Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Chris Burnham; Nathan Fairbairn; & Pat Brosseau
Cover Art by JH Williams & Yanick Paquette
SUMMARY:
Entitled “The Kane Affair,” this issue was published by DC Comics for April 2011. Batwoman (Kate Kane) chases down a triple-homicide suspect, Johnny Valentine, at a carnival that once belonged to the original and subsequently murdered Batwoman, Kathy Kane (who was Kate’s relative by marriage). Though Valentine escapes, the current Batwoman ends up in battle with an unknown imposter dressed as her predecessor.
Glimpses of Kathy Kane’s past with Agent-33 (aka El Gaucho); the Dynamic Duo; and her romance with Bruce Wayne are seen. Kathy’s involvement with the nebulous Spyral organization is revealed. It’s hinted that Kathy’s possibly real father is a deranged Nazi war criminal. Batwoman is motivated to uncover the truth of her predecessor’s death.
Holding three young boys as hostages, the Sombrero and Scorpiana taunt Batman and El Gaucho (both packing electrified ‘brass knuckles’) into instigating a bloody fistfight. This case has instantly become all too personal for an infuriated Batman, as time runs out for the Sombrero’s evidently doomed hostages.
Note: Though the image isn’t provided here, there’s a variant cover by artist Yanick Paquette.
REVIEW:
Although writer Grant Morrison’s narrative is muddled (i.e. the abrupt jumps in and out of the Kathy Kane flashbacks), he conjures up an intriguing reboot of the Silver Age Batwoman. Deploying a welcome aura of unpredictability, Morrison’s inclusion of the present-day Batwoman and El Gaucho into this volatile mix is compelling, as his plot twists generally make sense.
The retroactive changes Morrison applies to Kathy Kane’s history (re: Spyral, among other elements) also prove well-played. Including the top-caliber cover image, Morrison’s storyline is capably supported by the art team, particularly some well-devised switches in visual styles. Though this issue is likely too violent for kids, the near-flawless Batman Incorporated # 4 makes a stellar read for long-time Bat-fans.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The single-page “DC Nation” column is merely a Catwoman-themed ad for the DC Universe Online video game.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 9 Stars
