Renee Montoya
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Real Identity: Renee Montoya
Appearances (BTAC Comics): Secret Santa, Court Fight Part I, The Hunter or The Hunted, The Muscle, Muscle Out, and The Offer Part One
Skills: Criminology, Deduction and Marksmanship
Renee Montoya is a detective with the Gotham City Police Department. She is strictly by-the-book, incorruptible, and is not exactly a fan of Batman. During an interrogation of Arnold Wesker, Renee Montoya entered the room and revealed none of Scarface's gang survived the destruction of his blimp but the doll was found floating in the water. Bullock took Scarface out and made Wesker take it so they could get answers but none were gleaned.
Detective Bullock and Montoya interrogated Jazzman after he was recaptured by Batgirl and Batman. Bullock refused to let him walk for his files on Black Mask. Montoya demanded hard evidence. He lied it was all in his head. Batman noticed he was trying to cover up the tattoo on his neck and slammed his head on the table. They discovered a microdot embedded on his neck and realized he was carrying the files in plain sight the whole time.
After months of being pursued by Montoya, Rupert Thorne had enough and hired underworld fixer The Muscle to assassinate her and send a message to the police. He waited on a roof with a sniper rifle a safe distance from the old Gotham Steel Yard and waited to make his move. Montoya led a police raid on Thorne's drug lab at the yard. She went over the plan one more time. She told Dunbar to take his team to the east side of the building while Bullock took his to the west. She made sure he heard. She gave the signal and the police entered it simultaneously. A goon reached for his gun but Montoya shot it out of his hand and reminded him she said to freeze. Thorne's two lieutenants recognized Montoya and headed for the back door but Batman intervened and knocked them down the stairs. Montoya holstered her gun and thanked Batman but pointed out she had all the exits blocked. Batman quipped he thought he'd help. She asked him if he read them their rights. She remembered that was her job and he was just around to work out his aggression issues. He was sorry she felt that way. She asserted he was good for dealing with the freaks and psycho clowns but real-world criminals needed to be handled by real-world cops because it didn't end in an arrest, there was the courts, depositions, and testimony.
The Muscle placed Montoya in his sights. Luckily, Bullock spotted him first, fired a shot off, and yelled there was a shooter. Batman threw out an exploding Batarang and the blast knocked Muscle off his feet. Batman and Montoya confronted him on the roof but he created a diversion and leaped off. Rupert Thorne was enraged to learn Muscle didn't kill Montoya and she was receiving a commendation for the raid. During the ceremony, Montoya was called up by Hamilton Hill, Junior to receive her police commendation. Hill stated it was a privilege to present the honor in his father's place and there was no one more deserving. Gloria Navarro, her girlfriend, told her to break a leg. In her acceptance speech, Montoya stated she felt truly humbled but in way undeserving because fighting crime was hardly a one-person show, despite what a "caped fellow" seemed to think. As a precaution, Bruce Wayne offered Montoya and Navarro a ride home in the likelihood the Muscle would make another move.
During the drive, Wayne complimented Montoya on naming everyone on her team. Montoya believed she couldn't have pulled off the raid without them and they deserved the spotlight. Navarro still thought she could have been a little nicer to "you-know-who," alluding to Batman. Montoya gave her a stare. She knew he was a loose cannon but she admitted it was comforting to think he was somewhere watching over Montoya when she was out on the streets. The Muscle made his move and side swiped Wayne's limousine. Wayne got between him and Montoya, took a bullet and suffered a concussion. Montoya returned fire and more police arrived, forcing Muscle to retreat. She posted two of her best officers to escort Navarro home. However, Muscle was waiting and knocked them out with tranquilizer darts then kidnapped Navarro. Hours later, Montoya paid Wayne a visit at his hospital room after he regained consciousness. She thanked him and noted not every hero in Gotham wore a mask. Wayne downplayed it and asked what happened. Montoya explained there were rumors of a fixer for hire on the level of Batman who made problems disappear if his price was met then she and Pennyworth filled in what he missed after he blacked out.
