Welcome to part 2 of my coverage of Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 2: The Victim Syndicate. I am only covering two issues in this post, #948 and #949. If you want to read my coverage of the Victim Syndicate storyline, click the link at the bottom of this page for part 1. Now onto this post because I am excited to talk about Batwoman, so let's get into it.
Batwoman Begins, Part One: This comic starts two years in the past. Batwoman is still working with her father. In Gotham now, we think Batwoman is finally going to visit her father in the belfry prison, but Batman calls her away. They find themselves in the quarantine zone that is host to the body of one the Monster Men (see Monster Men recap for more info). A.R.G.U.S was supposed to move the body but seems that to have become impossible. We meet Dr. Victoria October, the person who is running the quarantine zone, which she calls Monster Town. The monster's body is having a real negative effect on the wildlife (monster seagulls, gross). The reason Victoria called Batman in was to show him and Batwoman footage of someone breaking in and stealing enough biohazardous material to cause massive devastation. They immediately recognize this person is from Batwoman's father's team, The Colony.
At the Belfry someone calling himself Colony Prime is hoping to break papa Kane out. Batman and Batwoman show up to ruin that plan, but he seems pretty confident that he will be able to take them down.
Batwoman Begins, Part Two: We start two years in the past again. Kate is chilling in her version of a Batcave. Batman sneaks up on her but she kind of shoots him and gets a good punch to the face in. He wants to know who she is working for. They have a fun chat and we learn that her father was being shady even back then. Seems papa Kane wanted his daughter to stay a soldier not become a superhero.
In the present, a fight is about to begin. Batwoman takes on Prime while Batman tries to get the computer back up and running. Prime wins the fight and explains that he has programmed the Belfry to think that Batman and Batwoman are intruders. Prime goes to let Colonel Kane out but looks like Batwoman tricked him into the mudroom. She then proceeds to kick his butt. Prime has a backup plan though, he injects himself with the Monster Venom (I think this is the stuff he stole last issue) and turns into a pretty ugly and ripped monster. (Prime mentions The Many Arms of Death...I think this will be important later.) Batwoman uses a gun but Prime monster still gets away.
Kate finally goes to the real prison cells and talks to her father. He promises to help her with the Monster Venom problem, but he will only work with her. She agrees to let him help, but he is staying locked up.
Thoughts: I think these two issues were meant to give a sneak peak into the next run of Batwoman's stand alone series. In terms of story there wasn't really much going on, but it is worth mentioning that James Tynion IV was helped by Marguerite Bennett who will be working with him on the first volume of Batwoman. I really liked the art on these two issues. Issue #948 was done by Ben Oliver and he also did #949 with the help of Szymon Kudranski. Both issues were beautiful.
A fun fact from this volume, the character Dr. October is a trans character and it is clear but not blown out of proportion, which I thought was nice. This is her first appearance but I am happy to say that I do not think it will be her last.
Best Cover: I am sure it will come as no surprise that I personally have a goal of owning all covers that have Batwoman on them. It is a tough endeavor but I am working on it. Both covers done by Ben Oliver are great but this one just barely edged out the other.
Best Line: My favorite line from this volume isn't so much a line as it is a page. I just really loved how this page was laid out and while I think that Stephanie is wrong to try and take down Batman and the team, I think this layout and her speech are impressive.
I hope that next week I can start getting faster on these posts again, but no promises. Life can be a little crazy and we are all just doing our best. See you all next time.
Previous Post: Batman: Detective Comics Vol.2: The Victim Syndicate, Part 1
Next Post: Hal Jordan & The Green Lantern Corps Vol. 2: Bottled Light
Note: All images belong to DC™
Batwoman Begins, Part One: This comic starts two years in the past. Batwoman is still working with her father. In Gotham now, we think Batwoman is finally going to visit her father in the belfry prison, but Batman calls her away. They find themselves in the quarantine zone that is host to the body of one the Monster Men (see Monster Men recap for more info). A.R.G.U.S was supposed to move the body but seems that to have become impossible. We meet Dr. Victoria October, the person who is running the quarantine zone, which she calls Monster Town. The monster's body is having a real negative effect on the wildlife (monster seagulls, gross). The reason Victoria called Batman in was to show him and Batwoman footage of someone breaking in and stealing enough biohazardous material to cause massive devastation. They immediately recognize this person is from Batwoman's father's team, The Colony.
At the Belfry someone calling himself Colony Prime is hoping to break papa Kane out. Batman and Batwoman show up to ruin that plan, but he seems pretty confident that he will be able to take them down.
Batwoman Begins, Part Two: We start two years in the past again. Kate is chilling in her version of a Batcave. Batman sneaks up on her but she kind of shoots him and gets a good punch to the face in. He wants to know who she is working for. They have a fun chat and we learn that her father was being shady even back then. Seems papa Kane wanted his daughter to stay a soldier not become a superhero.
In the present, a fight is about to begin. Batwoman takes on Prime while Batman tries to get the computer back up and running. Prime wins the fight and explains that he has programmed the Belfry to think that Batman and Batwoman are intruders. Prime goes to let Colonel Kane out but looks like Batwoman tricked him into the mudroom. She then proceeds to kick his butt. Prime has a backup plan though, he injects himself with the Monster Venom (I think this is the stuff he stole last issue) and turns into a pretty ugly and ripped monster. (Prime mentions The Many Arms of Death...I think this will be important later.) Batwoman uses a gun but Prime monster still gets away.
Kate finally goes to the real prison cells and talks to her father. He promises to help her with the Monster Venom problem, but he will only work with her. She agrees to let him help, but he is staying locked up.
Thoughts: I think these two issues were meant to give a sneak peak into the next run of Batwoman's stand alone series. In terms of story there wasn't really much going on, but it is worth mentioning that James Tynion IV was helped by Marguerite Bennett who will be working with him on the first volume of Batwoman. I really liked the art on these two issues. Issue #948 was done by Ben Oliver and he also did #949 with the help of Szymon Kudranski. Both issues were beautiful.
A fun fact from this volume, the character Dr. October is a trans character and it is clear but not blown out of proportion, which I thought was nice. This is her first appearance but I am happy to say that I do not think it will be her last.
Best Cover: I am sure it will come as no surprise that I personally have a goal of owning all covers that have Batwoman on them. It is a tough endeavor but I am working on it. Both covers done by Ben Oliver are great but this one just barely edged out the other.
Best Line: My favorite line from this volume isn't so much a line as it is a page. I just really loved how this page was laid out and while I think that Stephanie is wrong to try and take down Batman and the team, I think this layout and her speech are impressive.
I hope that next week I can start getting faster on these posts again, but no promises. Life can be a little crazy and we are all just doing our best. See you all next time.
Previous Post: Batman: Detective Comics Vol.2: The Victim Syndicate, Part 1
Next Post: Hal Jordan & The Green Lantern Corps Vol. 2: Bottled Light
Note: All images belong to DC™
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