Pre-Final Crisis (2006)
Kate Kane’s Batwoman first appeared in 52 #7 (2006). Soon after her first appearance, her former girlfriend Renee Montoya learned, via Intergang’s Crime Bible, of a prophecy that the “twice-named daughter of Cain” would be murdered. Kate worked with Montoya (as the second vigilante known as The Question) in thwarting Intergang’s plans. During Batman’s disappearance after FINAL CRISIS, Kate played a greater role in defending Gotham City, beginning with DETECTIVE COMICS #854 (2009).
The “Elegy” storyline found Kate hunting down Intergang, operating under its new “Religion of Crime.” Little was known at first of Kate’s past, but here her backstory was slowly revealed. She discovered the Religion of Crime’s Lewis Carroll-fixated leader/“High Madame” Alice was her long-thought-dead sister Beth. She stopped Alice/Beth from poisoning Gotham with a toxic gas, but at the cost of once more losing her sister. “Elegy” also introduced Kate’s cousin, Bette Kane, whom she would train to be the Super Hero Flamebird.
New 52
Unlike that of many DC Super Heroes, most of Batwoman’s history was not rebooted in the New 52 universe. Instead, after the events of “Elegy,” Kate Kane joined Batman Incorporated and helped the organization take down Talia al Ghul, who’d taken control of the League of Assassins after the death of her father, Ra’s al Ghul. Kate also maintained a relationship in her own series (BATWOMAN, 2011) with another law woman—Maggie Sawyer.
Kate and Maggie’s relationship led to an engagement, but dissolved due to irreconcilable differences before they could be married. Afterwards, a despondent Kate was manipulated into a relationship by the vampire seductress Nocturna, until she broke free to battle Morgan Le Fey as the leader of short-lived super team “The Unknowns,” featuring Clayface, Etrigan, Ragman, and her sister, now going by “Red Alice.”
Rebirth
After DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH, Kate Kane was recruited by Batman to train and lead a new team of allies, including Clayface, Red Robin (Tim Drake) and Spoiler. This put her at odds with her father in the “Rise of the Batmen” storyline, when he launched a rogue military operation code-named “The Colony.” This era came to an end in “Fall of the Batmen,” with the team fractured after Batwoman assassinated Clayface after losing control of himself.
Now on her own for another solo series in BATWOMAN: REBIRTH #1 (2017), Batwoman teamed up with Alfred’s daughter Julia Pennyworth to fight crime around the world. In the process, she ran afoul of an old flame, international arms dealer Safiyah. By the end of the series, Kate had parted ways with Julia, but rekindled a romantic relationship with another ex: GCPD officer Renee Montoya.