Batwoman

Disambiguation

This is the page for the current Batwoman, Kate Kane.

To see the original Silver Age Batwoman, refer to Kathy Kane.

To see the tv series new Batwoman, refer to Ryan Wilder.

Origin

Kate and her identical twin sister Beth were born to Gabrielle and Jacob Kane, both career soldiers in the U.S. Army. Their father was Martha Wayne’s brother, making the twins the cousins of Bruce Wayne.

The Kanes lived on Fort Bragg, North Carolina for at least part of the twins’ childhood, since both Jacob and Gabi were part of units based there (the 3rd Special Forces Group and the 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, respectively). When the girls were 11, the family relocated to Brussels, Belgium, as Jacob had received a promotion into NATO.

On the twins’ 12th birthday, upset that their father was yet again away for his job, they locked themselves in a room in their Brussels apartment. Gabi eventually convinced them that they could still have a nice birthday despite Jacob’s absence, and the twins decided to go to the Grand Place, the central square of the city, to get chocolate and waffles.

However, on the way, the Kanes and their driver were crashed into by a truck driven by members of the terrorist organization The Many Arms of Death; the driver was shot dead and the Kanes were kidnapped. Hours later, after Gabi had been tortured by the kidnappers, Jacob Kane lead the rescue operation to save his family. Gabi (and seemingly Beth) was killed in the raid, but Kate was unharmed.

West Point

In the aftermath of the deaths, Kate found a great source of stability in her father, who maintained an even emotional keel despite the tragedy. She sought to emulate him, and dedicated herself to following him into Army service. After making top grades and excelling in gymnastics during high school, Kate was eventually accepted into the United States Military Academy.

Kate continued to thrive at West Point. She kept herself between the 95th and 99th percentile of her class, completed Air Assault School and the US Army Airborne School, and earned the Recondo Badge. Also successful in sports, Kate joined the women’s boxing team her junior year, and that same year won the annual Brigade Boxing Open by defeating fellow team member Sophie Moore in the championship bout. Her father Jacob attended the fight, and gave Kate some coaching from ringside that helped her become a West Point boxing champion.

By her senior year, Kate had made the rank of Brigade Executive Officer and had fostered a romantic relationship with Sophie, now her roommate and fellow Brigade Staff member.

Shortly after Ring Weekend of her senior year, however, Kate was anonymously accused of homosexual conduct under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” When Kate’s Brigade Tactical Officer informed her of the charges, he gave her the option of a demotion to preserve her future in the Army if she denied her sexuality, citing her exemplary cadet record. Kate refused, citing the Cadet Honor Code that prohibits lying; she admitted to being lesbian, and resigned from the school. This decision halted any further investigation, thus protecting Sophie and any other closeted cadets, but also meant that Kate and Sophie were over as a couple.

Downward Spiral

When informed of her resignation, Jacob expressed pride in his daughter’s integrity, but also concern about her future, since military service was the only thing Kate had ever wanted to do. Over the next few years, Kate sank into an aimless lifestyle of partying, drinking, and one-night-stands.

During this time, Kate spent a full year on the rogue Mediterranean island of Coryana, where she washed up after trying to commit suicide and getting knocked unconscious on the reefs surrounding the island. She was found by the island’s de facto leader, Safiyah Sohail, who helped nurse her back to health. Intrigued by the newcomer, Safiyah began a romance with Kate, casting aside her former lover Tahani.

Unbeknownst to Kate, her head wound from the reefs had been infected with a particular bacteria that eventually spread to the island’s fox population, decimating them. Safiyah suspected this, but in order to protect her lover from the rest of the population, she scapegoated and executed Maxsim, a troublesome “warlord” of the island. Kate was horrified upon learning this, and fled Coryana. At some point afterward, Kate received plastic surgery to remove her head scar and, likely due to further alcohol abuse, forgot her experiences on the island.

Near the end of this period, she was pulled over for speeding by a young Renee Montoya, which lead to the two of them starting a relationship. This relationship didn’t last long, however, as Kate chastised Renee for not being open about her sexuality, while Renee expressed disappointment over Kate’s laziness.

A New Purpose

Further depressed by her breakup with Renee, Kate went out drinking. Afterward, while calling Renee to apologize, she was attacked by a mugger in an alley. Using her combat training, she was easily able to neutralize the man, even while drunk. Suddenly, she was interrupted by Batman, who helped her to her feet after startling her. As she watched him swing away after the mugger, Kate saw the Bat-signal shining in the sky, and realized what her new purpose in life could be.

