Kathy Kane: The First Batwoman

[TELLE]

set to return post IC???

It seems to be true, Newsarma just posted a huge detailed article on everything Kathy Kane. Pretty cool for classic Batman fans, check it out:

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batwoman/BatwomanHistory.htm

Wow, a great article. I actually learned something.  Kind of puts to shame our own efforts:
https://www.supermanthroughtheages.com/wiki/index.php/Batwoman

Maybe when the Batmanica finally rolls out ....

[Super Monkey]

I wrote that entry from the TGSB, if you want to add anymore info of her meetings with Superman go right ahead. Knock yourself out.

[JulianPerez]

Also:

Would it be too much to expect that Bette Kane would have her position restored as the rightful FIRST Batgirl in Batman history? Hearing Batfans call Barbara Gordon "Batgirl I" is an unforgivable oversight.

God, nothing is more tiresome than flogging the dead horse of how lousy the effects of CRISIS have been (though I loathe that mini and what it did with every fiber of my being), but you know...

Bette Kane was an interesting character. A "type-A" whom everything came easy for her (a beauty pageant winner, tennis player and swimmer) she took the persona to do something hard. She has an interesting motivation and an interesting personality and life experience. Bette Kane made the Bat-Family stronger instead of weaker, because suddenly Robin had himself an "opposite number." Several Imaginary Stories showed Robin and Bette Kane married. She made Kathy Kane stronger by giving her supporting cast that was exclusively hers. Bette Kane made the Batman Family stronger by the addition of an interesting character.

Her "restoration" in the Modern DC Universe was an an unrecognizeable character whose appearance was played for laughs, with no connection to anybody, that made the DC Universe weaker instead of stronger by adding one more to the overfilled pot of "deliberate parody character." What, it wasn't enough Beetle was made an overweight fool?

Also, no disrespect meant to Dick Grayson, but Kal-El is Nightwing - not him; Dick's just "borrowing" the name for a little bit. Attempts to divorce the "Nightwing" identity from the Superman origination make it weaker because suddenly Dick Grayson's choice to assume the identity becomes an arbitrary change of identity instead of one that recognizes his desire to create his own identity with respect for Superman's idealism. Further, the identity becomes less interesting because it is stripped of its history.

Attempts to make Dick Grayson the "one, true" Nightwing - complete with his own Flamebird - rankle me for these reasons.

[TELLE]

Also:

Would it be too much to expect that Bette Kane would have her position restored as the rightful FIRST Batgirl in Batman history? Hearing Batfans call Barbara Gordon "Batgirl I" is an unforgivable oversight.

I think she shows up in Allred's Solo.

[nightwing]

The ever-adorable Bette Kane is indeed in Solo #7 and it's highly recommended reading!

What are they calling her now, Flamebird?  Yeesh.

But technically, Babs is indeed Batgirl I.  Bette was "Bat-Girl"...spelled with a hyphen.

How's that for nit-picky?

[Superman of America]

I never understood why they retconned Batwoman and Bat-Girl out of existence anyway. Yeah, Babs Batgirl will always be my favorite(Supergirl/Batgirl team ups, those were the days. Sniff!) but Kathy and Bette had real strong ties to the Dynamic Duo. There's room for all the batwomen in Bruce's life. Also, in the new history when Bats fired Dick wasn't it Superman who gave him the Nightwing persona idea?

[MatterEaterLad]

It was a pretty easy retcon, Batwoman and much of the other "Bat family" were pretty much ignored since 1965, though in an admirable bit of "Silver Age restraint", they weren't brought back for 6 panels and then brutally murdered...

[Super Monkey]

It was a pretty easy retcon, Batwoman and much of the other "Bat family" were pretty much ignored since 1965, though in an admirable bit of "Silver Age restraint", they weren't brought back for 6 panels and then brutally murdered...

ah.. the good old days.

I belive they reconned her to Earth-2.

Anyone know for sure, I am not the biggest Batfan.