Batgirl

Batgirl #17

Batgirl and Robin, together again. YES! I just love Stephanie and Damian together.

The pair team-up to solve a case of missing children which leads Damian to go undercover as a regular kid (much to the delight of Batgirl). We get the regular barbs between the two on a fire escape in front of a low level thug, but there’s also a nice realization by Batgirl when she sees Damian doesn’t know how to be a kid. He doesn’t know how to play. Her attempt to remedy this in the comic’s final page is priceless.

There’s also a good opening dialogue between Damian and Alfred, who Damian has come to accept as “an adequate servant,” and the random panel of Stephanie’s dream mumblings about killing Abraham Lincoln. Throw in a high speed chase involving a school bus, which Damian stabs (successfully) and attempts to drive (a little less successfully), and you’ve got everything you need for a great read!

[DC $2.99]

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Batgirl #16

Okay, so Batgirl is on the run from Gotham PD who think she’s murdered a college student. The real killers are the “Order of the Scythe” (horrible name, by the way). Not only have they got Stephanie running from the police but they’ve stolen technology including a speed suit.

Thankfully, the Batgirl most wanted storyline is dealt with in this issue and we won’t have it weighing down the title for months. Aside from their awful name, the secret society or guys dressed up as reapers aren’t bad villains for the title. Okay, they aren’t going to find their way into the best Bat-villain list anytime soon, but they work well enough here.

And after being framed for murder writer Bryan Q. Miller has given Stephanie the added incentive of revenge to track them down. We also get some great trademark great dialogue between Stephanie and Oracle and another appearance by “Detective McCute.” It may not be the title’s best, but there’s plenty here worth reading. Worth a look.

[DC $2.99]

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Batgirl #15

Okay, if Stephanie Brown’s retelling of Bat-history doesn’t tickle your fancy there’s really no hope for you. Sorry. In-line with other Bat-titles, Batgirl gets back to basics with the return of Oracle, Stephanie’s struggles in college (and lies to her mother), and some zany antics.

Batgirl’s latest case involves the death of a student at the hands of a cult of robed figures, a missing flash drive, a new Gray Ghost, and Batgirl framed for murder.

That last part troubles me a bit as it seems were in for the proverbial “prove my innocence’ storyline all too many characters have to go through. Hopefully this two-issue arc will wrap things up as quickly as it began since there’s really no chance DC’s going to let Batgirl go full-vigilante and drawing it out serves no purpose.

Not as good as some recent issues of Batgirl, but the trademarks that make the character and comic work are still here. Worth a look.

[DC $2.99]

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Bruce Wayne: The Road Home – Batgirl

  • Title: Bruce Wayne: The Road Home – Batgirl (One-shot)
  • Comic Vine: link

Out of all the Bruce Wayne: The Road Home One-shots so far this is my favorite. Fans of the regular Batgirl comic will get what they’ve come to know and love including some great comedic back-and-forth between Stephanie Brown and Oracle (and Stephanie and Proxy), including one scene which teases something I’ve been waiting for DC to touch on for months – why isn’t Batgirl in the Birds of Prey?

To get back to the story, Batgirl shows up to stop an intruder at Waynetech Research, one she seems sure is Amazo. If you’ve been reading these you know it’s in fact Bruce Wayne moving behind-the-scenes as well as testing various members of the Bat-family.

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Batgirl #14

  • Title: Batgirl #14
  • Comic Vine: link

I believe a petition needs to be started immediately for a Batgirl/Supergirl book. Yeah, that’s how much I liked this issue. When Supergirl comes to Gotham and 24 Dracula’s burst into life from a 3-D movie, well, you know fun is to be had. Lots to enjoy here included the little quips between Kara and Stephanie about everything from college flicks to super-heroing.

Writer Brian Q. Miller actually makes me like Supergirl again (who’s been languishing in some of the lamest and most depressing story arcs in her own book for months). This is the Kara, the super-powered girl from Krypton who thinks pillow fights are in integral part of college, kicks serious ass, and innocently wonders if Steph’s bra has a bat on it (it doesn’t), that I want to see.

Throw in several humorously drawn moments from Lee Garbett as our pair of heroines take down the Dracula’s all over town, and a terrific cover by Stanley Lau, and you’ve got yourselves a one hellova fun comic. I wasn’t kidding about the petition. I definitely want to see more of these two together. Must-read.

[DC $2.99]

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