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'Batwoman': Kate Kane needs her own rogue's gallery if she is to step out of Batman's shadow

Batman's villains helped define him - but giving them to Batwoman makes her own story that much inauthentic

Spoiler alert for 'Grinning From Ear to Ear' - Episode 14 of Season 1 of 'Batwoman'

Batman has some of the most iconic rogues in comics history, and with his disappearance from Gotham City, it's up to Batwoman to deal with them. We've already had references to such villains as Hush, the Riddler, Two-Face, and most recently, the appearance of Duela Dent - the Joker's daughter. However, Batwoman (Ruby Rose) is never going to step out of Batman's shadow if she doesn't get a rogues gallery to call her own. 

The season's main villain, Alice Kane (Rachel Skarsten) is living proof of just how compelling Batwoman's story can be when paired with a villain who makes stakes personal for Batwoman. Batwoman already has a major cowl to fill - Batman already has one of the most famous villains on the planet. Constantly bringing up villains who are connected to his stories only serves to weaken Batwoman's own. It's that much more difficult for Batwoman to forge her own path if she's spending half the season cleaning up Batman's mess. 

There have been a few villains that are definitely more Batwoman's territory than Batman's - and there should be more. We have the incomparable Alice Kane, of course, and more recently, Nocturna (Kayla Ewell). There has also been a reference to Safiyah - another villain more firmly in Batwoman's territory than Batman's. That should only be the beginning.

Batwoman will never reach her full potential until she starts building up a roster of identifiable villains that aren't just another version of villains that remind viewers of Batman. It invites unfair comparisons, and what's more, makes Kate Kane's Batwoman a little difficult to define. 

A hero is defined by the kinds of villains they fight - Batman's villains were all written to give Batman the kinds of challenges his stories were best suited for. Besides living up to her cousin's legacy, we don't really know what kind of hero Batwoman is. The biggest defining trait we have - her conflicted guilt over Alice - only proves how important it is that Batwoman and Batman's villains be kept separated. 

The next episode of 'Batwoman' airs March 15, on the CW.