Batwoman is creeping me out
As you know if you’ve been reading CCC, I review comics, usually in batches. (or is that Bat-ches? Sorry, couldn’t resist that pun.) Why? Because I have to make/find time from my real job as the Norwalk Reflector‘s criminal justice reporter — and mostly because I don’t get to the comic book store too often.
Regardless, I’ve been contemplating DETECTIVE COMICS Nos. 854-856 for a while now — long enough that No. 857 is out. I knew I wanted to review these three issues, but I was waiting for my muse and twist on them to hit me.
But why, oh why, have I been struggling to find out what to say? It makes no sense. (You know me; I’m full of opinions … or full of it, I guess.) I generally enjoyed ‘TEC Nos. 854-856. Since Batwoman made her first appearance in 52, I’ve been looking forward to Kate Kane spreading her batwings on solo adventures.
Maybe it’s because Batwoman creeps me out.
First and foremost, that has absolutely NOTHING to do with her homosexuality. Maybe it’s Batwoman’s sexuality that creeps me out. The media went overboard bonkers when DC Comics announced the newest Batwoman would be a lesbian. So she likes women — who cares. Moving on. …
• Just check out the first five pages of issue 854 to see what I mean about Batwoman’s sexuality creeping me out. Her questioning of the fleeing man is almost a femme fatale come-on. (Kinda weird for a lesbian, wouldn’t you say?) Combine the implied violent threat (“and you … REALLY … want to give it to me”) with her telling Rush to whisper his secrets in her ear with Batwoman caressing his jaw, and what could have been a stereotypical threatening-a-weak-willed-tipster-in-the-alley scene becomes something akin to a full-on seduction.
• And then there’s Kane’s coloring. Her toothy smile as Batwoman has more than a macabre passing resemblance to The Joker. Kate’s complexion and goth makeup/eye shadow on page 10 and onward makes her look like a horror film version of Raggedy Ann as Chucky the cold-blooded killer. Brrrr.
• Adding to the creepy factor is artist J.H. Williams’ and colorist Dave Stewart’s depiction of Batwoman in the “Batman Beyond”-like costume. Sure, Kane’s pasty complexion is a stark contrast to Batwoman’s blood red Batsymbol, gloves, utility belt and boots and the interior of her cape with an otherwise ebony costume.
But there’s more to it than that. It’s subtle, but SO RIGHT THERE in the inking around Batwoman’s breasts, which I assume is done by Williams since no else is credited. …
That’s right; “the girls” clearly show off the heroine’s nipples. The coloring essentially accentuates their very existence. Surely, it’s not that cold in Gotham City. OK, that was in bad taste, but isn’t showing off a heroine’s nipples in a skintight, black spandex costume just as tasteless? Check out the cover of ‘TEC 854 and pages 2 through 9 of the same issue — and I’m sure too many subsequent pages and panels to mention — and you can’t deny that Batwoman’s nipples are there for everyone to see.
Male artists have been doing an injustice to women for decades by making female characters impossibly trim, fit, uh, well-endowed, curvacious and sexy for decades. That’s bad enough. Do we need the first blatantly lesbian superheroine to be objectified as well? No, NO and NO!
I’m a hot-blooded hetero male who loves see women’s lovely figures, but this is too much! The media, fans and bloggers still make a big deal about the nipples-on-the-Batsuits controversy in “Batman Forever” and “Batman & Robin” to this day. (BTW it wasn’t an issue until writers wouldn’t let it alone, but I digress. …) Now where are the feminists who should be screaming in outrage?
Has nobody noticed Batwoman’s overexposed nipples? Has this gone completely off everybody’s radar screen? Why haven’t the female comics fans — and there are many out there on the Internet — said something on their blogs? Is everybody — all the critics, bloggers and fans — so wrapped up in the fact a woman has taken over one of the longest continually running comic series in history that this blatant objectification goes unmentioned? I sure as @#!*% hope not!!! Am I the only who’s had the, well, balls to mention this? Again, I sure as @#!*% hope not!!!
