10 Best New DC Characters Of The 21st Century
4. Batwoman
DC has always been a bit behind Marvel whenever it came to producing a diverse range of characters that represented modern society. Fortunately, in 2006, DC Comics debuted the new Batwoman - Kate Kane - in its weekly limited series 52. Unlike the original Batwoman - Kathy Kane - Kate is of Jewish descent and introduced as DC's first prominent lesbian character.
Prior to becoming Batwoman, Kate Kane was a cadet in a military academy. After a rumour spread that she had been having homosexual relations with another cadet, Kate refused to violate her code of lying when interrogated. By confessing, Kate Kane broke the now-defunct "Don't ask, don't tell" (DADT) policy, which effectively barred openly LGBTQ persons from the military. The pride that Kate displayed for her sexual orientation resonated dearly with the community and laid down the foundation for the character's comic book career.
Beyond her sexual orientation, Kate took the DC universe by storm with her acrid personality and no-nonsense approach to crime, carrying over her military training. Batman would eventually utilise her military experience during James Tynion IV's incredible Detective Comics run by enlisting her to train the younger members of the Bat-Family.
Although Kate's solo career hasn't been the same since Batwoman: Elegy, she continues to trailblaze her way into the mainstream with her upcoming television series as part of the Arrowverse.