Over the next year, Kate operated as a vigilante: doing recon and investigation and obtaining black market or even outright stolen weapons and other equipment, while using the panic room of her apartment as her base. Jacob eventually found out and confronted her about this, but when he saw how dedicated she was, he agreed to organize proper advanced training for her. Kate spent two more years crossing the globe and undergoing brutal regimens, during which time Jacob revamped her HQ and built her Batwoman suit.

Creation

The Kate Kane version of Batwoman was created by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, and Ken Lashley. Her first appearance came in 52 Weeks #7, while her first full costumed appearance as Batwoman was 52 Weeks #11, which was also her first cover appearance.

Note: According to Alex Ross in the Rough Justice, Paul Dini asked him to design a darker version of Barbara Gordon for the animation. He wanted Alex to design an evil Barbara who cured her paralysis from Ra’s Al Ghul‘s resurrection pool but turned twisted. However, that plot was never used in any animation series, but instead become the design of the modern version of Batwoman.

Character Evolution

Modern Age / New Earth

As a relative newcomer to the DC continuity, Kate Kane has nonetheless made her mark. Her early appearances in 52 Weeks were noted for a certain amount of inexperience, but as the series progressed she also displayed some more admirable features, such as sacrificing herself for others. Kate’s launches into the DC universe was given a certain amount of fanfare as she was the company’s first openly homosexual major character. As she became integrated into the mainstream DC continuity she has become even more established and is now a respected hero, including being a member of the Justice League of America.

Post-Flashpoint / Earth-0

Post-Flashpoint, much of Batwoman history from New Earth carry over to Earth-0. Kate is blackmailed into joining the Department of Extranormal Operations (D.E.O) to investigate supernatural cases for them.

Major Story Arcs

Modern Age / New Earth:

52 Weeks

Katherine Kane is a Gotham City socialite and the heiress of a very wealthy family. It has been revealed that Kate Kane was once in a romantic relationship with Renee Montoya, the former officer of Gotham City’s Police Department and current crime fighter known as the Question. Kate has assisted Montoya and the original Question on a mission to dismantle the criminal gang known as Intergang and saves them from some of Whisper A’Daire‘s shapechanging creatures, after discovering their plot to kill “twice-named daughter of Cain” . She also met Nightwing, and he grew infatuated with her, helping her learn how to use a batarang. He gave Kate her very first batarang on Christmas Eve.

Kate Kane is Jewish and celebrated Hanukkah with Renee, and the two kissed shortly before Christmas. Intergang realized that the image in the Crime Bible of Batwoman and the image of the “twice-named daughter of Cain” were one and the same. They kidnapped Kate and intended to sacrifice her. However, Renee was able to find her, but not before she was stabbed. Despite this, Kate was able to pull the knife out of her chest and used it to stab Bruno Mannheim. She fell into Renee’s arms, who was able to stop the bleeding and save Kate’s life. As Kate healed in her penthouse, Renee appeared outside her window, shining a bat-signal, asking “Are you ready?”

One Year Later

One year later, the Penguin asked Batman to bring a date to the opening of his club. He ask “Why don’t you bring that new Batwoman? I hear she’s kind of hot.” Batwoman returns in Countdown #39. She appears after the Question, Renee Montoya, confronts Trickster and Pied Piper, who they trailed from the Penguin’s Iceburg Lounge nightclub. However, the Question lets them go, not believing them to be killers.

Renee again left town, irritating Kate, though she agreed to help Renee in tracking down a copy of the Crime Bible, being sold via the Penguin. The book was actually part of the Lessons that the Order of Stone was attempting to teach Renée, and she and Kate fight over the book. In the end, as Renée claims she only wants it to protect Kate. Kate tells her that Renee never asked what Kate wanted, but lets her take the book.

Final Crisis

During the events of the Final Crisis, Batwoman fell prey to the global brainwashing of Darkseid and his gods. Batwoman became one of Darkseid‘s newest members of the Female Furies, alongside Catwoman, Wonder Woman, and Giganta. Batwoman’s appearance resembled that of the original Female Fury known as Mad Harriet. When Darkseid was eventually defeated, Batwoman reverted to her normal self.