Does anybody else care? … Maybe not. Maybe it’s just who me is bothered. Once again, I sure …
OK, I’m all worked up now. (And not in the sexual way either, you pervs!) I can’t even finish the rest of the issues I was going to address in my “review.” I’m going to simmer down — and come back a little calmer to write again another day.
But I’ll be back. And you and your friends should, too.
Hey ^^
At the risk of sounding obvious, I think your reaction to her appearance, is sort of the point and intention of the design and is part of the conception of the character. It’s been discussed a fair bit, and not everyone likes it but a number do.
The way I see it, is that Batwoman, in parallel sense to Batman is appropriating supernatural themes surrounding women that traditionally elicit fear and which are invariably subversions of older empowering female archetypes: the succubus (female sexuality) and vampires especially, but also \fairy queens\, the enchantress and a stream of \evil\ or \deviant\ female stereotypes used to package women who did not conform to the place society assigned to them.
For the character of Kate Kane, her Batwoman persona is also an expression of a suppressed self, tied to her social background, sexual orientation, gender and, symbolically and politically, her military past.
So she is meant to challenge the viewer and, arguably, the male view specifically. Nonetheless, a lot of people question whether the intent works, or whether she falls victim to the subtext the character is trying to reclaim and use; much of it tied up in sexual power.
A few female led blogs have commented about the way her breasts are drawn too: concerned, as you seem to be, that it amounts to impractical titillation. What you can say for sure is they look very \natural\ (though perfect) by comic standards and unsupported. If you look at her in her outfit you’d be suprised that she was wearing a bra, yet it’s clearly revealed she does: a sports bra even. based on the evidence of Willam’s other art and the general thought and consideration evident in the panels and her design, I think it’s no accident; like her wig. The image the costume creates is part of an act, just like Batman’s, and it alters and augments her appearance. Look at Kate out of costume and you’ll see the effect has vanished.
I don’t see what her being a lesbian has to do with it, but consider this food for thought: she may look in incredibly good shape, but as Batwoman she has one of the most naturally female bodies in comics, down to the shape and drape of her bust line. What she is explicitly confronting the reader and the world with is an image far less objectified and hypersexualised than just about every other depiction of female superheros you can see in comics; why is this making you have such an strong negative reaction? Why is this especially \too much!\? Why are you frightened?
What a thoughtful response. You gave me a lot to consider. Your response was incredibly well written.
Just curious, are you a female or male reader? (If you’re female, would you be willing to be interviewed about being a part of a generally fanboy world?) Is it possible to post the links to the “female led blogs” you mentioned? Those might be good inspiration for more lively conversations.
Thank you: I’m glad you think so.
I am a female fan, yes, but I’m not sure I’ve much insight into a “fanboy world”: although I have friends who share my interests neither they or I have been to a con or really have a complete understanding of that side of things. I can talk about issues within different media with some confidence, and I naturally have views about the social side of geekdom but I lack any direct experience of it beyond the internets. I don’t claim to be representative of fandom or even fangirls, but you’re welcome to post me some questions.
My first port of call for “women in comics” related links is one you may already know:
http://womenincomics.blogspot.com/
and http://retconningmybrain.blogspot.com is one example of a blog where I recall this issue being considered before. I hope that’s helpful
Hi, I got here from When Fangirls Attack. You might want to check out that for links to other women’s views on Batwoman.
I was not keen on Batwoman, for similar reasons to you, although i wasn’t as articulate about it, or couldn’t express it at the time. My site has reviews of the couple of issues I read. Anyway, I’ve now dropped it.
Retconning my brain – http://retconningmybrain.blogspot.com/ – has some reviews up abttu Batwoman. The writer is good and def worth checking out.
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Thanks, Charlotte. Are you planning on picking up the ongoing “Batwoman” series. Issue 0 provided a promising preview.
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