Batwoman

Batwoman, or (less commonly) Bat-Woman, is the name of a fictional character, the female counterpart to DC Comics' popular superhero Batman. She first appeared in Detective Comics #233 (July 1956). Batwoman's real name was "Kathy Kane"

Related Topics:
Fictional character - DC Comics - Superhero - Batman - Detective Comics - July - 1956

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Batman co-creator Bob Kane later claimed that he created Batwoman, and indeed that he drew her to resemble his wife. The fact that Kathy Kane's name matches Bob Kane's supports his claim. On the other hand, in the 1950's Kane used "ghost pencillers" such as Sheldon Moldoff and Dick Sprang to draw most Batman comics.

Related Topics:
Bob Kane - Sheldon Moldoff - Dick Sprang

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Batwoman was an occasional guest in Batman stories from 1956 to 1964. Batman wished for Kathy to retire from crimefighting due to the danger it placed her in -- hypocritically so, given that he expressed no such qualms over Robin's presence by his side. Nevertheless, she remained his ally.

Related Topics:
1956 - 1964

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In 1961, Batwoman was joined by her niece Bat-Girl (Betty Kane). Kathy and Betty were intended to be romantic interests of Batman and Robin, respectively.

Related Topics:
1961 - Bat-Girl - Robin

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In 1964, Batwoman, as well as Bat-Girl, Ace the Bat-Hound, and Bat-Mite were dropped from the Batman titles, which were undergoing a revamp by editor Julius Schwartz that eliminated many extraneous elements. Over the next couple of years Batwoman, along with a few other characters, made a few appearances in the Batman-Superman team-up book World's Finest, which was edited by Mort Weisinger.

Related Topics:
1964 - Ace the Bat-Hound - Bat-Mite - Julius Schwartz - Superman - World's Finest - Mort Weisinger

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In the 1970s, Batwoman was revived but only appeared a few times. When Kathy eventually did retire from crimefighting, she became the owner of a circus. She was killed by the League of Assassins and the brainwashed Bronze Tiger in Detective Comics #485 (September 1979).

Related Topics:
1970s - Circus - League of Assassins - Bronze Tiger - September - 1979

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There was also a Batwoman on Earth 2, who was very much like her deceased Earth 1 counterpart. This Kathy Kane retired when the Batman of that world married the Catwoman. However she later came out of retirement following Batman's death when Gotham City was threatened by the return of Hugo Strange. The question of whether there was a Bat-Girl on Earth 2 is controversial.

Related Topics:
Catwoman - Gotham City - Hugo Strange

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Bat-Girl's career was heavily retconned after the Crisis on Infinite Earths to remove any reference to her working alongside Batman, Robin, or Batwoman.

Related Topics:
Retconned - Crisis on Infinite Earths

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Batwoman was referenced in Planet Krypton, an issue within the Kingdom miniseries; this appears to be her only mention in any post-Crisis comic. In said issue, a Planet Krypton restaurant (modeled somewhat after Planet Hollywood) finds itself "haunted" by silent spectral beings resembling characters from DC Golden Age and Silver Age continuity. Batman comes face to face with Batwoman and says, "Kathy?" Later, he denies there being any possible way he could know her.

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Aside from this reference, the late Kathy Kane and her murder by the Bronze Tiger have been mentioned on occasion. It may be that Kathy Kane existed but was never Batwoman in the post-Crisis DC Universe.

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In 2005, Batwoman's career was profiled in the April issue of the publication Antiques and Collecting.

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