At what feels like infinitely long last, Kate Kane is back. And with her come all the reasons we loved this character in her award-winner of a tenure as the lead character in Detective Comics. 

Well, most of the reasons. One of Kate's story's primary architects, artist J.H. Williams III, remains at the top of his game. But he's doing double duty now, with writer Greg Rucka having Made His Marvel. I was initially concerned that perhaps the writing might not hold up without Rucka behind the words, but Williams did just fine (with a spirited script assist by frequent Star Wars comic scribe W. Haden Blackman) on last year's Batwoman #0. 

Blackman and Williams are together again on Batwoman's brand new #1, and it's a resounding "mission accomplished." Kate remains less of a superhero and more of a soldier. She walks and talks and trains and fights like one, and she'll need that resolve to face her latest case.

Kate's stories always had a bit of a supernatural bent, and the relaunch offers up a creepy legend from Mexican folklore to haunt our lovely hero. La Llorona, or "The Weeping Woman," begins the book by disappearing with a paralyzed family's children. Because for some terrifying and as-yet-unknown reason, she "needs" them. Batwoman assures the parents she'll bring their kids home. But can their "Dark Red Angel of the Night" deliver on her promise?

GCPD Detective Maggie Sawyer offers a slightly less hopeful but no less determined assurance to the couple before bumping into Kate Kane and setting up a long-awaited date. (We get just enough resolution of Kate's relationship with Renee Montoya to keep us -- and Maggie -- guessing. Well, Maggie's guessing a little less than we are, but I'll save that smooth little revelation for you to read on your own.)

And what of Kate's father, Colonel Jacob Kane, who acts as Kate's trainer, armorer, ally, and Alfred? Don't expect their relationship to be so solid in the wake of staggering revelations surrounding the origin (and apparent demise) of Batwoman's arch-enemy, Alice, created by Rucka and Williams to be Kate's Joker and Ra's Al Ghul rolled into one fairy-tale fantasy package (with some dark, dark secrets thrown in for good measure). While I realize tension creates drama, I hope things here resolve quickly. This father/daughter relationship is far more interesting when they're on the same team.

That's not the only family bond we'll revisit, either. After having discovered her cousin Bette's Flamebird identity during the Rucka run, Kate has been busy busting the girl's chops with a training regimen that would make Bruce Wayne proud. Will Bette make a worthy sidekick? Only time well tell. But they'd better work fast, because Batwoman's exploits have captured the government's attention -- and you won't believe who her caseworker is. 

Jim Gordon makes a great appearance at another Weeping Woman crime scene to pass on some wisdom to Maggie, and Williams and Blackman write their dynamic particularly well. Kate also gets a surprise visit from someone you'll be more than a little happy to see. The Batwoman/Sawyer partnership promises to be an interesting take on the classic Batman/Gordon model, trading in two stubborn but stalwart men for two beautiful women whose personal and professional relationships are bound to overlap in some sexy and unexpected ways.

Characterization and dialogue here are top notch, with Williams and Blackman doing great justice to the level of quality we were getting from Rucka. Kate makes it clear that her Batwoman gear is not a costume but a uniform, and her courage continues to match her beauty. As Batwoman or Kate, she has different sides of the same outrageously sexy and seductive quality about her, but she also remains a soldier to the core. I can't stress how much I'm in love with this character.

Horror, heroics, romance, and intrigue abound in this fabulous first issue. Just as he did in Kate's origin issues, Williams mixes up his art style. The Batwoman action looks painted and alive, while a lot of the Kate and cop stuff keeps a more comic-booky vibe. But those lines begin to blur as the mystery deepens, with Williams continuing to avoid any and all boundaries of comic book storytelling. He's creating a living, breathing world that shimmers and slivers across every page in ways that are equally engrossing and intoxicating.

Even though it capably honors everything that's come before, Batwoman #0 feels exhilarating and fresh. The pace is as lithe as Williams's pencils, and Dave Stewart balances the colors with his usual blend of instinct and skill. 

As much as I absolutely loved Action Comics #1, this has vaulted to the top of my recommendations so far for the New 52. Definitely check out the Batwoman: Elegy collection for the bulk of the Rucka run (and find the "Cutter" issues, too, which remain criminally uncollected along with Batwoman #0; those would make an awesome "Batwoman Reader," DC, and you can even call it that if you'd like). This promises to be a unique and exciting ride.

As I once said in one of my Detective Comics reviews for Batman on Film, if Kate Kane were a real woman, I'd marry her. And then she'd leave me for a woman, but that's okay. I'd still love her anyway.

Grade: A+