Montoya got a call. She thought it was Navarro but it was the Muscle. She checked a text. It was a photo of Navarro tied up. He told her to follow his instructions if she wanted to see her alive again. Montoya simply told Wayne something came up and left. She asked Elkins, the officer stationed outside the hospital, for his squad car to deal with an emergency. He obliged and offered his help but she declined. She was forced to drive in circles so no one would follow her. Muscle finally told her to park at the corner Haney and Aparo Streets then she would immediately know where he was. She spotted the Muscle Zone Fitness building and found it rather obvious but guessed that was the idea. She then deduced he wanted her to think he was a dumb grunt so she could get overconfident and slip up. Batman texted her to wait for him but she went in alone. Muscle came on the speaker and guided her to the weight room. He flooded the room with steam and tried to trick her into shooting Navarro but she already deduced his plan and tricked him into shooting a practice dummy as he hung from the ceiling. They exchanged fire and she was shot but her badge took the bullet.
Muscle moved to kill Navarro next but Batman intervened. Muscle wasn't done yet. He raised a broken barbell over his head and was ready to kill everyone but Montoya came up behind him and shot his arms. The barbell fell on his head and he was knocked out. Navarro ran over and hugged Montoya. She grimaced as it still hurt even though she had a vest on. Navarro apologized but Montoya stated she didn't say to stop. Montoya was none the wiser and returned to Wayne's hospital room with Navarro. Wayne played along and noted it sounded she took an awful chance going without backup. Montoya admitted that while it cost a badge, it was worth it. She talked about how she outsmarted the Muscle and tricked him into shooting the first thing he saw. Navarro teased it was a trick inspired by Batman. Montoya stated a good idea was a good idea and admitted she was grateful for Batman helping her but that could easily change the next day.
On March 27, Montoya was present when District Attorney Janet Van Dorn offered Muscle a deal to testify against Esther Valestra for a reduced sentence. He rejected it and told her to shove it. Muscle was escorted back to his cell. He admitted he was surprised by Montoya's presence given their history. She told him she wanted Valestra as much as Van Dorn did and advised him to reconsider the offer. She even offered to speak in his favor in front of a judge then presented the alternative, a prison cell until he died. He later changed his mind. On March 28, at 8:15, Montoya took part in Muscle's transfer to a safe house. Renee Montoya was hopeful they would be going home early after all. Masked men attacked the convoy. The two lead police cars were rammed and flipped by the armored van. The men opened fire. Montoya managed to kick the windshield out and drag her fellow officer to safety. She tried to return fire.
Batman arrived and took out the men with gas but another team blew up the van holding Muscle with a bazooka. Gordon, Montoya, Bullock, and several officers stormed a warehouse where Muscle ran off to but instead found a knocked out Lock-Up and prison chaplain Justus Meadows. Muscle surrendered. Montoya noted that leniency would be off the table. Muscle did not care about that and took solace in being able to help take down Valestra, Meadows, and Rupert Thorne. Batman suggested there may still be a way to get time off. The Muscle told him he was out of options and would take the chance. Batman stated he would make a call. After months of no crime, Montoya and Bullock drove around on a routine patrol. Bullock asked where their next stop was, Gotham Grinders or Donut King. She got snarky and asked if he remembered arresting lawbreakers. Bullock took current events as proof they were doing their jobs. He pointed out all big bads were in Arkham Asylum, the major mob bosses were lying low or went missing in action, and even the small-timers vanished. Montoya suggested Batman had something to do with the crime drop. Bullock speculated he hung up his cape and went to Tahiti or someplace.
Catwoman climbed out a manhole and jumped on their patrol car's hood, trying to tell them something. They were startled and she went flying backwards only to be grabbed by a Talon. Montoya and Bullock searched for her in vain.