Lesbian Super Hero Hit's the Comics, Again!

DC Comics’ highest profile lesbian character, Batwoman, will take over Detective Comics with issue #854 in a story line written by Greg Rucka and illustrated by J. H. Williams. The new story line will feature Batwoman, who was re-introduced in the eleventh issue of DC’s 52 and is timed to coincide with Batman’s “death-induced” absence from his Detective Comics series.

Batwoman first showed up in the comic world in 1956, but was later killed off in 1979. Originally named "Kathy" Kane, Batwoman was first introduced as a love interest for Batman to help dispell the rumors of his homosexuality, which came about after the book "Seduction of the Innocent" in 1954. (A bit ironic that Batwoman's incarnation is now a lesbian.)

When the character was first re-introduced in 2006 for DC's 52, Vice Pesident and Executive Editor Dan DiDio explained "This is not just about having a gay character." "We're trying for overall diversity in the DC universe. We have strong African-American, Hispanic and Asian characters. We're trying to get a better cross-section of our readership and the world."

Although DC Comics says they will proceed cautiously and gauge reaction to the character’s appearance, the series is set to run for 12 months.