A Brief History of Batwoman

A New BATWOMAN monthly comic book will debut in a few weeks as part of the DC Comics "New 52" reboot/relaunch. Let's take a quick look back at the history of this semi-obscure character.The DC Comics character Batwoman has always been one of my favorites, mostly because she was basically a D-List superheroine.

Kathy Kane was introduced in Detective Comics #233 (July 1956) and spent most of her short-lived crimefighting career trying to romantically woo the Dark Knight Detective.She was often doomed.
Paired with Bat-Mite.
Forced into being a surrogate mother to Robin.
Batman also saw her as the competition.
Kathy was later joined by her niece Betty in 1961 as the first Bat-Girl. Kathy and Betty were intended to be romantic interests of Batman and Robin, respectively - to fend off rumors that the caped crusaders were gay lovers.Like Lois Lane, she sometimes developed super-powers when the story called for it.And took part in some of the more bizarre Batman adventures.

She faced many unusual challenges.

Batwoman, as well as Bat-Girl, and other silly characters like Ace the Bat-Hound, and the fore-mentioned Bat-Mite pretty much disappeared from comics by the early 1960s.

Kathy was more or less replaced by Barbara Gordon's much more popular Batgirl during the height of the ABC TV series in last third of that decade.

Kathy resurfaced briefly in the late 1970s as a member of The Batman Family.

Ms. Kane became the owner of a circus after retiring from crimefighting.

Batwoman donned her costume for a few new adventures in the DC Universe–

including a team-up with Batgirl and The Freedom Fighters!

But Kathy's comeback was destined to be short-lived, and she was brutally killed by The Ras Al Ghul's League of Assassins in Detective Comics #485 (September 1979).

Her neice, Betty was renamed Bette after Crisis on Infinite Earths and later joined the Titans as Flamebird.

Years later, Batwoman made a ghostly cameo appearance in The Kingdom: Planet Krypton, in which she is one of many "lost" DC characters that haunt a superhero-themed restaurant.

Other Elseworlds and alternative versions of Batwoman have appeared in recent years, only appearing once or twice. Another Batwoman appeared in the animated film BATMAN: MYSTERY OF THE BATWOMAN. Here Batwoman is actually three different women, one of them is named Cathy Duquesne (pronounced "du-kane").

Batman writer/editor Denny O'Neil hinted for years that a new Batwoman was on her way in the late 1980s/early 90s - but that never happened. Most likely the character evolved into the third Batgirl (Cassandra Cain, no relation) who was introduced after Gordon became paralysed in The Killing Joke and transformed herself into Oracle in the pages of Suicide Squad, and later Birds of Prey. Now, many years later, Barbara Gordon will be returning to the role of Batgirl as part of the DC reboot/relaunch.

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A brand new Kate Kane was finally introduced to the DCU in the 7th issue of a wonderful weekly maxi-series called 52 (July 2006), becoming the new Batwoman in issue #11 (also July 2006). Kate was now cast as former Gotham police officer Renee Montoya's ex-lover and heiress to one of the wealthiest families in Gotham City.Batwoman and Renee (now the new Question) subsequently got involved with Intergang, the Crime Bible and all sorts of danger during 52, and two follow-up miniseries. This new, improved version of Batwoman debuted as the lead character in Detective Comics (with Renee's Question providing back-up support), coming full circle and bumping her up to the A-List at last. She also briefly joined a new version of the Justice League! It's a interesting footnote that Detective Comics, the title which DC Comics gets its name from costarred TWO lesbian superheroes. In a recent issue of BATMAN INC., Batwoman has an interesting encounter with the "ghost" of the first Batwoman.
A new BATWOMAN #0 appeared a few months back, with the monthly solo series delayed until the big September reboot/relaunch. With stunning art by J.H. Williams III, this is on my shortlist of the new titles I will be buying. You've come a long way, Batwoman.

