Vocal Minority - New Batwoman Book
Previously…
Last year the New York Times published an article about the new wave of minority characters in comics, with the Hispanic Blue Beetle, the Chinese Great Ten, and the lesbian (also: Jewish) Batwoman leading the pack. Given that no one outside the comics community has ever heard of the Blue Beetle, the news of a homosexual Bat-character was the only bit of the story to be picked up and carried away by the rest of the mainstream media. The comics community responded to the media coverage with its usual mix of flattered outrage. Many in the Vocal Minority decided, before Batwoman had even been introduced in 52, the whole idea of a new “sexy lipstick lesbian” Batwoman was a shameless editorially-mandated attempt to steal media attention while titillating their young boy fanbase, with the added bonus of desecrating yet another beloved/forgotten character from “a simpler time.”
This week in Vocal Minority
In a recent Lying in the Gutters, Rich Johnston broke the news that Greg Rucka will write and J.H. Williams will draw a new Batwoman monthly. While not exactly a ‘Net-Cracker, this has sparked some debate on the comics forums.
Full of sound and fury
Does Batwoman deserve a monthly? Can J.H. Williams draw a monthly? Has the Bat-family of books become too large for its own good? Is Batwoman even a legitimate character?
Be reasonable
First, let’s get this out of the way: J.H. Williams probably can’t draw a monthly. But with enough lead time, maybe he can get out the first arc in a timely manner and then have a fill-in for a few months. His work is pretty enough we can forgive the time it takes.Does Batwoman deserve a monthly? If the creative team has a great story to tell with her, then yes. What the debate here is really about is not whether or not a Batwoman title will be a good read, but why does Batwoman get a book and not XYZ-favorite obscure character (e.g. Cassandra Cain Batgirl, original Firestorm, SuperBuddies, etc.)? It’s all about the story. It’s very possible no one has any good ideas for the female Dr. Light at the moment, but when that perfect pitch comes along – look out!Has the Bat-family of books become too large for its own good? There are three secret arguments here. One, I like Batman but can’t afford to buy everything and am afraid I won’t be able to keep up with what’s going on. Two, I don’t like Batman but enjoy peeing on the parades of others. Three, why Batman and not XYZ-favorite obscure character (that argument comes up a lot amidst the Vocal Minority)? The thing is we live in a capitalist society, and we vote with our dollars. If you really want a book to go away, you’ll do your part by not buying it. If it insists on sticking around anyway, that means other people are buying it, but you’re still free to ignore it.Is Batwoman even a legitimate character? I’ll skip right to the answer on this one: Yes, all characters are legitimate, it’s the treatment of said characters that makes the difference. The Vocal Minority was up in arms at the notion that DC would kill off Nightwing for his seeming redundancy, but still can’t seem to find room in their hearts to give this possibly redundant character a chance to make her own way in the fictional world. 10 years from now when Captain Boomerang Jr. is getting a monthly from Bendis and Joe Madureira, you may find yourself complaining: why him and not Batwoman? No one’s known what to do with her since Rucka and Williams…
Until next time…
Dante Kleinberg is a superhero geek from way back. Check out his blog or send him an e-mail, particularly if you have a topic you’d like to see covered in a future edition of Vocal Minority.