Batwoman is a superhero character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The original Batwoman, Kathy Kane, was introduced in 1956 as a love interest for Batman, created to counter allegations of homosexuality in the Batman comics. She was eventually retired from continuity in the 1970s.
The modern and most iconic version of the character, Kate Kane, was introduced in 2006 during the company-wide event "52." Created by writer Greg Rucka and artist J.H. Williams III, this iteration reimagined Batwoman as a wealthy Jewish heiress with a military background who becomes a vigilante inspired by Batman. Significantly, Kate Kane is depicted as an out lesbian, making her one of DC Comics' most prominent LGBTQ+ superheroes. Her backstory includes being expelled from West Point under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and later using her combat training to fight crime in Gotham City.
Kate Kane operates independently of Batman, though she is later revealed to be the maternal cousin of Bruce Wayne. Her supporting cast includes her father Colonel Jacob Kane, her stepmother Catherine Hamilton-Kane, and her stepsister Mary. Her primary romantic relationships have included Gotham City police detective Maggie Sawyer and former GCPD detective Renee Montoya.
The character headlined her own ongoing solo series beginning in 2011 as part of DC's New 52 initiative, written by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman, with art by Williams. The series was critically acclaimed for its sophisticated storytelling and distinctive visual style, though it gained media attention when the creative team departed over editorial interference regarding the character's marriage storyline. Batwoman has also been a prominent member of various DC teams including the Outsiders and has featured prominently in Detective Comics.