Getting PRETTY All Over Again

Hi readers, new posts will be a bit sparse here for the next week or so as I am deep into production on a the third season of PRETTY - the hit, award-winning web series that I am one of the producers (and production designer) of. The new season stars 5 of the original cast members (Sam Pancake, Stacy McQueen, Dee Freeman, Terri Simmons and Michael Taylor Gray). Joining the regular cast fulltime is last season's guest star Kirsten Vangsness (CRIMINAL MINDS). Returning guest stars this season include Denise Alexander (GENERAL HOSPITAL, ANOTHER WORLD)), Melissa Peterman (REBA, THE SINGING BEE) and the hysterical stage actress Madeline Long. New guest stars include Genie Francis (GENERAL HOSPITAL, YOUNG & THE RESTLESS), Martha Byrne (AS THE WORLD TURNS), Mary Beth Evans (DAYS OF OUR LIVES, THE BAY), Melanie Hutsell (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, BRIDESMAIDS), Anthony Anderson (ANACOSTIA), Brendan Bradley (SQUATTERS) and Kevin Stea (NAKED BOYS SINGING)! Plus more delicious cover versions of our award-winning theme song, "Gumdrop the Unicorn". There are plenty of twists and turns ahead for the Champagne family this season, so to catch up, you should check out the first two seasons here. Thanks!

More Random TV GUIDE Ads - HERE'S LUCY

Continuing my little tribute to Lucy on her 100th birthday, here's a couple of great TV GUIDE ads for HERE'S LUCY.
First up, Desi Jr. is making a porno and mom's in the cast! Well, that's what the brilliant minds at CBS wanted us to think. Actually the concept of Desi Jr. making porn puts him years ahead of Dick Smothers Jr., who took that career path in real life. Though Dick appeared in front of the camera, as well as behind. That's a subject for an entirely different blog post. Shades of Helen Wood/Dolly Sharp. Anyways, back to Lucy.

This second ad is mostly great because of the font known as Braggadocio. This stencil-based type style was introduced in the 1930s, but made a big resurgence in the late 1960s and early 1970s. As a child I often practiced drawing this font, most notably due to my obsession with the Motown "M".

Wow. Can't believe I just linked Lucy with Motown. Sort of. Back to the ad: guest Johnny Carson jumps networks to appear as himself on HERE'S LUCY. I think that was a rarity back then. In the days of the "big three" networks there were celebrities who were loyal to certain networks - only appearing on that particular one. Bob Hope and Johnny Carson on NBC, Lucy and Carol Burnett on CBS, Dick Clark and Dick Cavett on ABC. Over the years this changed, but usually when someone guest starred on a sitcom, it was someone who was appearing on that very same network. I'm sure someone out there will write to me proving me wrong, but that's how I remember it. There you have it - porn, Motown and fonts. Happy birthday, Lucy!

Where's Lucy?

In honor of Lucille Ball's 100th birthday, here's a repost. While many people love Lucy Ricardo and her "Ricky...I wanna be in the show" antics and some people prefer Lucy Carmichael and her ongoing battle with Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) - I was always drawn to Lucy Carter, the middle-aged widow stuck in a generation gap with her two mod teen-agers.
That's right, America. You can keep your I LOVE LUCYs, LUCY-DESI COMEDY HOURs (now syndicated as WE LOVE LUCY) and your LUCY SHOWs, I'm a HERE'S LUCY kinda guy. Yes, I know the first series is an absolute classic and the hour-long follow-up series is quite charming, but the Lucy I grew up with (I was 4 years old when HERE'S LUCY premiered on CBS) will always be my favorite.

From it's brilliant animated opening sequence to it's ridiculously asinine plots, there's always been something about this version that spoke to me. After the show left CBS in 1974 (when MAUDE took over it's timeslot - something I'm sure made Vera Charles very happy-that's a MAME reference), daytime reruns continued until 1977. Back in those days the 3 networks often reran prime-time comedies as part of their daytime line-ups, usually airing before game shows in the morning or after the soaps in the afternoon.

The show was essentially a continuation of THE LUCY SHOW which ran on CBS from 1962 til 1968. THE LUCY SHOW was #2 in the ratings, but Lucille Ball wanted to make some changes. Having recently sold Desllu, Miss Ball set up her own production company and tinkered with the show's format. Lucy Carmichael became Lucy Carter and now lived in Los Angeles and worked for her brother-in-law Harry at the Unique Employment Agency - thereby giving her many opportunities to interact with guest stars (either playing themselves or characters).

