Main Feature & Back-Up Feature Written by Greg Rucka
Main Feature Art by J.H. Williams III; Dave Stewart; & Todd Klein
Back-Up Feature Art by Cully Hamner; Laura Martin; & Jared K. Fletcher
Cover Art by J.H. Williams III
SUMMARY:
Released by DC Comics for August 2009, this issue consists of Batwoman’s“Elegy, Part One: Agitated” and The Question’s “Pipeline, Chapter One-Part One.” In Gotham City, despite her turbulent romantic life, a weary Kate Kane/Batwoman pushes closer to the identity of the Religion of Crime’s mysterious new boss. Kate receives a private endorsement from Dick Grayson’s Batman.
As her equivalent of ‘Alfred,’ Kate’s father, Colonel Jacob Kane, supplies his daughter with an experimental handgun for extra firepower. Seeking fitting justice after her near-homicide during 52, Batwoman soon faces the bizarre Alice — the ‘queen’ of Gotham’s thirteen crime covens.
Reminiscent of TV’s The Equalizer, “Pipeline” has Renee Montoya/The Question and her associate, ‘Tot,’ working as freelance crimefighters out of a secluded lighthouse. Answering a man’s desperate e-mail plea, Renee accepts a case in L.A. to probe the sinister disappearance of his younger sister. Following a lead to a decrepit neighborhood, The Question soon confirms that the missing Latina female is linked to a human trafficking ring.
Note: Though an image isn’t provided, the variant cover artist is J.G. Jones.
REVIEW:
DC Comics should be commended for depicting lesbian crimefighters (and ex-lovers, no less) co-sharing the Detective Comics flagship title long before this concept became trendy in the industry.
Writing openers for two separate arcs, Greg Rucka is very much on his game. His take on Kate Kane/Batwoman is inspired: not only is Batwoman a fully realized character, there’s a welcome darker edge of unpredictability to her. Kate, accordingly, is an ideal amalgam of Barbara Gordon’s adult Batgirl and Helena Bertinellis’s more ruthless Huntress. Batwoman’s fresh star power, by comparison, makes Dick Grayson’s Batman come off as practically bland.
Credit must be duly shared with J.H. Williams III, whose dazzling visuals virtually pop off the page. The glossy, ultra-hip look of “Elegy” should be deemed one of the most impressive painting-like styles ever in comics.
While Renee Montoya’s ongoing back-up series doesn’t scream the instant need for a solo spin-off, her gritty storyline is still effective. Rucka’s dramatic plotting is structured much like a TV crime show episode just going into the first commercial break. As with the intriguing Batwoman/Alice stand-off, he induces readers into finding out what happens next — even if it’s just a fight scene. Also relying on a painting-like style, the back-up art squad’s low-key, almost grungy visuals get the job done well enough.
Affirming Batwoman and the new Question as major DC players (notably, in Bruce Wayne’s gaping absence), Detective Comics # 854 is excellent reading, plain and simple.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
DC Senior Story Editor Ian Sattler’s “DC Nation” column heralds a creative team (Bill Willingham & Matt Sturges) taking on the JSA series.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 9 Stars
