don M. Ventura

Two pages into Batwoman #0 and I knew I was enjoying something special.

One expects no less when J.H. Williams III is drawing the book and his work is as memorable as ever here. Williams has also co-written the script with W. Haden Blackman. The book can be considered an introduction to the character of Batwoman and her alter ego, Kate Kane; you will not have needed to read another Batwoman book before jumping onto this issue.

Batwoman is back in action in Gotham and she has a secret (very secret) admirer in Bruce Wayne, who spends the issue chronicling her abilities and attempting to uncover her true identity. While Batwoman is the star of the book, Williams and Blackman never have her utter a word. Bruce enlightens the reader through the end of the book.

Williams’s pages are incredibly dynamic and breathtaking. From the opening sequence when Batman is spying on Batwoman from an adjacent rooftop. Then Batwoman jumps down to thwart the heist of a sarcophagus. Dave Stewart’s colors are phenomenal. His Batwoman become even more haunting under his reserved palette.

Williams Stewart do so many wonderful things with the artwork to make Batwoman #0 a treat. Each time Batwoman lands a final blow to the bad guys, the entire panel is colored an alarming red. Who needs Pow, Zock of Boom? Then there are these wonderful Art Deco panels which harken Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers magazine covers. The page in which the villain Shard seems to have the upper hand as the mummy’s tomb glares down at the opponents is nothing less than brilliant.

Williams and Blackman have use this kickoff issue to entertain us with a strong action piece interspersed with a character work as Batman stalks Kate, attempting to breakdown what is her persona and what is a façade. Amy Reeder is responsible for drawing the sequences involving Kate and it works out to be an effective storytelling device. There are many pages where Williams and Reeder’s work shares the same page; the book becomes as much a dichotomy as its protagonist.

So what does Batman learn about his prey? Kane comes from money, she’s boning up on her adversaries, acting out as a socialite is probably a front, and she has astounding reflexes.

Batwoman #0 is a brief introductory tale, at about 16 pages, but there a good deal of exposition told in its lovely pages. Williams, Blackman, Reeder, and Stewart have produced a wonderful opener that entertains and does what a good 0 issue should.

It makes you want more.

New York Comic-Con: Friday's Announcements

Here’s a quick glance at today’s announcements from the New York Comic-Con:

There are going to be two Batmans according to Dan Didio. The current Dick Grayson Batman, who protects Gothan City, and the returning Bruce Wayne Batman (alive!), who is going into the Bat-business with the Grant Morrison-penned Batman: Incorporated. Earlier this week my buddy claimed that there was no other character that had a larger run of ongoings than Batman; I corrected him because I believe there are more X-Books. If I was correct, I'm sure things will change come 2011 with the addition of four new titles: Batwoman, Batman: Dark Knight, and the aforementioned Morrison book. I’m interested in seeing what Morrison has in store Bruce-Batman as the character branches out to become a franchise (at least that is my understanding).

After a spat of rotating cast and creative teams on The New Teen Titans, DC is promising a greater consistency on both fronts.

Dark Knight: Boy Wonder, the continuation of the Frank Miller/Jim Lee opus All-Star Batman and Robin, will be reintroduced to the world after what will be an almost three year absence from the comic shelves (holy patience!). Once again, I implore DC to begin using a summary page at the start of their books!

A possible announcement of a new creative team on Superman/Batman may be made this weekend. I sure hope so. Now that Bruce Wayne is back and healthier than ever, I would like to see this book be one of DC’s cornerstone books as opposed to the anthology series it has become over the past few years.

Something mysterious is coming from the X-Universe called Age of X. The retro cover with a bunch of familiar mutant silhouettes is pretty damn cool looking. This story may be akin to the Age of Apocalypse storyline (my favorite X-crossover event) where the X-Universe was completely revamped for four months back in the 90’s. More to come.

IDW is going to release Godzilla beginning in February. This title will feature guest spots from Rodan and Mothra among others. Meh. Interest-wise, this speaks to me much in the way a Transformers comic does. Which is not at all. But I may just pick this little nugget up to see what the unnamed writer can do with this property.

Sit tight for Saturday—there are bound to be some exciting revelations!