Batwoman #1

Batwoman finally debuts in her solo series with "Hydrology", co-written by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman, and with the former on art duty, this long-awaited this title did not disappoint. From the very beginning we get to see the horror theme of the book, just like its creators had promised, and they did a fantastic job with it.



Cover Art by J.H. Williams III



The issue has lots of Batwoman in it, lots of Kate Kane and her personal relationships with Det. Sawyer, her father Col. Kane, and her cousin Bette.  Speaking of Bette, I am glad she got a lot of attention in this first issue, but I felt Kate was being a little too harsh on her, which did not seem fair to me, seeing how Flamebird has proven herself a hero; nonetheless it was great knowing she has not been forgotten.

The Weeping Woman is Batwoman's first villain in this series, and her premise is one I am familiar with, since in my country we have also heard the story of La Llorona. Williams' pencils are a perfect match for the horror theme of this book, yet, in the Kate and the non-Batwoman sequences, it is as if a different artist had been featured, which proves how talented he is.

Lots of double spreads, which I usually don't like; they make me feel robbed; however, the creators here fill their pages with dialog, flashbacks, and other small panels, so it's not a waste of space as I have seen in other books, and they look more like mini-posters in their own right.

"Leaching", the inaugural issue of Batwoman is a definitive must, for those who appreciate fine art, suspense stories, and character development. An immediate success, this issue has already been ordered for a second printing.