Batwoman #1 Cover A First Printing 2011 NM-

Batwoman #1, published on September 14, 2011, launched the character's first-ever ongoing solo series as a flagship title in DC Comics' New 52 line. Co-written by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman, with breathtaking, Eisner-award-caliber art by Williams III, the issue kicks off the five-part "Hydrology" story arc. It is widely celebrated for its innovative, double-page panel spreads and unique visual storytelling.

Key Plot Points

• The Weeping Woman Case: Kate Kane investigates a haunting, supernatural mystery in Gotham City's barrio. A ghostly urban legend known as the Weeping Woman (La Llorona) has been physically materializing to kidnap local children, leaving a trail of drowned victims in her wake. Batwoman intervenes during one attack but is unable to stop the entity from escaping with the children.
• Family Rifts & Sidekick Training: Kate's personal life is heavily strained. She remains completely estranged from her father, Colonel Jacob Kane, following the traumatic revelation that her villainous arch-nemesis Alice was actually her long-lost twin sister, Beth. Meanwhile, her cousin Bette Kane (the former teen hero Flamebird) pushes to become her sidekick. Exhibiting her strict military discipline, Kate burns Bette's old costume and treats her like a raw recruit, naming her "Plebe" until she proves her worth.
• A New Romance: Kate visits the Gotham City Police Department, where she deals with lingering memories of her ex, Renee Montoya. However, the issue cements the early stages of a brand-new romantic spark as Kate asks out Detective Maggie Sawyer, who is leading the investigation into the missing children.
• The DEO's Shadow: In New York, the Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO) takes a threatening interest in Gotham. Director Bones officially assigns Agent Cameron Chase to find and unmask Batwoman, shifting the series' focus toward government espionage.