In August 1960, Batman’s exploits included yet another alien jaunt in Batman's Interplanetary Rival! (Detective Comics 282).
Over in his own title, the Masked Manhunter embarked on The Voyage of the S.S. Batman, thwarted the Crimes of the Kite-Man and watched as the secondary characters Bat-Mite and Batwoman took center stage in Batwoman's Publicity Agent! (Batman 133).
Some have suggested that Batwoman and the first Bat-Girl were introduced to mute McCarthy-era allegations that Batman and Robin were a homosexual wish fulfillment fantasy.
If so, then the 21st century reintroduction of Batwoman as a lesbian brought the whole situation full circle, ironically.
Batwoman, Bat-Girl, Ace the Bat-Hound, Bat-Mite and various other batty ideas were discarded with Batman’s streamlined “New Look” in 1964, purportedly in the interests of “realism.” But a mere three years later, the Batwoman concept was revisited and revamped for another visual medium, providing a boost for the Batman TV show.
In comics and on the show, Commissioner Gordon’s daughter Barbara became the mysterious Batgirl (no hyphen). She’s by far the best known of the surprisingly numerous Bat-females (a group that also includes Catwoman, the Huntress and yet another Batgirl, Cassandra Cain).
The original Batwoman was Kathy Kane, a wealthy former circus daredevil with a yen for adventure. Swinging from a trapeze, she muses, “I wish I could be like Batman, the greatest acrobat of all! He uses his skill, not for shows, but against crime!”
Donning a yellow-and-red costume and riding a Bat-cycle, she was an effective crime-fighter, although her tactics were weirdly “girly.” She captured crooks with feminine gadgets from her “utility purse” — expanding hairnets, charm bracelet handcuffs, “Tear Gas No. 5,” etc.
Given the tenor of the times, Batman, Robin and Superman were, of course, perpetually condescending to her.
“This is no place for a girl,” Batman told her in her debut adventure. “Please let me handle it!”
“No, I’ll stay, Batman,” she replied saucily. “I might have to save YOU again!”
Melody Ivins wrote, "Boggling over the absurdly feminine anti-crime gadgets assigned to Batwoman. And a utility purse? She'd have to not only keep up with it but also rummage through the contents to find the right item — not very effective during battle."
ReplyDeleteWell, it had a shoulder strap, Melody. A BAT shoulder strap, no less.
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