bwrebirth3finalIf you’ve been reading Detective Comics, there’s a possibility you might have thought it *almost* felt like Batwoman was the lead for that first arc.  And if you did, there just might be reason.  Come February, Batwoman is spinning off from Detective into her own title.  James Tynion IV will be co-writing a Batwoman solo two-parter in Detective with Marguerite Bennett before effectively handing the character off to Bennett.  The new Batwoman comic (if you’ll read carefully, you’ll note DC didn’t actually say what the title of that comic will be) will start with a Rebirth issue in February by Bennett and artist Steve Epting, which will then begin regular monthly issues in March.

And if you read the official PR below, you’ll note this new Batwoman comic is “part of the next wave of REBIRTH titles.”  Hmmm… so also we’ve heard about the Warren Ellis curated Wildstorm revival (which might be a separate launch from a Rebirth wave) and the Orlando/Reis JLA.  We’ll keep our eyes peeled for more announcements.  If you remember just a few years back to the New 52 relaunch, DC was very much into cancelling the struggling launches quickly and replacing them with New 52 “waves.”  For instance, if I recall correctly, the Third Wave saw Phantom Stranger, Sword of Sorcery, Talon and Team 7 replacing Captain Atom, Resurrection Man, Voodoo and JLI.  It would a shock if DC was starting to cancel anything this quickly, though.  It will be interesting to see if they’re just expanding the line, dropping some bi-weekly titles back to monthly (with new titles to keep the total issues published each month steady) or there’s a quick hook on some titles.  Developing…

Official PR follows:

BURBANK, CA (October 6, 2016) – Readers of the current DETECTIVE COMICS run have seen firsthand the prominent role that Kate Kane, a.k.a. Batwoman, plays in training Spoiler, Orphan, Clayface, Red Robin and even Nightwing—the next generation of Gotham City’s protectors. This February, Marguerite Bennett (DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS, BATGIRL, EARTH 2: WORLD’S END) will be writing the new adventures of the heroine in an ongoing monthly series scheduled to debut in February 2017, with art by Steve Epting – his first work for DC in more than fifteen years. As part of the next wave of REBIRTH titles, the February title will be a REBIRTH-themed one-shot, with a new issue #1 to follow in March.

“Batwoman is yet another example of the character depth, richness and diversity present in Gotham City,” said Batman Group Editor Mark Doyle. “Fans have really responded to her role in DETECTIVE COMICS, and we all love Kate here in the Bat-office, so that made it an easy choice to return her to a solo series.”

As a preface to her new solo adventures, Bennett will join James Tynion IV on “Batwoman Begins,” a two-issue story arc in DETECTIVE COMICS. Following the Night of the Monster Men, Batwoman and Batman discover that the venom from the defeated monsters’ corpses is being sold as a bioweapon. After Batwoman comes face to face with the villain responsible, Batman gives Batwoman a mission that takes her around the world, creating the backdrop for her new solo series in February, whose first story arc will also be co-written by Bennett and Tynion IV.

“There has never been a heroine I have loved more than Batwoman,” said Bennett. “Her flaws, her ferocity, her struggle to rise above her own history and find a way to serve the greater good and those she loves—she’s always cut me straight to the bone. To be a queer woman and to see a queer woman as not just a part but a pillar of the Bat-family was life changing, inspiring and gave me the courage to pursue this career in comics. The opportunity to add to Kate Kane’s story and legacy is both an honor and a sincere dream come true.”

“I am very excited for the opportunity to work on Batwoman,” said Epting. “I love the character design and how she fits into the whole Batman mythos, and I’m looking forward to the artistic opportunities the story will provide. Batwoman has a rich visual history and I’m thrilled to be a part of it!”

3 COMMENTS

  1. “It would a shock if DC was starting to cancel anything this quickly, though. It will be interesting to see if they’re just expanding the line, dropping some bi-weekly titles back to monthly (with new titles to keep the total issues published each month steady) or there’s a quick hook on some titles.”

    I would be quite surprised if they pull the plug on any of the new Rebirth titles so quickly, as none of them are doing poorly in sales at all. Compare to New 52, where by month four the soon-to-be-cancelled titles (Blackhawk, Hawk & Dove, Men of War, Mister Terrific, OMAC, & Static Shock) were all selling at 20K or less.

    But between Rebirth, Young Animal, and the new Wildstorm, I just don’t see them adding more titles without something giving way. So more likely I think your second supposition, that some of the twice-monthly books get pared back to monthly to make room for more Rebirth titles. I think we’ll also see Vertigo pared back to maybe just 4 or 5 titles per month (Everafter, Lucifer & Astro City as ongoings, with a couple of mini-series).

  2. I think DiDio and Lee initially said when Rebirth was announced that they would be re-evaluating the bi-weekly titles periodically and replacing some titles with other (monthly) titles in their stead when it makes sense/due to performance of the bi-weekly titles. That could possibly be the case here.

Comments are closed.