The Batwomen of Two Worlds Collide in ‘Batman Incorporated’ #4 [UPDATED]

Batwoman fans had better pay attention to this preview of Batman Incorporated, for the new issue is the last place you'll see the enigmatic Kate Kane for several months. On sale this week from DC Comics, issue #4 of Batman, Inc. depicts the first proper meeting between Bruce Wayne's Batman and Kate Kane's Batwoman, as well as the return of Kathy Kane, the original Batwoman who hasn't been seen in years.

Written by Grant Morrison with artwork by newly DC-exclusive artist Chris Burnham, Batman, Incorporated #4 has been long awaited by readers for a number of reasons. Firstly, the issue features the first face-to-face encounter of Bruce Wayne's Batman and Kate Kane's Batwoman. Amusingly, they have crossed paths before, but never in an open or upfront way (insofar as people in masks can do anything in open and upfront way). Batman met Kane in her civilian identity in a story now collected as Batwoman: Elegy, and a disguised Batman investigated the Batwoman in Batwoman #0, going so far as to allow her to beat him up.

Secondly, Batman Incorporated #4 sees the return of Kathy Kane, the original Batwoman from the DC Comics of the 1950s and 1960s. Obliquely referenced here and there over the years, this is the character's first appearance in proper continuity for decades. Writer Grant Morrison has suggested in interviews that Batman incorporated #4 is the story of how Kathy Kane became Batwoman, and how Gaucho, the Batman of Argentina, "stole" her from Bruce Wayne.

The launch date of J.H. Williams III's ongoing Batwoman series is increasingly nebulous, but reports from last weekend's C2E2 put it sometime in the fall. As such, Batman Incorporated #4 is the last place you'll see Kate Kane for quite a while, so eat it up when it releases this week.

Apologies for the illegibility of many of the captions in this preview. We will update the images if and when cleaner versions are provided.

BATMAN INCORPORATED #4 (Comic - On Sale March 23, 2011)

Written by GRANT MORRISON

Art by CHRIS BURNHAM

Cover by JH WILLIAMS

Variant cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
Superstar writer Grant Morrison and artist Yanick Paquette have sent The Dark Knight on a trip to Japan and Argentina, but now Batman's taking a brief breather back in his home base of Gotham City for a team-up with Batwoman! ~~And don't miss the first issue of BATWOMAN's new monthly series, on sale this...~~