BATWOMAN #3

Hydrology, Part 3:  Gaining Stream

January 2012

Written by J. H. Williams II and W. Haden Blackman

Pencils by J. H. Williams III

Inks by J. H. Williams III

Cover by J. H. Williams III

Synopsis

Kate Kane (aka Batwoman) is being dragged down into the ocean by the Weeping Woman, but she manages to break free and swim to shore.  There, she is immediately caught by DEO Agent Cameron Chase.  Once more, Batwoman escapes.  When she returns home, she informs her cousin Bette Kane (aka former Flamebird) that she can no longer train her.  Kate says she doesn’t think Bette has what it takes to do the job.  Meanwhile, Chase visits Colonel Kane to ask questions related to Batwoman, but the Colonel refuses to answer.  Late, Kate visits Detective Sawyer.  Kate doesn’t reveal what is bothering him, but does break down and cry.  Meanwhile, Flamebird decides to go out on patrol.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Another issue in which the ending came out of nowhere.  Like the previous issue, I didn’t realize that I had reached the end until I turned the page and got the peeks at the New 52.  It seems a little odd, especially two issues in an row.  I wonder what it is going on. 

Like the last two issues, I thought this one was brilliant.  I loved the way the events unfolded, with Batwoman learning she is under investigation, to her decision to hurt Bette’s family to protect her, to her breakdown in the arms of Maggie Sawyer.  This is first and foremost an examination of Kate breaking down under the pressure of responsibility, first in the opening scene and the emotional weight she feels over her twin sister’s death and then to her realization that she was under arrest for her own actions in her twin sisters death.  You can see how and why she decides to cut Bette loose and how and why this would devastate her.  When she breaks down and begins to cry, it resonates and you can feels her pain.  As I said, brilliant material. 

In what is becoming a usual thing with this book., I must comment on how gorgeous the art is.  I loved the opening sequence, with the art flowing across the page like a surge of water, showing Kate getting pulled into the deep (physical and emotional).  The way the art changes an shifts, it questions whether it is the effect of the Weeping Woman has on Kate or the effect drowning has on Kate’s mind as she is dragged deeper and deeper into the water.  It is a chilling sequence and sets the stage for the chilling events as they unfold. 

The question to the Colonel about his daughter struck me as odd.  As the reader, I know it comes chock full of extra meaning because we know what Kate is doing with her life and we know about the Colonel’s relationship with his daughter.  He is proud of her and proud of her mission, but at the moment they are also not talking to each other.  Imagine how he feels to purposely refer to his daughter’s reputation that he knows is fake.  But, as far as we have been told, all Chase knows about Kate is what Kate wants the public to think.  So, why the question?  Is this a clue that maybe Chase knows more about Kate and Batwoman (and Maggie’s relationship with Kate, which may explain why Chase suggested Maggie was on the list)?  Or is it just a cheap trick to break down the Colonel’s defenses and get him to talk about the kidnapping? 

In the scene with the DEO agents, haven’t any of these dudes ever heard of remote starters for cars?  How can they be so clueless as to what is going on with the bike?

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