Javicia Leslie makes debut as first Black Batwoman in new trailer

By Ethan Alter

Gotham City has a new champion... and she’s changing the vigilante game in more ways than one.

The first trailer for Batwoman’s second season features incoming star Javicia Leslie donning the cape and cowl previously worn by Ruby Rose, who departed The CW superhero series earlier this year.

Lee is the first live-action Black Batwoman in the Bat-franchise’s history, and she wastes little time tailoring the role to fit her character, Ryan Wilder.

“Don’t kill me, but I made some alterations,” she warns her predecessor’s ally, Luke Fox (Camrus Johnson), about Batwoman’s bold new look. (Watch the trailer above.)

But some things never change: Gotham is once again facing major threats, and it’s up to Ryan to be the town’s protector. She definitely has some on-the-job learning to do in that department. According to a widely-circulated character description that made the rounds over the summer, Ryan — an original character who doesn’t come from any of the Batman comics — is the kind of fighter “who would kill you with her bare hands.” That approach doesn’t sit well with Luke, who pointedly tells his new partner-in-crimefighting, “Batwoman does not kill.”

But Batwoman does kick major bad guy butt, and that’s showcased in this minute-and-a-half trailer that establishes Ryan as a worthy successor to both Kate Kane and Bruce Wayne. “Time to be powerful,” she says as she suits up to patrol Gotham’s streets. Based on the Twitter reaction, fans are ready to follow her anywhere.

Season 2 of Batwoman premieres on 17 January on The CW. The UK airdate is TBC.