Masculinity In Kate Kane's Batwoman Elegy

In Batwoman Elegy, by Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams, Kate Kane is aware that there is a set of rules she has to follow in taking up the bat moniker, however, she also uses her military experience, paternal mentor, and cunning to alter the rules to her advantage. Batwoman is, in essence, a part of the bat family and therefore must fit into the Bat-mythology. Kate Kane adheres to many aspects of Batman's code, she does not kill, seeks for the triumph of good over evil, and will go to nearly any end in the name of justice. Batwoman is more than a facet of the Batman mythology however, she has her own morals and rules that she must follow. While she adheres to the main rules that Batman has created for himself, she has created her own version of …show more content…
While not complying with femininity in a stereotypical sense in many ways, Kate performs her part of Batwoman in a way that is a complete divergence from the expected Batman narrative. Part of what makes Batman the hero he is, is his overwhelming masculinity, whereas, Batwoman manages to show strength in her femininity. Rather than bands of rippling muscle, Batwoman is lean strength. In all of her crime-fighting montages, it can be observed that her flexibility and quickness are just as effective as pure muscle. (1.19-20) Batwoman fights like a woman, not using brute strength, but by using her cunning, training and agility. While there have been other female fighters in the Batman saga, they are usually seen as the evil figure such as Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn. This negative view of the women in the franchise creates a misogynistic view of Batman and his mythology. Batwoman overcomes this by being a strong crime fighter who needs no aid from a man to make the right choices. Kate Kane herself is a strong ex-cadet who has overcome great personal losses that have made her much stronger rather than weaken her. She is the picture of a strong woman who does what is right, not what is