As children begin to go missing from one of Gotham City's poorer neighbourhoods, Batwoman discovers that a sinister supernatural force is behind the abductions. With tensions mounting, she must evade the Gotham City Police Department and the Department of Extranormal Operations in order to return the children safely to their homes.
Then, Batwoman contemplates joining Batman Incorporated as she juggles training her cousin Bette to become her partner with a new relationship with GCPD Inspector Maggie Sawyer.
Batwoman Volume 1: Hydrology collects Batwoman #0-5 and features the creative team of J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman.
Hydrology is a magnificent continuation of Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III's critically-acclaimed Detective Comics run starring Batwoman. It picks up shortly after the events of Elegy and features the titular heroine struggling to cope with the apparent death of her twin sister. Kate's relationship with her father has become strained and she's grown increasingly impatient with her cousin Bette. Rather than deal with her familial issues, Kate throws herself into her work and begins an investigation into a series of kidnappings. She also begins dating Maggie Sawyer. Kate's avoidance in dealing with her personal problems creates palpable tension within the narrative and bubbles up in order to heighten the drama. Additional subplots involving Batman and the DEO create intrigue as Kate is forced to make a series of decisions that could help or hinder her ability to fight crime in Gotham City. This layered narrative establishes a complexity to the storyline while also increasing the stakes.
There is much to admire about Hydrology's storyline and characters. I love that La Llorona, one of my favourite urban legends, serves as the primary antagonist. The visual motifs used for her character are haunting and enhance how menacing she is. The fact that La Llorona is a supernatural figure helps to distinguish Batwoman from the rest of the Batman Family as the others tend to face off against human foes. Furthermore, the character work that supports the narrative is impressive. J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman aren't afraid to portray Kate as flawed and for that they should be applauded. She's seen as warm and funny while around Maggie, but she also pushes her family away and is unfairly antagonistic towards her cousin. This makes Kate all the more relatable and human to readers. Furthermore, we get fantastic dialogue all around. Whether it's the tender conversation between Kate and Maggie or the many snappy retorts from Cameron Chase, the scripting is electric in Hydrology and establishes each character's voice in a distinctive manner.
J.H. Williams III's artwork is absolutely stunning. He utilizes expansive splash pages and shapes each panel creatively in order to convey the emotion of the scene. Often we can understand Kate's mental state by how the individual panels are drawn. In scenes where Kate seems happy and at ease, particularly those while she's with Maggie, Williams III employs traditional boxed panels that are drawn cleanly. When Kate is upset or agitated, such as during a heated argument with her father, the panels become askew and are given a frantic energy. Furthermore, every single inch of his pages is brimming with detail, leaving not one space for a reader not to examine or pull meaning from. One of the most breathtaking sequences involves the juxtaposition of Kate and Maggie's first intimate encounter with Flamebird's brutal beatings at the hands of a villain. The cool grayscale images of Kate's ecstasy contrast sharply against the aggression of the hot-hued violent imagery. Lastly, he is to be commended for how iconically he renders Batwoman. From her inky costume to her gargoyle-like mask, she's absolutely striking in every appearance she makes in Hydrology.
Batwoman Volume 1: Hydrology is damn well near flawless. It has a tightly plotted narrative with complex characters and an engrossing noir aesthetic. The supernatural elements are absolutely brilliant and J.H. Williams III's rich artwork only serve to bring a level of eeriness to them.The accessibility of Hydrology is a little debatable since it's steeped in a continuity previously established in Detective Comics,so it might require reading Batwoman: Elegy to contextualize everything. Otherwise, this collection is an incredibly affecting read and is quite possibly the start of one of the best creative runs from DC Comics' New 52 initiative.
RATING: A+
There is much to admire about Hydrology's storyline and characters. I love that La Llorona, one of my favourite urban legends, serves as the primary antagonist. The visual motifs used for her character are haunting and enhance how menacing she is. The fact that La Llorona is a supernatural figure helps to distinguish Batwoman from the rest of the Batman Family as the others tend to face off against human foes. Furthermore, the character work that supports the narrative is impressive. J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman aren't afraid to portray Kate as flawed and for that they should be applauded. She's seen as warm and funny while around Maggie, but she also pushes her family away and is unfairly antagonistic towards her cousin. This makes Kate all the more relatable and human to readers. Furthermore, we get fantastic dialogue all around. Whether it's the tender conversation between Kate and Maggie or the many snappy retorts from Cameron Chase, the scripting is electric in Hydrology and establishes each character's voice in a distinctive manner.
Batwoman Volume 1: Hydrology is damn well near flawless. It has a tightly plotted narrative with complex characters and an engrossing noir aesthetic. The supernatural elements are absolutely brilliant and J.H. Williams III's rich artwork only serve to bring a level of eeriness to them.The accessibility of Hydrology is a little debatable since it's steeped in a continuity previously established in Detective Comics,so it might require reading Batwoman: Elegy to contextualize everything. Otherwise, this collection is an incredibly affecting read and is quite possibly the start of one of the best creative runs from DC Comics' New 52 initiative.
RATING: A+
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