The Virgin Read: The Last Great Modernist

Detective Comics # 854
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by J.H. Williams III & Dave Stewart
Published by DC Comics

Why is it that when I like something, I find it so challenging to describe why? In preparing to write about this Batwoman comic I told the boss, "It's gonna be short. I don't have a lot to say. But I liked it." 

Maybe it's because when I, maybe even "we", like something, it's because it hits us viscerally, emotionally, and/or mentally in a pleasing way. We like the feeling. We should, it's a nice feeling, even if the thing that hit wasn't a "nice" thing, just a "good" one. We've no need to rid ourselves of the feeling or experience. But when we read something or experienced something that we don't like - whether that be because it's bad form, bad content or just viscerally unappealing, the kind of bad that sickens - we don't want to sit with the experience. It's no longer mere experience. It's personal. The subject matter did something unpleasant to us, so we have to strike back! With words! With disdain! With judgment!

What a shame to put so much energy into hate. Hell, it's fun. We all know that. Seems to be more fodder for humor in judging bad material. But let's see...I want to tell you why I liked Batwoman in Detective Comics without being totally dry. Now - also - let's not get all ridiculously excited. I didn't love it. There's not that much there to yet fully love. It's a nice beginning or introduction and I liked it. It certainly beats the smoke out of some of the super-hero comics I've read before.

I don't love red hair. Not that it doesn't look good on you. No - I've just had my tryst with it, which started when I was 18, and ended....oh about a month ago. Just can't get rid of it. What was once striking about it and made me covetous of it when on the heads of others--that's what makes me hate it now. But it's a really smart through line of color tied across this comic. Whether she's dressed up as Batwoman or herself, her striking red hair stands out boldly on every page. What that does to the eye is more than I'm able to express accurately. But it keeps you glued to the page, that's for sure.  

I couldn't tell at first if Batwoman was "good" or "bad". I like that. I shouldn't, I think. She's another hero in the streets, so I guess it might be different for most, but for me, it read like she was another crazy in the streets, another wack-job in a costume, somebody we didn't know, somebody we couldn't. Not yet. Her methods seemed as mean and bad ass as any other hero or villain. And being, well, the Virgin Reader, still, now, forever, I wasn't sure if it was common knowledge that she was the female nemesis of Batman or something. It was sorted out quickly for me, which was good. But isn't that cool? Her introduction to the world is as a bad ass. She wasn't using her feminine wiles or some sort of "power" to influence her "vicitim," she was using strength and violence - which is really cool. I mean, in a comic book way. And then a hand, on a cheek, and that's her: I can hurt you. Because I'm your better. That hand on the face--somebody else called it a caress. I don't think so. That was the final nail. That was a victory lap.

What's entertaining is that this character walks the borderline of stereotype. A lot of aspects of this characters life made me go "oh sure, that's typical", as if being a comic book means we should ignore that you showed up late to the party. Wearing bell bottoms. For instance, she's a lesbian.

I like that she's a lesbian - it sort of fits - but one could argue what a stereotype it it is for a bad-ass superhero woman to be a lesbian. Scary strong woman, beats up men! Gotta be a lesbian, right? C'mon. But in comic book terms, I like that we find this out about her from the relationship end of things, not some gratuitous lesbian roll in the hay. And just like Batman and Superman, it's hard for Batwoman to have a normal relationship. I just loved those "bad date" panels. I love the way the other woman is drawn, and I loved her point. She's not angry at Kathy for being Batwoman, she's angry about Kathy representing herself as a person ready for a relationship. There was no need to tell her to "grow up" though. That's a little much. A simple, "I like you, but this isn't for me" would have sufficed. If you make it to the age that woman is and still haven't figured out how to end a relationship, you're the one with the problem.

Another possible stereotype? She's the daughter of a military man. (Tough women with military fathers! Moms can't raise hardcore unless the kid fights robots!) It makes sense, sure. How else would she have such training and dedication to justice, except for living with it all her life? Still, I liked the little twist here, how it's her doing the pushing while Mr. Buzzcut is telling her to take it easy. It seems to me, most of the time, that the story of the curt emotionless father and his daughter involves the daughter struggling and working for some appreciation or admiration he's incapable of giving. It didn't read that way this time. Kathy and her dad just have something in common.

Oh, and then we come to the cliffhanger ending, which apparently all these super-hero comics are legally required to build towards, every time, despite very few of them ever working to make me care enough to check in next month. Maybe this time though, I am intrigued by the way this one ended. The bad guy looks like a sexy goth doll dressed in a in a Restoration Period get-up. Just seeing how she's drawn makes me fascinated.

It's all very entertaining and honestly, even when I'm being picky, really interesting, this Detective Comics. (How is she a Detective? Is punching a diagnostic tool?) The only flash and glamour is in her flowing red hair and accessories, and the awesome drawings of her kicking ass (see Jog's review for more on that!). But all in all, it's a solid introduction, a good one. Nothing sticks out as nonsensical. It's sexual without being crass, without making me roll my eyes and hand this off to a 15-year-old for some private time. It's special. Goddammit, I liked it.

-Nina Stone, 2009

Comments

[Matthew J. Brady]

Nicely done. It's good to see a review of this that focuses on the writing rather than the art. Not that the art doesn't deserve praise, but it seems to have almost completely overshadowed what actually happens in the comic. Me, I didn't even read the damn thing, but I flipped through it in the store, so I know what it looks like. Now I know a little bit about what happens too!

Also, I like the discussion of positive vs. negative reviews. Myself, I find it easier, and probably more interesting, to talk about what I like in a comic, and why I liked it, but I totally understand the appeal of negativity. Sometimes I read something that I disliked enough to really go negative, but that seems rare. But yeah, it's good to stretch and try to convey something that you have trouble putting into words. That's what's so great about this blogging thing, isn't it?

[Jake]

What did you think of the Question back-up?

[Kenny Cather]

Nicely done, as always, Nina.

I too enjoyed the discussion of positive v negative reviews. I'm finding I enjoy the positive ones a bit more nowadays. I think because I feel capable of finding flaws on my own, but I enjoy being shown new ways to look at things.

[J.M.]

Great line there, Kenny. You summed up what I've been thinking a lot about in two simple sentences. I'm jealous. (See? I couldn't even say that in less than three sentences. Make that five. Now six. Sev- Eight.)