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Batwoman: Elegy

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"Elegy"
Cover art for the hardcover collection of Batwoman: Elegy. Art by J.H. Williams III.
PublisherDC Comics
Publication dateAugust 2009 – February 2010
Genre
Title(s)Detective Comics #854-863
Main character(s)Kate Kane/Batwoman
Colonel Jacob Kane
Alice
Kyle Abbot
Creative team
Writer(s)Greg Rucka
Penciller(s)J.H. Williams III
Letterer(s)Todd Klein
Colorist(s)Dave Stewart
Editor(s)Michael Siglain

Elegy is a 2009-2010 comic book story arc that ran in the main feature of DC Comics' flagship title, Detective Comics, from issues #854-860. It is written by Greg Rucka with artwork by J.H. Williams III, with colors by Dave Stewart and lettering by Todd Klein.[1]

The story is notable for featuring the modern incarnation of Batwoman, replacing Detective's regular feature character Batman in the wake of his apparent death in the DC event series Final Crisis.[2] Although a title had been in the planning stages since before the character's first appearance in 52, various production setbacks and DC events delayed the title until Bruce Wayne's removal from the present day DC Universe. Deemed the appropriate time, the story was placed as the main feature in Detective.[2]

Publication history

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According to series writer Greg Rucka, DC Comics had intended to do either a Batwoman ongoing or mini-series prior to the release of the year-long 52. On May 28, 2006, weeks after the debut of 52, The New York Times published an article "Straight (and Not) Out of the Comics," which examined DC Comic's latest effort "to introduce heroes who are not cut from the usual straight white male supercloth."[3] A key part of that effort, reported journalist George Gene Gustines, was "Batwoman, a lesbian socialite by night and a crime fighter by later in the night."[3]

By 52's conclusion, DC made it clear to the talent involved that the character should appear in her own book at some point.[citation needed] Rucka ended up landing the writing assignment, having written most of the Batwoman material in 52.[citation needed] Around the time of the One Year Later event, the then-editor on the Batman titles, Peter Tomasi, first said that artist J.H. Williams III and Rucka would be the best team to take on the title. After Tomasi left his position as editor, Williams and Rucka began seriously discussing where to take the story. Rucka said that he "had been doing a whole lot of pre-work on it, writing up a concept bible and things like that. Jim sat down and looked at the designs that had already been done in her prior appearances, brought up some of his design and aesthetic concerns, and then went on to do redesigns. At which point I was writing scripts."[2]

The title was announced in February 2008, although production conflicts continued to loom.[citation needed] Rucka described the title as, "the worst kept secret in comics for about two years."[citation needed] DCU Executive Editor Dan DiDio remained adamant about the title being published. Rucka said of DiDio's involvement, "He has positively backed this thing from the start, and the number of hits he's taken on this, we've lost count."[citation needed] When the Battle for the Cowl story was published, DC editorial reasoned that the climate of stories without Bruce Wayne was the most logical place to release it. As Rucka described it, "[w]ith Bruce gone, this was the time, and the suggestion was to put it in Detective. And there was precedent for it, so we figured that's great – we'll do that."[2]

Plot summary

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Batwoman battles a madwoman known only as Alice, inspired by Alice in Wonderland, who sees her life as a fairy tale and everyone around her as expendable. Batwoman must stop Alice from unleashing a toxic death cloud over all of Gotham City — but Alice has more up her sleeve than just poison, and Batwoman's life will never be the same.[4]

Reception

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The series, most notably the artwork by Williams III, received high critical acclaim. Dan Phillips of IGN Comics noted in a review of the first issue, "Any discussion of Detective Comics #854 should start with Williams' art. Williams' work is absolutely stunning, and the issue is filled with the type of eye-popping double-page sequences that tempt you to carefully disassemble the book and hang the pages on your wall. Williams is a true visionary when it comes to designing a page, and this book includes arguably his most impressive design work yet."[5]

John Bierly of popular Batman website Batman-On-Film.com praised Rucka's story, saying, "Rucka rocks, and he's bringing his "A" game here. I've never read a single comic book featuring Batwoman, and though I'll do research AFTER I write this review, I wanted to come into this as cold as possible and present the viewpoint of someone who's new to the character. I like her. A lot."[6]

