Batwoman (1956)

Created as a romantic interest for Batman

Batwoman was introduced in 1956 as a sort of romantic interest for Batman. The character’s alter ego, Kathy Kane, was named after Batman creator Bob Kane. This move seemed necessary because Batman apparently needed a romantic interest—and Catwoman had been banished from the comic in 1954.

That year, Dr. Fredric Wertham outted Batman and Robin as homosexuals in his book, Seduction of the Innocent in 1954. A psychiatrist, Wertham launched a campaign against comics in true McCarthy style, which resulted in congressional hearings and the adoption of the Comic Code Authority.

And Catwoman was considered too strong and too bad an influence for Batman—and for comic book audiences.

Batwoman would be joined by the first Bat-girl, her niece Betty Kane, in 1961. They, along with Bat-Mite, would be part of the Batman universe in the late 1950s and into the early 1960s. When the Batman comic was revamped in 1964, Batwoman and Bat-girl disappeared.

 

This section added 2 September 2006.