Katherine Kane (New Earth)
From DC Database
Contents |
History
52
Katherine "Kate" Kane was Renée Montoya's former lover and heiress to one of the wealthiest families in Gotham City, owning that which the Wayne family does not. While investigating the mysterious activities at 520 Kane Street, Renee discovered that the building was owned by the Kanes and asked Kate to help find the connection between the Kanes and the address. While still upset from their breakup, Kate agreed to help Renee, but punched her after Renee mentioned their prior relationship. Renee suggested they once loved each other, and Kate told her to leave. Not long after that, Batwoman began observing Montoya from the rooftops as Renee conversed with the Question (in his guise as "Charlie") in an alley.
Kate met with Renée and Charlie in Gotham Park and confirmed that the warehouse was being leased by Ridge-Ferrick until six weeks earlier. Renee refused to tell Kate what was going on, saying that she disn't owe Kate anything, which shocked Kate and prompted her to tail them as Batwoman. When Renee and the Question broke into Ridge-Ferrick's Gotham offices, they were attacked by Whisper A'Daire's shapeshifting minions, and Batwoman arrived to rescue them. Making quick work of two monsters, Batwoman stopped Renee from shooting the third, instead kicking the monster out a window. Batwoman informed them the police were coming, asked that she not be mentioned, and left.
After Renee learned that the Book of Crime, a sacred text of Intergang, contained a prophecy foretelling the brutal murder of the "twice named daughter of Kane," she and the Question returned to Gotham. They contacted Kate by flashing a Bat-Signal, and the three joined forces to avert Intergang's plans. As Kate continued the case, she was joined by Nightwing, who had recently returned to Gotham and becomes infatuated with her (no doubt because of her resemblance to former Batgirl Barbara Gordon (New Earth)), though she assured him she wasn't his type. On Christmas Eve, he gave her an 'official' Batarang. She also celebrated Hanukkah with Renee, and the two kiss shortly before Christmas.
Intergang realized that the image of Batwoman in the Crime Bible and the cited "twice-named daughter of Cain" were one and the same, and ransacked Kate's apartment, kidnapping her with the intention to sacrifice her. Renee found her, seemingly too late to save her, as during the ensuing fight with Bruno Mannheim, Kate pulled the knife out of her own chest to stab Mannheim and then collapsed in Renee's arms. Kate survived her wounds after Renee used pseudoderm to patch up the wound and stop the bleeding, however, and as she recuperated in her Penthouse, Renée, dressed as the Question, shined the batsignal into her apartment and asked "Are you ready?"
One Year Later
One year after the start of 52, the Penguin suggests Batman bring a date to the opening of his club, asking, "Why don't you bring that new Batwoman? I hear she's kind of hot."
Batwoman later appeared when Renee Montoya confronted Trickster and Pied Piper to question them about the murder of Bart Allen, having trailed them from Penguin's Iceberg Lounge nightclub.[1]
In her civilian identity as a socialite, she is acquainted with Bruce Wayne and is friends with a doctor named Mallory, who treats the Question's cancer and later Kate's stab wound. Her familial relationships are unknown.
Final Crisis
During the Final Crisis, Kane was one of the millions who fell under the influence of the Anti-Life Equation[2], and became a member of the Female Furies.[3]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
None known.
Abilities
As Batwoman, Kate lacks any superpowers, and instead relies on her martial artistry and Batman-inspired equipment when fighting crime.
Skilled Martial Artist: In the ten years since her breakup with Renée Montoya, she has learned to fight and is able to defeat three monsters, as well as spy on Renee and the Question with relative ease.
Heiress: Being the heiress of a family whose fortune is comparable to the Waynes, Kate possesses the finances to produce an arsenal of equipment, similar to Batman. This includes a baton-like device which can extend from the center in length and has Bat-shaped attachments at each end.
Strength level
Athletic level: Kathy Kane possesses the strength level of a woman her age, size and weight who engages in intensive regular exercise.
Paraphernalia
Equipment: None known.
Weapons:
Batarangs; Bat-club
Notes
- In the Golden Age and Silver Age there was also a Kathy Kane who also became Batwoman. Unlike those histories, this Kathy Kane is not the elder aunt to the first Bat-girl, Betty Kane, who has become now known as Flamebird. It is unconfirmed whether or not Kate Kane is related to the New Earth versions of Kathy Kane and Bette "Flamebird" Kane, although Montoya alludes to there being an older Katherine Kane in Kate's family.
Trivia
- Unlike the Silver Age Kathy Kane, who was written as being romantically attracted to Batman, the new version of Kane is written as a "lipstick lesbian." Her homosexuality was announced at the same time as the character was revealed in the spring of 2006. Stories appeared on television news outlets such as CNN, general news magazines such as "USA Today", and gay culture magazines such as Out. While many LGBT characters in comics are public[citation needed] with their sexual orientation, Kane is an example of a closet homosexual; one who makes a conscious effort to conceal her sexuality by any means. Renée Montoya, Kane's former lover, hinted during 52 that Kate's inhibitions were the reason behind their break-up. Kate's homosexuality is funny, because the original Batwoman was created purely as a love interest to help end rumors that Batman himself was homosexual, perpetuated by Fredric Wertham's book Seduction of the Innocent.
- In 2007, DC Direct released a Batwoman action figure as part of their 52 series line.
- Kate is Jewish, and celebrated Hanukkah with Renee.
See Also
- Discuss Katherine Kane (New Earth) on the forums
- Appearances of Katherine Kane (New Earth) (Chronological)
- Appearances of Katherine Kane (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Katherine Kane (New Earth)
- Images featuring Katherine Kane (New Earth)
Recommended Reading
Links and References
Footnotes
  This character is or was an incarnation of or an ally of Batman, and a member of the Batman Family. This template will automatically categorize articles that include it into the "Batman Family members" category. |
