Rise of the Batmen!

I'm not a great Batman fan, but I loved the Rebirth series Detective Comics which introduced a group, called The Team? or Gotham Knights?  The name of the group is unclear, but the title of the story is "Rise of the Batmen" by James Tynion IV with art by Eddy Barrows and Alvaro Martinez.  The first arc, Detective Comics #934-940 (2016), is compiled in the Detective Comics Vol. 1 Rise of the Batmen trade paperback.  Batman realizes that he has to form a team when Gotham City is threatened by the mysterious Colony.  He appoints the leader, Batwoman, Katherine Kane, since she has the military training.  We get a deeper look into the Kane and Wayne families.  Bruce Wayne is her cousin, Bruce's mother, Martha Wayne, her maiden name was Kane. There was an early version, Kathy Kane, but the modern version was introduced in 52 #7 (2006).  Of course, we saw Ruby Rose playing Batwoman in the “Elseworlds” episodes of The Flash, Supergirl, and Arrow.  Which is spinning off to her own series. The other lieutenant is Red Robin, Timothy Drake, he is a trained computer hacker, second only to Oracle.  He is deadly with his battle staff.  He is third incarnation of Robin after Jason Todd, played by Curran Walters in The Titans, so it will probably be some time.  Drake’s introduction was in Batman #436 (1989) and his identity as Red Robin was in Robin #181 (2009).  This character is not realized in live action.   

Next, is Spoiler, Stephanie Brown, she is the daughter of the criminal mastermind, Cluemaster, but has trained with Catwoman and Batgirl.  Brown’s first appearance was in Detective Comics #647 (1992) and then became Spoiler in the next issue.  One of my favorite characters, also she hasn't made it to television or movies.  Then, there is Orphan, Cassandra Cain, she has assassin training, but she is friends with Red Robin and Spoiler.  She doesn't really speak since language was left out of her training.  The introduction of Cain was in Batman #567 (1999) and she became Orphan in Batman & Robin Eternal #26 (2016).  One of the interesting parts of the Birds of Prey movie is the casting of Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain.  The most unusual team member is a villain, Clayface, Basil Karlo, an actor whose powers has turned him into a massive creature.  He has a tragic story.  Clayface is of course one of Batman’s classic villains and first appeared in Detective Comics #40 (1940), but his modern version is in the New 52’s Batman #1 (2011).  Brian McManamon played Clayface in Gotham.  It would be great if The Team or Gotham Knights is formed (in part?) in the Batwoman tv series.  I would like to see Spoiler in the team, maybe Clayface, and I hope Orphan (if her movie appearance doesn’t prevent it).  

#RiseoftheBatmen, #RubyRose, #Batwoman, #Spoiler