Saturday, March 27, 2021

Batwoman and Daughters of the Dragon

 


The CW's Batwoman series has been losing even more viewers in its second season, and I'm not really surprised.  Javicia Leslie is a better actress that Ruby Rose was, but the switch in lead characters is not enough to overcome the sub-par writing on the show.  A much better take on Batwoman can be found in the somewhat overlooked Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman animated movie.   The 2003 adventure has a great identity reveal, which I won't spoil here if you have not watched it yet.

26 comments:

Harry Tzvi Keusch said...

I have always loved the Daugthers of the Dragon, since their first appearance (at least with this name) in Marvel Team Uo # 64. Chris Clairmont and John Byrne did great work on that title, but it is often overlooked by their X-men work.

betajoe4306 said...

the batman animated movie mystery of the batwoman had a great song it it too! betcha' never great song....loved it!!!!

Crazy Ivan said...

I'd like to see Misty and Colleen take on Talia and Lady Shiva... and maybe throw in Lady Deathstryke so Batwoman has a sparring partner.

Daviticus said...

So...Matches Malone, huh...? ;)

Christopher Daley said...

Great pairing (tripling?), Ross

Bob Greenwade said...

This ought to be interesting, given that Matches Malone is basically Bruce Wayne's "third" identity!

I agree with you about Javica being a better actress than Ruby; Ruby was at least acceptable as Kate, though she wasn't nearly as good as some of the other things I've seen her in (most notably a guest shot on Dark Matter). Even so, I can't really fault the writing, given some of the restrictions DC has put on the Arrowverse, and even more so Ruby's abrupt decision to leave while the story arc interrupted by the pandemic was still under way. What trouble there's been with the dialogue has been things that are pretty standard in both TV and comics (like holding a conversation while fighting, and expository lines like "Since you got here three years ago..."), and while that's something that needs to be fixed, the cast has made it seem relatively normal.

But now we have a recast Kate Kane, with implications that have yet to be explored.

(And speaking of restrictions on the Arrowverse, DC really needs to give Greg Berlanti the same "go ahead, do what you want" green-light that Marvel gave to Kevin Feige.)

As for the Daughters of the Dragon, those are two more character whom I hope are not recast once they appear in new MCU projects. Jessica Henwick was a little weak as Colleen Wing at first (possibly due to writing), but came into it well enough; Simone Missick was dead-on from the start. I'd love to see them return in a Disney+ show after Charlie Cox makes his official appearance as Matt Murdock in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

The Man in Black said...

There is a Batman Brave and the Bold episode where Batman accidentally get stuck in his Matches Malone identity and the Birds of Prey had to face him which was hard because he really is Batman!

Glenn said...

Sounds like a set up for 2 parter. I have both electronic and DVD of the Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman animated movie and it still has not gotten old. "Chase Me" is a great Batman/Catwoman mini film on DVD.

Matches Malone has never been featured on The Lost Issues and would be good cover.

Anonymous said...

I would say the sub-par writing, for all the Arrowverse shows, began with the depiction of Lena Luthor turning to alcoholism. That's when I ceased watching "Supergirl" altogether. And just plain boycotted the "Batwoman" premier.

Don't even get me started on their current recycling of past TV series!

Bob Greenwade said...

Matches Malone on a cover with one of Moon Knight's lesser-known personalities would be awesome! (Or maybe if some other Marvel hero has a "triple identity," though I can't think of any offhand.)

Ross said...

Matches appears on the cover of STF #3024 - Citizen V and Batman's Villains

Carycomic said...

I agree with Glenn. Given that Malone was first introduced during the now-classic pre-Crisis debut of Ra's Al Ghul, it stands to reason that the DOTD might want to recruit him for a mission against someone equivalent. Like, say, Master Khan?

Carycomic said...

Or even Shang Chi's old man?

Carycomic said...

Of course, if those two suggestions aren't do-able, then how about Daughters of the Dragon meet Richard Dragon?

Horsefeathers flying high said...

BGs, Oh Mike Murdoch You're such a great kidder! Now go play with Foggy.

Role Call, Banner, Bruce,, Banner, David,, Banner, Robert Bruce,, say, am I having vision problems?

don't you forget the Lone Ranger, John, and the miner.
"It's just an old miner." "But he has such a fast draw!"

Good thing everyone's on one Earth now. There's been so many more crossovers now.
??? ???? ???

Anonymous said...

@Horsereathers: not if a sper-powered Jon Luthor (or is it Lex Crybaby?) has his way.

Comment Deleted Could Not Have said...

Batwoman has shown what great value there is to being a paragon!!!!!!!!
Batwoman(?) is dead so far. Kingdom Come Superman was displaced. Supergirl is coming to an end and her dad was killed by Wreck it Lex and she has no idea about that.
Flash, Martian Manhunter, and the Professor and Maryann-Sarah were all here on the new Universe Earth getting their heads on straight. Oliver helped them usher in this?
Spectre666-tacular!!

Carycomic said...

@Comment Delete Ed: English translation, por favor?

Bob Greenwade said...

@Cary: You're confused by that, but you got what Horsefeathers said???

Glenn said...

Sorry for missing Matches. I looked in the index and while I think I have seen each cover I do not remember that one.

Ross said...

To be fair, he was uncredited.

Comment Deleted Could Not have said...

Bob and Gary, There once was a Crisis. It was fought by Paragons for the good guys. The Paragons were supposed to be very important for the sake of the universes. Yet they were easily replaced or killed off. So much for the importance of being a Paragon.
Lex set up the Danvers father to be killed by the woman who thought Lex was helping her so much. Kara has no idea of what happened.
And these are the beings who helped spectre Oliver jump start the new universe.
incredible.

Comment Deleted still Couldn't Have said...

I imagine Feathers was trying to answer Bob's comment of - (Or maybe if some other Marvel hero has a "triple identity," though I can't think of any offhand.)
early Daredevil, Hulk's various id's and John Reid's regular disguises?

Bob Greenwade said...

CDCN: As I noted, what's been going on with Kate was necessitated by Ruby Rose's decision to leave the show, and we just learned, both on the show and in formal announcement, that the character isn't dead, but recast.

And Lex replacing Superman-78 wasn't "easily" done; it took writing in the Book of Fate (I forget its proper name).

Carycomic said...

@Bob: I saw the trailer for the first new episode of SUPERGIRL coming to CW since the start of the pandemic. I sighed in frustration, as a result.

Brother Kellymatthew said...

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