Alice and The Religion of Crime

After Battle for the Cowl, Batwoman is fighting in Gotham, helping Batman and hunting the Religion of Crime who have a new leader who goes by the name Alice. We see both Batwoman and Kate Kane struggle with the aftermath of her last excursion with the Religion of Crime, who stabbed her through the heart and still survived. Batman lets her take the case letting her know that he’ll be watching if she needs him.

Kate finds the High Queen Alice and begins to question her before she has to flee because Alice poisoned her. As her investigation goes deeper there is a moment when it looks like it’s the end of the road for Kate and her father and they are surrounded by Alice and the Religion of Crime, however they get saved by a group of people who were once part of the Religion of Crime, but now choose to distance themselves, saying they are the True Believers. The leader, Abbot, tells Kate that they still follow the dark faith, they just disagree with Alice’s interpretation. She learns that Alice plans to destroy Gotham.

As Alice begins her plans, Kate attempts to thwart them with the help of the True Believers. She gets on the plane that Alice is using to disperse the poison and releases her father before going after Alice. In the dramatic conclusion, Alice and Kate fight one-on-one, with Kate cutting Alice with her gauntlets. They end up on the wings of the aircraft. Alice slips, but Kate catches her by the arm. Alice looks at Kate and tells her “You have our fathers eyes,” before stabbing Kate in the arm, making her fall to her death. Kate is stunned by this turn of events.

While the police search for Alice’s body, Kate returns to her base to take samples of her blood and Alice’s. She ignores her father’s pleas to open the door to the bunker. She learns that Alice’s blood is a match to hers, and that both samples are from monozygotic twins. She confronts Jacob, who asks her how was he supposed to tell her that the dead girl they found when she was rescued wasn’t her sister.

Justice League

When the Justice League of America splits up following Bruce Wayne’s death and a disastrous confrontation with the Shadow Cabinet, Green Lantern Hal Jordan leads a group of superheroes to Gotham in order to track down the supervillain known as Prometheus. Kate is shown stalking the heroes from the rooftops after they encounter Clayface.

Batwoman later contacts both Leagues at the JLA Watchtower, informing them she encountered and engaged super-villain Delores Winters, who mysteriously collapsed and died right as she was about to be taken into custody. The heroes request that Kate bring the body up to them, but she declines, telling them that she is much too busy due to a rash of criminal uprisings going on in Gotham. Firestorm is then sent to retrieve the corpse from Kate and bring it to the team, who discover that Dolores was forced into fighting by means of a mind control device.

Later, Batwoman is kidnapped by cultists and taken to London in order for her to once again be sacrificed. She is sealed within a coffin and taken underground to the last remaining Lazarus Pit in order for the ritual to begin. She is saved by the timely intervention of Dick Grayson and British superheroes Knight and Squire. After learning that Grayson plans on placing Bruce Wayne’s corpse into the pit in order to revive him, Kate strongly protests, but he simply ignores her.

Post-Flashpoint / Earth-0:

The Weeping Woman

In the first arc of her own series post-Flashpoint, Kate investigates a series of kidnappings of Hispanic children by a mysterious, seemingly metahuman adversary known only as the Weeping Woman. She has cut her father off from her life after the Religion of Crime fiasco as a response to what she perceives to be a betrayal of trust and family, and struggles with balancing her life as one of Gotham’s vigilante protectors with her public image and her relationship with GCPD detective Maggie Sawyer. She also is driven apart from Batman, due to the DEO blackmailing her with her father’s extra-military activities to join them, being personally overseen by Agent Cameron Chase.

The Weeping Woman turns out to be part of a larger group centered around Greek mythology, culminating in Medusa summoning Ceto, the Mother of all Monsters; to defeat these supernatural foes Batwoman enlists the aid of Wonder Woman in the World’s Finest arc. Overcome with relief at rescuing the missing children, Kate reveals her identity to Maggie by proposing marriage. The opening issue of the next arc reveals that Maggie accepted, and that Kate is again training her cousin and sidekick, Bette Kane.

Rebirth

Batman approaches Kate after a mysterious group of villains begin hunting down Gotham’s heroes. He reveals his identity to Kate (who already knew), and the two work together to start an intensive training regiment for the young vigilantes of Gotham. Their trainees include Red Robin, Orphan, Spoiler and Clayface.