The acclaim for Williams' artwork on this series was reflected with the artist's nomination for an Eisner Award for best Penciller/Inker and Best Cover Artist.[7]

Collected editions

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Title Material collected Published date ISBN Notes
Batwoman: Elegy Deluxe Edition Detective Comics #854-860 30 June 2010 978-1401226923 Hardcover; introduction by MSNBC political commentator Rachel Maddow[1][8]
Batwoman : elegy. Issue 854-860 Detective Comics #854-860 10 September 2019 978-1779503336 eBook[9][10]
Batwoman Omnibus Detective Comics #854-863, Batwoman (New 52) #0, Batwoman #0-24, Batwoman Annual #1 12 October 2021 978-1401297107 Hardcover[11][12]
Batwoman: Elegy (New Edition) Detective Comics #854-860 5 November 2024 978-1779527929 Trade paperback and eBook[13][14]
Batwoman : elegy Detective Comics #854-863 June 17 2025 978-1799501824 DC Compact Comics Edition[15][16]

A new edition was released in September 2019 with a new cover featuring Ruby Rose as Batwoman. [citation needed] [clarification needed (Is this same edition as 2019-09-10 eBook?)]

In other media

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Elements of Elegy are incorporated into the first season of the Batwoman series on The CW.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Rucka, Greg; Williams, J. H.; Hughes, Adam; Jock; Stewart, Dave; Klein, Todd (2010-06-30). Batwoman: Elegy Deluxe Edition. New York: DC Comics. ISBN 978-1-4012-2692-3.
  2. ^ a b c d Phillips, Dan (2009-06-11). "Batwoman Takes Over Detective Comics: Writer Greg Rucka discusses his work with J. H. Williams and the new direction for the clasic Dark Knight Series". IGN Comics. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2009-06-14. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  3. ^ a b Gustines, George Gene (2006-05-28). "Straight (and Not) Out of the Comics". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  4. ^ "BATWOMAN: ELEGY DELUXE EDITION". DC Comics. DC. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  5. ^ Phillips, Dan (2009-06-24). "Detective Comics #854 Review: Rucka and Williams' Batwoman vehicle proves well worth the wait". IGN Comics. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2009-06-28. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  6. ^ Bierly, John (2009-06-25). "COMIC BOOK REVIEW: DETECTIVE COMICS #854". Batman On Film. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  7. ^ DCE Editorial (2010-04-08). "The Eisner Awards Honor the DC Universe". DC's "The Source". DC. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  8. ^ "BATWOMAN: ELEGY DELUXE EDITION". DC Comics. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  9. ^ Rucka, Greg; Williams, J. H.; Stewart, Dave; Klein, Todd (2019). Batwoman : elegy. Issue 854-860. United States: DC Comics. ISBN 9781779503336.
  10. ^ "Batwoman: Elegy (New Edition)". Likewise. Watchlist Inc. 2025. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  11. ^ Williams, J. H.; Blackman, Haden; Rucka, Greg; Andreyko, Marc; McCarthy, Trevor; Reeder, Amy; Jock; Friend, Richard; Stewart, Dave (2021-10-12). Batwoman Omnibus. Burbank, CA: DC Comics. ISBN 9781401297107.
  12. ^ "Batwoman Omnibus HC". League of Comic Geeks. 2021-10-12. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  13. ^ Rucka, Greg; Williams, J. H.; Stewart, Dave; Klein, Todd (5 November 2024). Batwoman: Elegy (New Edition). Burbank, CA: DC Comics. ISBN 9781779527929.
  14. ^ Klein, Todd (2024-09-27). "Incoming: BATMAN AND BATWOMAN New Reprints". Todd's Blog. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  15. ^ Rucka, Greg; Williams, J. H.; Jock; Kolins, Scott; Stewart, Dave; Baron, David; Klein, Todd (2025). Batwoman: elegy (DC Compact Comics ed.). Burbank, CA: DC Comics (published 2025-06-17). ISBN 978-1-7995-0182-4.
  16. ^ Bevers, D. (2024-09-21). "DC Comics Solicitations for December 2024". ComixNOW. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  17. ^ Steiner, Chelsea (2019-05-16). "The Batwoman Trailer Brings Kate Kane's Origin Story to Life". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 2019-05-17.