Not Quite That Next Level — Reviewing ‘Batwoman’ #1

DC Comics is ready to take themselves to the Next Level and with that change comes a pretty big return. After quite a few years, Greg Rucka and Kate Kane, the Batwoman, are reunited once again.

That’s right Batwoman #1 is now here to bring the red-haired vigilante back into the spotlight. Rucka is teamed up with DaNi, Matt Hollingsworth, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou for this revival of the character he helped break out so many years ago.

–SPOILERS FOLLOW–

So let me be clear here: I liked a lot of what this book is putting down. Rucka still very much writes a good Kane and delves into more of the stuff that has plagued the character since her modern-day inception.

Unfortunately, that’s part of the problem with this series.

Tapping a creator who wrote the character previously sounds good on paper. It means not only do they already know the character well they have a fan base who is likely to tune in for that reason. At any other time, that wouldn’t inherently be a problem even though the competition is currently showing that banking on former creators and nostalgia isn’t exactly a winning formula.

Next Level was held up as the continuation of DC All In’s drive to tell new stories that are friendly to any reader. Banking on the rich history of the characters while capturing some of that Absolute DC off-the-sales-chart energy. We get very little of that with this series because Rucka essentially picks up where he left off.

There is very little done here to explain things to any new readers as we go deep into the Kate and Alice dynamic. Coming in with our hero seemingly broken and in an institution could be an interesting starting point. But those that are in the know about Kate and Alice, the Religion of Crime, the prophecy stuff, and more will appreciate the follow-up Rucka provides. Anyone coming in cold? Well, they are probably quite a bit lost.

Artistically, it’s quite dynamic because DaNi always has such a bold style. Rough and sharp with an air of softness which blends well into the kinetic energy that radiates off each page. DaNi takes such intricate care in creation, crafting such an intimate style that really highlights features, feelings, and character.

Hollingsworth’s colors are just as intricate with a rougher texture that gels easily with the rest of the artwork. It is heavy on the darker tones to give the environment a worn and lived-in appearance. The approach casts a more familiar and tangible light and feeling upon the whole space. Again, it gives a very intimate feeling as we are in the thick of it with Kate in her vulnerable moments.

There are a lot of hallmark lettering elements in play here from Otsmane-Elhaou. White font on a black space in the art — eschewing the bubble, and many other little outside of the box style choices — allow voices the space to thrive and make themselves always known. Shifting font sizes with such care really highlights what volume, tone, or emotional resonance should be felt and heard as we read through the words.

Overall, the issue is good and fun, it’s just not hitting the mark for how Next Level, as a concept, has been sold. This could change with more issues, but setting an impression with the first issue is always the key move.

Batwoman #1 is now available from DC Comics.