Powers & Abilities

Kate Kane has no metahuman abilities. However, she is extremely proficient in both armed and unarmed combat as a result of her West Point education and training coupled with two years of undocumented special operations training with members of the British Special Air Service, Navy SEALs, and other military contacts.

Even in her younger days, Kate was extremely physically fit, having been a middle school soccer player, a Senior Elite gymnast in high school, and a top cadet and champion boxer at West Point. As a cadet, she “maxed” all of her PT requirements, which would have included earning top scores on the Army Physical Fitness Test and the Indoor Obstacle Course Test. Further and more intense training has only increased this attribute.

Jacob taught Kate how to box when she was a teenager (which she continued as a cadet upperclassman), and at West Point she learned Modern Army Combatives. During her global training, she learned many other martial arts, including Kyokushin karate, Krav Maga, Muay Thai, taekwondo, and Wing Chun. She has mentioned knowing at least 14 total styles, and is comfortable using either an orthodox or southpaw stance. Batman himself has described her fighting abilities as “fluid,” “efficient,” and “precise.”

Kate’s military training and lifestyle has instilled a deep sense of discipline and leadership that is reflective in her actions as Batwoman. As a result of her militaristic lifestyle and upbringing, Kate has an extremely high tolerance for pain. She has been repeatedly stabbed and continued to fight off attackers. When she was abducted by followers of the Crime Bible and stabbed in the heart, she went so far as to pull out the blade and incapacitate her attackers.

Kate has also developed an uncanny ability for aerial combat, no doubt helped by her past as a gymnast. She frequently jumps between and fights on top of moving vehicles and is accustomed to battle while in free fall. While she is not as adept as Dick Grayson at acrobatic combat, she is certainly experienced in this area.

Highly intelligent, Kate was a top student throughout high school and at West Point. During her Batwoman training, she received education at the FBI Academy. She is an expert in military tactics and strategy from both her time as a cadet and her later training. Shortly after becoming Batwoman, she was able to deduce Batman’s real identity from a few clues.

Batwoman has shown detailed knowledge of human anatomy in her dealings with criminals. She is familiar with the human bodies pressure points and anatomical weak spots. On top of dressing her own wounds, Kate has displayed basic medical care to those around her. She has even shown extensive knowledge of cellular biology and organic chemistry, once citing that if both she and the villain Alice were indeed twin sisters then their blood cells would be monozygotic. Kate has also shown extensive chemical knowledge, specifically the nature of cyanogen chloride and its breakdown into cyanide when introduced into the bloodstream.

Kate is a skilled marksman, achieving the Expert rank on the M92 pistol and M4 Carbine as a cadet.

Kate’s head wound was stitched shut with gold thread, giving her a limited ability to detect strong electromagnetic fields (a similar concept to fillings picking up radio waves)

Weapons & Equipment

Due to her father’s position within the military, Kate has access to an extensive arsenal of both lethal and non-lethal weapons. Most frequently used are her own stylized collapsible batarangs, frequently used to incapacitate opponents. She also carries a grapple gun for quick ascents and a gas gun for ranged attacks. Her utility belt also conceals tear gas grenades, lock picks, a gas mask, thermite grenades, collapsible batons, and a smart phone capable of long range communication, data storage, and computer hacking.

Her uniform is treated with a liquid shear thickening compound, making it both stab-resistant and bulletproof to small calibers while retaining flexibility. The cape is a carbon nanotube composite, making it proportionally stronger than steel; it is also weighted and sharpened at the ends for both defensive and offensive purposes. Her cowl protects from blunt force trauma and is lined with a red wig which further conceals Kate’s identity while serving as misdirection to her opponents. The entire suit feeds into the bio-monitors, GPS tracker, and radio receiver in her torso which relays real time encrypted information back to Colonel Kane in Kate’s apartment. Kate frequently uses her high speed motorcycle, Red Knight One, for transport.

Thanks to her affiliation with the Department of Extranormal Operations, Kate has access to a variety of state of the art equipment that even surpasses her former military special operations grade gear. The most notable improvement seems to be in her costume. Drawing from the carbon nanotube design of her cape, Kate’s next generation body armor is virtually impervious to gunfire, even from automated weapons. Her cowl was upgraded to feature thermal, anti-flash, and anti-hypnosis capabilities.