HERE'S LUCY was syndicated in the early 1980s, and in New York it aired back-to-back with the MARY TYLER MOORE show on NBC affiliate WNBC, channel 4 in the 4-5PM slot. Reruns were later relegated to the wee hours of the morning. Often airing at 3 or 4 AM.. After this run, I thought I'd never see the show again.

In 2004, Shout! Factory released a 24-episode "best of" set which featured episodes from the series entire run as well as many fun and informative extras. It was great to see Lucy Carter, her kids Kim (Lucie Arnaz) and Craig (Desi Arnaz Jr.) again along with their cantankerous Uncle Harry (again, the usually over-the-top Gale Gordon) and the cavalcade of guest stars that parade through Lucy Carter's living room. This collection kept me wanting more, but it seemed like Shout! Factory didn't plan on following up with any further releases, so I had to suffice with my memories of the rest of the series' episodes.

Later MPI gained the rights to the series and began putting the show out in season sets.

With guest stars including Jack Benny, Jackie Gleason, Shelley Winters (in a story about her weight!), Eva Gabor, Wayne Newton, Vivian Vance, Wally Cox, Carol Burnett, Van Johnson and Cesar Romero - the show is a star-studded exercise in stunt-casting. The outrageous plotlines, corny pop culture references and silly sight gags add up to a noisy, but lovable treat.

In many ways, HERE'S LUCY was a bridge between the innocent sitcoms of the 50s and 60s and the youth-oriented shows of the early 70s. Having her talented teens on board for the series gave the show plenty of reasons to invoke references to pop music of the day and other youth-oriented fads and trends. In the first 20 episodes, there have been at least three references to spies and/or secret agents.

You have to hand it to Lucy. She found a way to keep her show fresh, but yet familiar enough to not scare away her loyal fans who still tuned in for her hilarious hijinks and predictable pratfalls. Ms. Ball was 57 when the series began and was supposedly playing a character in her 40s. There's even a joke in one episode referring to the actress in YOURS, MINE & OURS (played by Lucy) being too young to cast opposite Henry Fonda. Yes, Lucy was a bit long-in-the-tooth to be doing some of the same schtick she had been doing almost 20 years earlier, but the gal had spunk. Though the character Lucy Carter can sometimes be exasperating and shrill, the show is somehow comforting. I'm not sure if it's the garish mustard furniture in Lucy's home or the well-place antique props in Uncle Harry's office, but the detail to production design was something that I remembered noticing even as a child.

Episode #18, filmed entirely on location at Los Angeles Airport, is a standout because it looks like a short film rather than a typical sitcom episode. Now if someone would only put LIFE WITH LUCY out on DVD! For more Lucy fun, check out STONE PILLOW.

More Random TV GUIDE Ads - MADAME SIN

The legendary Bette Davis starred in this madcap pilot for a weekly series that never materialized. The reference to a Bond villain in the headline is no coincidence since this British-produced thriller was designed to TV's version of 007. Davis' supporting cast included Robert Wagner and a bevy of Brits including Denholm (A ROOM WITH A VIEW) Elliot, Gordon (UPSTAIRS,  DOWNSTAIRS) Jackson and Catherine (SPACE: 1999) Schell. It would have been interesting to see Bette chew the scenery each week as a madwoman achieving world domination. Note: this was many years before Oprah took on this role.

More Random TV GUIDE Ads - MAKIN' IT

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER brought disco and Italian-Americans together creating the "guido" movement, which still lingers on in certain places (witness MTV's overhyped JERSEY SHORE "phenomenon"). Two years later, ABC decided to cash in on the East Coast disco craze with MAKIN' IT - a Garry Marshall concoction starring non-Italian Dr. Pepper jingle crooner David Naughton as Billy Manucci, who worked at a New Jersey ice cream parlor by day and danced at the Inferno disco by night. Cast as Mrs. Manucci, we have John Travolta's sister (and Lily Tomlin lookalike) Ellen. The show lasted only nine episodes, but it's theme song (by Naughton) reached #5 on the charts! Following MAKIN' IT on the ABC schedule was WHAT'S HAPPENING!!

