Review: Batwoman Volume 4 - This Blood is Thick

Having successfully defeated Medusa, Batwoman now faces an equally as challenging a mission – unmasking Batman. She is blackmailed by the D.E.O. into acting on their behalf to uncover Batman’s identity, but thankfully she has the help of her family and girlfriend behind her to attempt a double-cross.

Batwoman Volume 4: This Blood is Thick collects Batwoman #18-24, written by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman with art by Trevor McCarthy.

Taking a break from the supernatural mayhem that became a trademark of this series, This Blood is Thick is a more grounded approach to Batwoman and focuses on themes of familial loyalty and honesty. Our titular heroine is backed into a corner by the D.E.O. when she is forced into facing off against Batman in order to protect her family. In an effort to prevent further souring her tenuous relationship with the Dark Knight, Batwoman begrudgingly accepts help from Hawkfire and the elite Murder of Crows. This is a simpler and more straightforward narrative that does away with subplots that were common in previous arcs. Nevertheless, there are still strong character moments. I continue to be drawn to Bette/Hawkfire’s tenacity as a fledging hero and find Maggie’s loyalty to anchor the series.

There are quite a few problems I have regarding This Blood is Thick that make it less enjoyable than the previous three trades from this series. Notably, the Killer Croc interlude that splits this arc feels misplaced and immediately removes you from the flow. While Williams and Blackman used interruptive interludes before in this series, they at least centered them around the main cast and used them to develop them further. Instead, this seems like a throwaway issue created to explain how Killer Croc returned to his normal appearance. There’s also the usage of Batman’s rogues in the latter half of this arc. Their appearances are not substantive and they instead function as plot devices, which seems rather reductive considering how many times this happens in Batman-centric stories. Why use Poison Ivy or Bane if they’re just going to serve as distractions? Surely Williams and Blackman could have come up with a more creative way of drawing Batman out into a trap than just unleashing some of his baddest foes. Lastly, there’s the matter of the infamous “ending.” Since Williams and Blackman departed the series before they could conclude their run due to DC Comics’ refusal to allow Kate and Maggie to marry, the final issue in this collection ends with two nagging cliffhangers. It’s frustrating and disappointing, even if Marc Andreyko would provide the conclusion in the following trade.

There’s a slight dip in quality in Batwoman Volume 4: This Blood is Thick. I remain invested in the cast and their adventures, but find there to be less inventiveness and more missed opportunities involved in this arc. Trevor McCarthy’s art helps to provide cohesiveness and is a high point for this collection. Even still, the lack of Williams’ artwork is mildly disappointing considering this is the last batch of issues we’d ever get from this creative team. Any scene with Bette or Maggie is a standout, making both characters possibly the reason to read this collection. The selling point for non-Batwoman fans would be the showdown between the titular character and Batman (which actually ends in a cliffhanger…).

RATING: B