DC Publisher Jim Lee personally welcomed The CW's new Batwoman, Javicia Leslie, to the DC Universe with artwork that puts her in the Scarlet Knight's armor.
Included in a kit sent to press, Lee's piece unites heroes from across DC's multiple projects, from comics to TV and film. A few Arrowverse heroes, including Supergirl and the Legends of Tomorrow, swing into action alongside Batman, Shazam, Stargirl, the Titans and many more. Leslie's Ryan Wilder appears in the bottom right of the image, wearing the Batwoman costume.
For the most part, Leslie's Batwoman costume appears similar to the one worn by Ruby Rose's Kate Kane. It maintains its overall red-and-black color scheme, with a Bat symbol emblazoned on her chest and a utility belt with multiple pouches. However, there are some key differences, including red gauntlets instead of black and the texture of the wig's hair, which is now curly instead of straight.
At the time of writing, Leslie's live-action Batwoman costume has not been officially revealed. However, this artwork may offer a clue as to what it will look like on The CW series. With DC FanDome promising major news and reveals, the event may end up debuting a first look at the Scarlet Knight's live-action suit.
In Batwoman Season 2, Leslie will play Ryan Wilder, the woman who will become the Scarlet Knight. She is described as "likable, messy, a little goofy and untamed... highly skilled and wildly undisciplined. An out lesbian. Athletic. Raw. Passionate. Fallible. And very much not your stereotypical all-American hero." She will be the first Black woman to portray Batwoman in live-action.
Rose played Batwoman's lead Kate Kane in Season 1, but stunned fans when she unexpectedly announced her departure in May, after The CW had already renewed the show for a second season. The creators later announced that Kate Kane would be replaced with a new character, rather than simply recast.
In Season 1, Kate discovered her cousin Bruce Wayne was Batman. Due to his absence, she decided to take on his mantle and stop crime in Gotham City, which pit her against Alice and the Wonderland Gang. She quickly realized Alice was her long-lost twin sister Beth, who was believed dead following the car crash that killed their mother.
Hellbent on revenge, Alice stopped at nothing in her attempts to convert Kate to her cause. When that failed, she swore to kill Kate and their father Jacob, all while Jacob unleashed his own vendetta against Batwoman. Alice's last act in the Season 1 finale was to create a Bruce Wayne lookalike out of Tommy "Elliot" Hush, who was ordered to steal the one thing that could kill Batwoman once and for all: Kryptonite.
Returning to The CW in January 2021, Batwoman stars Javicia Leslie, Rachel Skarsten, Meagan Tandy, Camrus Johnson, Dougray Scott and Nicole Kang. The series airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT.