Spoilers Detective Comics #862 Discussion Thread (with Preview)

[heffison]

Well, if she's going to play a big role in the Batwoman ongoing, it seems natural for her to be involved in heroing. Then again, many supporting characters are civilian characters, and there's plenty Kate can help her with without Bette fighting beside her. College is hard enough, and Kate could support her with that.

michealdark

Bette doesn't know that Kate is Batwoman, right? That right there could give her an interesting spot as a person giving up the hero life talking to someone who is embracing it. Especially if Bette spills everything to Kate, and Kate isn't sure if she should do the same. That sounds a lot more interesting than the two both being costumed heroes.

I just hope Bette keeps her ears, and her decision is a personal choice rather than the result of an acquired handicap. I'm already avoiding the Arrow books and upcoming Cry for Justice League because of the wasteful arm-ripping. The Batwoman run in Detective has been terrific, but I still don't really trust DC.

[michealdark]

True, it does sound more interesting, but what exactly does she do in that case? Act as a sounding board for Kate in much the same way Alfred does for Bruce and co.?

[heffison]

True, it does sound more interesting, but what exactly does she do in that case? Act as a sounding board for Kate in much the same way Alfred does for Bruce and co.?

michealdark

Eventually, perhaps. I'd think that for a while, Kate would not be able to bounce things off of Bette without giving away her secret. She'll let some things through, Bette may start to become suspicious, or maybe Kate re-examines her career in light of how Bette is trying to leave hers behind. From there, Bette could become even more of an ally, or could oppose Kate's activities for various reasons--concern for Kate, jealousy that Kate can "hack it" and she can't, who knows--and Bette may or may not decide to put the costume back on. There's a lot of potential here that can be mined, even if the end-point way down the line is Bette becoming Kate's sidekick.

Plus, there's a possible lop-sided romantic triangle with her, Kate and Dick Grayson. A little light romantic comedy to balance out the Bat-noir?

[michealdark]

I'm not comfortable with Dick hitting on Kate really, because it makes him look stupid (swinging for the fences much?) and also seems to suggest that the attitude in DC is that homosexuality is a concious choice rather than something one's born with. That would honestly turn me off. Besides, we already know that Dick is something of a slut. Maybe it's time to wise up for him? Didn't he give the ring back to Babs with the promise that he'd come back to her someday?

I like your ideas otherwise, though.

[TTitanFan25]

I'm not comfortable with Dick hitting on Kate really, because it makes him look stupid (swinging for the fences much?) and also seems to suggest that the attitude in DC is that homosexuality is a concious choice rather than something one's born with. That would honestly turn me off. Besides, we already know that Dick is something of a slut. Maybe it's time to wise up for him? Didn't he give the ring back to Babs with the promise that he'd come back to her someday?

michealdark

Dick can hit on her all he wants, a lesbian doesn't want anything from a man. I'll only be offended if the writer has her do anything with one.

Dick and Kory all the way and the whole retconned romance with babs annoys me. He had something with Kory for over 15 years. I really hope they get back together, I liked Babs with Ted more.

[heffison]

I'm not comfortable with Dick hitting on Kate really, because it makes him look stupid (swinging for the fences much?) and also seems to suggest that the attitude in DC is that homosexuality is a concious choice rather than something one's born with. That would honestly turn me off. Besides, we already know that Dick is something of a slut. Maybe it's time to wise up for him? Didn't he give the ring back to Babs with the promise that he'd come back to her someday? I like your ideas otherwise, though.

michealdark

I can see Dick doing it more to play than to be serious. And until Kate or someone clues him in, why would he not think she might be up for mild flirting? Unless she reacts badly or asks him to stop, and she didn't.

Of course, it would make no sense for her to actually get involved with him, but for fun she might string him along a bit. Remember her very first appearance at the beginning of her first arc? She almost seduced the guy into talking. I think she was quite comfortable with using sexuality as a weapon. Why not as a toy, as well?

