As the final article in our Birds of Prey coverage, we’re covering the policewoman who had a romance with Batwoman in the comics, Renee Montoya.
Gotham City. The home of the Batfamily. Among their allies is Renee Montoya, a detective with the Gotham City Police Department. She is also an out and proud lesbian who had a romance with Batman’s cousin, Batwoman. She’s about to make her cinematic debut in Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emanipation of One Harley Quinn).
FULL NAME: Renee Maria Montoya
NICKNAME(S): N/A
ALIAS(ES):
– Question
COMIC BOOK FRANCHISE: DC Comics
CREATOR(S): Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, and Mitch Brian
FIRST APPEARANCE(S): Batman: The Animated Series “P.O.V.” [Television], As Renee Montoya: Batman #475 (March 1992), As Question: 52 #48 (April 2007)
ALLIES:
– Bat Family
Gotham City Police Department
POWERS/ABILITIES:
– Trained Detective
FAMILY: Immigrant Parents
FRIEND(S):
– Kate Kane/Batwoman
– Harvey Bullock
– Crispus Allen
TEAM(S):
– Global Peace Agency
– Batman Incorporated
– Gotham City Police Department
BIOGRAPHY
Renee Montoya was born to Dominician Republic parents who were immigrants. When she was a uniformed officer her parter became Harvey Bullock before she was promoted to detective. Upon her promotion, her partner became Crispus Allen.
Over time she entered a relationship with Kate Kane, the maternal cousin of Bruce Wayne/Batman. She later became known as the second iteration of the hero, Question.
PAST MEDIA APPEARANCES
Renee was introduced in Batman: The Animated Series in 1992, the same series that introduced Harley Quinn. She also appeared in the The New Batman Adventures, Gotham, Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, Gotham Girls and Batman: Bad Blood. An inspired character appeared the film, The Dark Knight.
RECENT MEDIA APPEARANCES
Renee Montoya is due to make her cinematic debut in Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).
PORTRAYALS – LIVE ACTION
The character of Renee Montoya has appeared twice on screen and will make her third but first proper cinematic debut in 2020’s Birds of Prey film.
Now, our first look at Renee was actually different than we could have expected. In the 2008 film, The Dark Knight, there’s a character named Anna Ramirez played by Monique Curnen. While not officially Renee, the character was partially based off the character. We just thought it was a cool fact and thought we’d include it.
Our first official live-action Renee Montoya appeared in the Batman origin series, Gotham played by Victoria Cartagena, though she only appears in the first season. She is the lover of Jim Gordon’s fiancée, Barbara Kean who proceeds to dump Jim and goes back to Renee, but the relationship between the pair ends as Renee does not return to the series.
Our first cinematic Renee Montoya will be portrayed by Rosie Perez in Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). It’s currently unknown what her role will be the film, but she will join the Birds of Prey to stop Black Mask.
PORTRAYALS – ANIMATION
Renee has also appeared in a handful of animated projects beginning with her introduction in 1992’s Batman: The Animated Series. Here she is portrayed by Ingrid Oliu before Liane Schirmer took over the role.
In The New Batman Adventures, Liane Schirmer resumes the role.
Schirmer also plays the character in the film, Batman & Mr Freeze: SubZero.
The character has a minor role in Batman: Bad Blood where she is played by Vanessa Marshall. She meets Kate Kane at a bar and immediately hit off. At the end of the film, Renee appears again and joins Kate at breakfast with Kate’s dad.
RECEPTION
Renee has received reception in Wizard Magazine where she was named as the 80th greatest comic book character. IGN had Montoya listed as 87th greatest comic book hero of all time because she represented diversity.
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