More Random TV GUIDE Ads - FEMALE ON THE BEACH

Wow! Talk about Pop Art - this Warhol/Lichtenstein mash-up is a wild way to promote a 1955 sudser starring Joan Crawford as a cougar and Jeff Chandler as her younger beach bum boyfriend. It's "GIDGET in a girdle" as 50-year old Crawford romances 37-year old Chandler. The designer of this awesome ad also chose a font that paid homage to Joan Crawford's role as a member of the board of directors of Pepsi Cola. Jeff Chandler was an up and coming leading man who transitioned from western roles to straight drama, all while headlining in Las Vegas as a song and dance man. Esther Williams claims that the married actor and her had an torrid affair, but she called it off when she found out he had a thing for wearing womens' clothing. Sadly Chandler would die only 6 years later after making FEMALE ON THE BEACH after a botched back surgery.

More Random TV GUIDE Ads - CHiPs

Before email, Facebook and twitter, NBC came up with the unique way to gage fans' reaction to their new show, CHiPs.
A closer look.

More Random TV GUIDE Ads - THE INVISIBLE MAN

Wow - I guess the advertising wizards at NBC back then decided against the whole "wrapped in gauze" look for THE INVISIBLE MAN. Nice turtleneck, though...and talk about your lazy taglines - "You're Gonna Like It A Lot!". Oh, thanks NBC, what are you reading my mind now, too?

More Random TV GUIDE Ads - THE POPEYE SHOW

Turn Us On, We'll Turn YOU on..with Popeye dressed as a sheriff - while Olive and Bluto disco dance in the background. I don't know about you, but I'm REALLY turned on now...

More Random TV GUIDE Ads - THREESOME

The year is 1984 and CBS airs this provocatively-titled TV-movie. Having never seen it (or actually heard of it until I came across this tawdry TV Guide ad) - I can only assume that the three actors pictured here never actually take part in a "three-way". In fact, I'm willing to bet my TV Guide collection that the concept of them all sleeping together doesn't even come up. Of course this should not be confused with THREESOME, Andrew Fleming's 1994 amusing theatrical film where Lara Flynn Boyle and Josh Charles DO have a three-way...with pre-Born Again Christian Stephen Baldwin. Praise Jesus!

More Random TV GUIDE Ads - King Kong vs. Charles Manson

What a bizarre pairing of films in one TV GUIDE ad. The cinematic classic and the concluding part of the Charles Manson TV-movie. The only thing that could make this better is if there was a headline referring to them both as animals.

More Random TV GUIDE Ads - Political Science Fiction Double Feature

Nothing goes better with a shaggy dog story than political satire. In fact, this ABC FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIE DOUBLE FEATURE could be more timely in 2011 than anyone ever thought. First up, FOR THE LOVE ON BENJI - in which America's favorite stray somehow gets lost in Athens, Greece! That's right - Benji is forced to live on the streets in poverty in the ruins of the Acropolis! With Greece in the news these days because of a bankrupt government and rampant poverty, looks like Benji should have took a holiday elsewhere. Meanwhile back in the states, Uncle Sam has also run out of money - and the government decides to hold a telethon to raise cash in AMERICATHON. In addition to the US becoming in debt over our heads  to foreign leaders, this 1979 feature also predicted: Nike becoming an international conglomerate, China embracing capitalism, Vietnam becoming a tourist destination, the collapse of the USSR and other trends like reality TV and smoking bans. This forgotten all-star gem is now available on DVD via the WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION. So there you go, an ABC Double Feature that predicted the future!

More Random TV GUIDE Ads - BARE ESSENCE

This show had everything going for it. It was based on a popular blockbuster miniseries, it had an all-star cast (that included GENERAL HOSPITAL sensation Genie Francis, lovely film actress Jennifer O'Neill, YOUNG & THE RESTLESS diva JAMIE LYN BAUER and the always wonderful Jessica Walter) and a plum time slot on NBC's spring schedule following the Top 10 hit THE A TEAM and before the critically acclaimed ST. ELSEWHERE. Unfortunately after a few weeks NBC moved the show to Fridays, which was then ruled by CBS's line-up of DUKES OF HAZZARD, DALLAS and FALCON CREST. With FC on hiatus, NBC expected soap fans to switch over from Texas oil to the scandalous perfume industry. The show was gone in less than 12 weeks. On a side note, Genie Francis has just signed on to be a guest star in the third season of PRETTY, the web series which I am a producer of! I will be sure to ask her about BARE ESSENCE. :)