Gay Panic: Based predominantly on subtext, many rumors circulated in the 1950s that Batman's relationship with Robin was sexual instead of parental. One of the original reasons for Batwoman's creation (According to some) was to provide a female love-interest for Bruce Wayne in order to appease the Moral Guardians.
Trivia for the second Batwoman:
Accidentally-Correct Writing: Though Greg Rucka did research West Point and other military-related subjects in order to portray Kate's backstory accurately, it's not clear if he did the same regarding her status as a Military Brat, since that specific topic never really came up in his initial portrayal of her. However, under both Rucka and subsequent Batwoman writers, Kate still meets quite a number of characteristics seen in real-life military brats; The Other Wiki has an article that goes into more detail about military brats in general. Among the traits that Kate shares with her real-life counterparts are a resilient personality, multilingualism, a high degree of personal discipline, and a "very strong affinity for careers that entail service to others".
Development Gag: Kate's suit was originally designed for Barbara Gordon for a scrapped storyline where she had her paralysis healed by a Lazarus Pit and, as a result, became evil. In Batman and Robin, Kate voluntarily commits suicide after being paralyzed by a cave-in so she can be resurrected and healed in a nearby Lazarus Pit, though afterward she has no personality change due to the morphine she used to overdose.
Executive Meddling: Apparently J.H. Williams III did not want to do Batwoman #0, but was told he had to in order to increase the reader base. Likewise, Williams wanted to do a villain issue for "Villains Month" only to have cancelled. It eventually got too much for him and Blackman, with the final straw being DC saying no to letting Maggie and Kate get marriednote both Williams and Blackman deny that DC's refusal to let the two marry had anything to do with anti-gay bias, and instead say it's a general extension of DC's anti-marriage policies that have led to Lois and Superman's break up, among others, and the openly gay Marc Andreyko is taking over the title, so the two left the series.
Life Imitates Art: Less than a year after the publishing of Detective Comics #859, the issue that detailed Kate's dismissal from West Point under DADT, a real-life USMA cadet, also named Katherine, also with similar impressive academic, military, and phys-ed achievements, resigned from the Academy for similar reasons.
Schedule Slip: The first issue of her new series was originally supposed to be released in February 2011. It was pushed back to April, and then to September as part of DC's company-wide relaunch.
What Could Have Been: Sadly, despite her relatively short history in the DC universe Kate has several examples of this, largely because of editorial issues.
Batwoman was initially touted as one of the main characters in James Robinson's Justice League spin-off book Justice League: Cry for Justice, and was heavily featured in promotional material for the book and even got a spot on the first cover. When the book was shortened and turned into a mini-series thanks to a decision from the higher-ups, Batwoman's appearances in the title were regulated to scattered cameos and a brief supporting role in the fifth issue. The writer later apologized for performing an unintentional bait-and-switch on fans of the character.
Devin Grayson was originally set to write Kate's first solo series before the project was suddenly and unceremoniously shelved. Her direction would have included many differences from Kate's eventual backstory, such as no twin, no tragedy, and having Kate's father be unsupportive of her sexuality. Additionally, Grayson's picture of Kate was more glamorous instead of the goth rock sensibilities the character would develop under Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III, and she was to be modeled afterJaime Murray.
Had Greg Rucka stayed with the character, he intended to address the consequences of the repeal of DADT, including finding out who had reported Kate back when the policy was still active, and have Kate grapple with the possibility of returning to the military as an out soldier. Alice's origin would have also been addressed, along with revealing whether or not she'd survived the plunge into the river.
Williams and Blackman's run also boiled down to this trope, due to them leaving DC and their final two issues being scrapped. Alice's origin would have been delved into, as would that of Director Bones (and clarifying whether or not he was related to the Kanes). Kate and Maggie were also to move further in their relationship and get married (which was a point that DC forbid and that led to the writers' departure), and from the sounds of things the fight between Batwoman and Batman would've been far more brutal for both combatants. Both Renee and Sophie (now working for the FBI) were also going to return to Kate's life. While their story was concluded in an Annual, they have both made it clear that the Annual was not their ending.
Marguerite Bennett's run was also cancelled prematurely, and the final issue presents a snapshot of potential story threads that indicate much more was planned out.
Word of God: According to J.H. Williams III, Kate's birthday is March 21.
that goes into more detail about military brats in general. Among the traits that Kate shares with her real-life counterparts are a resilient personality, multilingualism, a high degree of personal discipline, and a "very strong affinity for careers that entail service to others".