Kate has also supplemented her non-lethal offensive capabilities with DEO weapons. These include “taser gloves” salvaged from the Electrocutioner, a chemical cocktail of weapons grade tranquilizer and Scarecrow’s “Fear Toxin“, and a semi-sentient, voice operated, tracking dart made from an alien artificial intelligence with combat capabilities powerful enough to take out a magically enhanced Killer Croc.

Further enhancements to the suit include a solar charging panel in the chest emblem, and the ability to discharge stored suit electricity from the tasers in a powerful blast.

Characteristics

• Height: 5′ 11″
• Weight: 141 lbs
• Eyes: Green
• Hair: Red
• Identity: Secret Identity
• Occupation: Socialite, Adventurer, Businesswoman
• Citizenship: American
• Place of Birth: Gotham City, New Jersey
• Marital Status: Single
• Known Relatives: Jacob Kane (father), Gabi Kane (mother, deceased), Beth Kane (twin sister), Bruce Wayne (cousin), Mary Elizabeth Kane (cousin)

Other Versions

DC Comics Bombshells

Kate is baseball player for an all female baseball league, which is set during World War II. She is also the vigilante Batwoman, taking down various criminals and Nazis. She ends up recruited by Amanda Waller as part of the Bombshells project.

Injustice: Gods Among Us

Kate as Batwoman has appeared in the Injustice: Gods Among Us video game comic book tie-in.

Other Media

TV Shows

Batwoman (2019)

In 2019 a TV Show about Batwoman was made. It ran for three seasons, in the first season Batwoman is Kate Kane but in the second season she was replaced by Ryan Wilder.

In the show Batman goes missing and Kate steps up as the new protector of Gotham.

Arrow (2012)

Batwoman appeared in a few episodes of the TV Show Arrow as part of the ‘Elseworlds’ and ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ events.

The Flash (2014)

Batwoman appeared in a few episodes of the TV Show The Flash as part of the ‘Elseworlds’ and ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ events.

Supergirl (2015)

Batwoman appeared in a few episodes of the TV Show Supergirl as part of the ‘Elseworlds’ and ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ events.

Legends of Tomorrow (2015)

Batwoman appeared in an episode of the TV Show Legends of Tomorrow as part of the ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ event.

Young Justice (2019)

Batwoman has briefly appeared in a few episodes of the animated TV Show Young Justice.

Film

Batman: Bad Blood (2016)

Batwoman makes her animated debut in this film, voiced by former Chuck star Yvonne Strahovski.

LEGO DC Batman: Family Matters (2019)

Batwoman appears as part of the Batfamily in the animated movie LEGO DC Batman: Family matters.

Justice League DARK: Apokolips War (2020)

Batwoman appears as one of the heroes in the animated movie Justice League DARK: Apokolips War.

Catwoman: Hunted (2022)

Batwoman plays a major role in the animated movie Catwoman: Hunted and she is voiced by Stephanie Beatriz.

Video Games

DC Universe Online (2011)

Batwoman appears in the game and she is voiced by Christina J. Moore.

Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure (2013)

Batwoman appears in the game ‘Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure’.

Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (2014)

Batwoman appears in the game LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, she is a playable obtainable through the DLC ‘Heroines and Villainesses’.

Batman: Arkham Knight (2015)

While Batwoman herself does not appear, Kate Kane can be heard on Bruce Wayne’s answering machine, where she mentions her impending wedding to Maggie Sawyer.

DC Legends (2015)

Batwoman is an obtainable character in the mobile game DC Legends.

Puzzle & Dragons (2012)

Batwoman appears in the mobile game Puzzle & Dragons as a duo with Batgirl.

Injustice 2 (2017)

Batwoman is a playable character in the mobile game Injustice 2. In the game she is featured both as her TV Show version and also as Batwoman the Drowned.

LEGO DC Super-Villains (2018)

Batwoman is a playable character in the game LEGO DC Super-Villains.

Minecraft (2022)

Batwoman appears in the Minecraft Batman DLC

Merchandise

• Batwoman is featured in the DC Comics Bombshells line.
• Batwoman was featured in Kotobukiya’s Bishoujo line.
• A Batwoman figure was released for 52.
• Mattel released a Batwoman figure for the DC Universe line.
• DC Collectibles released a statue of Batwoman.
• A Batwoman figurine was released as part of a DC chess set.
• Batwoman was featured in multiple Funko lines.