For the record, I prefer Dick with Starfire rather than BatOracle. His devotion to Babs felt pasted on, and not so convincing. Don't know who Kate belongs with, but if Black Alice swings that way, that could be interesting one day. At least Kate would probably be one of the few grown-ups that Alice might really like.

But didn't, or does, Bette have the hots for Grayson? I could see maybe her getting a bit jealous over the attention Dick gives Batwoman, whether it is returned or not. More fun still if she complains about it to Kate without knowing who Batwoman really is.

[Rucka]

Kate belong with Renee.

Dick doesn't know Kate's queer.

And uh...

...yeah, like that.

[jafabian]

I can see Dick doing it more to play than to be serious. And until Kate or someone clues him in, why would he not think she might be up for mild flirting? Unless she reacts badly or asks him to stop, and she didn't. Of course, it would make no sense for her to actually get involved with him, but for fun she might string him along a bit. Remember her very first appearance at the beginning of her first arc? She almost seduced the guy into talking. I think she was quite comfortable with using sexuality as a weapon. Why not as a toy, as well? For the record, I prefer Dick with Starfire rather than BatOracle. His devotion to Babs felt pasted on, and not so convincing. Don't know who Kate belongs with, but if Black Alice swings that way, that could be interesting one day. At least Kate would probably be one of the few grown-ups that Alice might really like. But didn't, or does, Bette have the hots for Grayson? I could see maybe her getting a bit jealous over the attention Dick gives Batwoman, whether it is returned or not. More fun still if she complains about it to Kate without knowing who Batwoman really is.

heffison

Agree with all your points here! And I wish Bette and Dick would interact more and have the kind of relationship that Rose and Charlie do on Two And A Half Men.

[michealdark]

Kate belong with Renee. Dick doesn't know Kate's queer. And uh... ...yeah, like that.

Rucka

Lol, yeah. I can kinda see you do something like Heffison said though. I'd be up for it so long as nothing more comes out of it.

[heffison]

Kate belong with Renee. Dick doesn't know Kate's queer. And uh... ...yeah, like that.

Rucka

I think we all got that Dick doesn't know about Kate. (Does he know Kate at all, or has he only met Batwoman? Even if he knew about Kate, Batwoman would still be a mystery to him.) In any case, Dick Grayson and Kate running around together seemed like fun so maybe we'll see him visit the Batwoman solo once in a while.

In his Nightwing costume. (I can't tell you how badly I want to see him lose the cowl and get back to his own superhero identity.)

So for Kate, Renee will always be the one she truly wants, no others need apply? Too bad for Maggie Sawyer. Does Renee belong with Kate as much as Kate belongs with Renee?

[ronniethunderbolts]

I think we all got that Dick doesn't know about Kate. (Does he know Kate at all, or has he only met Batwoman? Even if he knew about Kate, Batwoman would still be a mystery to him.)

heffison

Actually, when he helped save Kate from the Religion of Crime in 52 with Renee Dick mentioned that he had to deduce her secret identity, so if he knew about Kate, he'd know about Batman, but as Greg said, he didn't

In any case, Dick Grayson and Kate running around together seemed like fun so maybe we'll see him visit the Batwoman solo once in a while. In his Nightwing costume. (I can't tell you how badly I want to see him lose the cowl and get back to his own superhero identity.)

heffison

Couldn't agree more

[Kane_fan]

This issue kind of confirms my thoughts on Bette from what we've seen of her over the years.

I think her parents pushed her into the spotlight at an early age with beauty pageants and tennis tournaments. Bette knew nothing else and began to love a challenge. She excelled at every one of them too because she really was talented. Her challenge to meet Dick Grayson on his own turf worked out too, but not how she expected it. Through Dick Grayson she unknowingly met her greatest challenge that of a hero. Here we had Bette confident about every past goal set for her, but now faced the one that turned out meaning the most to her.

Bette began to question herself for the first time and tended to overcompensate for it by being over the top at times. Her “talk” with Dick Grayson in the Beast Boy mini had Bette reexamine her role in the hero community and she became more focused and confident. Here in Detective Comics Bette seems to be wondering if she really has what it takes.