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The great thing about the comics medium is the collaboration that happens between creators.  Sometimes we are lucky to see certain teams that just produce magical, unforgettable stories.  Lee/Kirby, Thomas/Smith, O'Neill/Adams, Moore/Gibbons, and Bendis/Oeming are just a few that come to mind right away.  After reading Detective Comics 854, I think Greg Rucka and JH Williams also belong in that roster as well.

I wasn't too sure about picking up this issue at first.  I haven't bought Detective Comics in ages and I wasn't too excited about the first few appearances of Batwoman.  After listening to Rucka's podcast interview with John Siuntres on Word Balloon, I decided to give it a read.

First off, the artwork by JH Williams is so unique, so beautiful, so other-worldly, words just can't describe it.  He's crafted the panel layouts in a very unique style.  Cinematic, but it definitely breaks through the stand panel grid layout when Batwoman is in action.  When she's back as Kate Kane (Batwoman), the panel layout changes to a more conventional format.  The color by Dave Stewart is just as important to the artwork.  The Batwoman scenes almost remind me of the old black and white magazines, that experimented with telling some stories using one color--Red--to add an element of danger to the story.  The color palette changes when Kate is in her civilian identity, full color, not garish, rich in browns and sandalwoods.  When the villain Alice shows up, she has a unique, lighter color scheme that clashes with Batwoman.  In Rucka's Work Balloon interview, he mentions that Williams and Stewart chose the colors very deliberately--for example, finding the exact right shade of red.

Enough about the art, how's the story?  One of the best that Greg Rucka has written in comics to date.  The plot is interesting, but I think he's also done a great job in carving out a section of Gotham City for Batwoman to inhabit.  She meets Batman briefly, but it's not stated whether this is Bruce Wayne or Dick Grayson--Rucka very much wanted this story to be timeless.  (Although reference is made to Kate's injuries from Final Crisis.)  Instead of a Batcave, Kate operates out of her condo, with her ex-military father providing intelligence and armory support.  Unlike Batman, Kate does carry a gun.  All of this stuff gives Kate a really interesting background, and since Rucka is knowledgeable about these things, it gives the story a little more weight.  I expect this will shine through more as the story progresses.

The main mystery involves "the thirteen covens of crime" who have elected a new leader, as all Gotham scum know, since they've seen the white smoke.  It's really comforting to me to know that Gotham scum operate just like the Catholic church!  The new leader turns out to be Alice, a bizarre woman who speaks in literary allusions.  I am glad that Rucka chose to create a new villain for this initial story instead of just throwing Kate against the Joker.

I think they are many smart choices that Rucka has made here.  All of the above, certainly, but probably just as important--Rucka is not overly wordy here.  He allows JH Williams' artwork to really breath on each and every page.  That's really awesome, and it's also why I think this run on Detective Comics is going to be a classic.  Nuff said.

Feeling in the mode for some Kirby-esque women.  Time for Big Barda!

Art Adams is the perfect guy to execute this drawing.  Doesn't it look like she's meditating and a dragon comes along to disturb her?  I just hate it when that happens.  Nuff said.

I've got tons of artwork scans from various websites, previews, and other fans that I've collected over the years.  I came across this painting by Steve Rude featuring Wonder Woman:

Wonder Woman is captured in a very light-hearted moment, surrounded by kids trying to give away kittens to a good home.  Diana Prince giggles as she picks up a stray cat, the kids are happy.  A mother looks on from the background.  A sign advertises fresh corn.  This is the heart of rural America and this piece almost looks like Norman Rockwell could have painted it.  I think it's wonderful.  I already feel cheerful.  Nuff said.

Brian Bolland drew the best Black Canary cover in 1988, for Action Comics #609!  This was during the period when DC had booted Superman out of the title and made it an anthology starring various characters that did not have their own series.

Bolland's cover is just wicked.  Black Canary gives a mischievous smile to the viewer as she burns her 1980s Justice League era outfit.  Bolland is giving a gift to the fans: the return to the classic costume and fishnets!  I was happy to see the Black Canary's original outfit--I always think she should be drawn in this one.

Here is the original art for Action Comics 609.  It looks just as good, if not better, in black and white.  This piece is owned by Joseph Melchior, see his gallery at Comic Art Fans.  Nuff said.

Neal Adams is probably my ideal artist for Black Canary.  His version is very attractive, sleek and athletic without being overly voluptuous.

Here's a piece taken from Neal Adams 2007 Sketchbook.  Adams has still got it--a shame we are not seeing any new superhero comics from him.  Nuff said.

Alex Toth only drew a handful of Black Canary stories in Adventure Comics, but his version is unforgettable. 

Here is a drawing Toth did for a fan in 2003, featuring Doctor Mid-Night and Black Canary.

And here's a page from his Adventure Comics run in glorious black and white, with Black Canary takin' down a dude in bell bottom pants.  I love Toth's sound effects and page layout.  Nuff said.

I'm still in a black mood...a Black Canary mood.  And Bruce Timm is here to help me out.  His version of Dinah Lance is sexy, but not over the top, much like yesterday's Terry Austin pinup.

I like this picture of Black Canary taking a break on a sofa.  That face and haircut is right out of a 1950s film noir movie.

Here's a typical Timm pose with Black Canary getting ready to spring into action.

Looking at these pieces reminded me of a time when women could be portrayed as sexy and dangerous without their boobs and butt spilling all over the place.  Unlike this portrayal of Canary in All-Star Batman and Robin.  Nuff said.

From the depths of my long boxes, I discovered the Comic Art Convention 1978 souvenir book, which has this great pin-up of Black Canary by Terry Austin:

Black Canary looks terrific in her fishnets, as usual.  But what is great about this piece is the subtle humor.  What is it like doing monitor duty on the Justice League satellite.  When Starro isn't launching an assault against Earth, JLA monitor duty is pretty boring and lonely. 

There's a pot of coffee and cups on the upper right.  On the lower left is a clipboard with a list of names checked off for duty: Aquaman, Atom, and Batman have already served their time before Dinah.  On the floor, you can see the various methods Canary used to pass the time: Crossword puzzles, Vogue magazine, and a book (Lord of the Rings).  I love Terry Austin's humor and attention to detail.  Nuff said.