Batgirl #1: Initial Reaction

Not bad, actually. I picked this up on a whim - I've never been a big Batgirl fan, in any of her incarnations. Never was against the character, just not a big fan. Never read nothing by Simone before, either.

 

As I say, this wasn't one of the books I intended to follow - and may not yet, we'll see. But, to my mind, at least, they've gotten this one off to a good start.  I don't think it's a huge spoiler to say that the big issue - "How is Barbara up and about and being Batgirl again?" - is mentioned only obliquely and is not yet explained, really.  Instead, we see a still-somewhat-rusty Barbara going into action against some home invaders.  We also see that "The Killing Joke" is still definitely part of continuity, and we have a potentially interesting new supporting character introduced. The whole story is leading to a confrontation with a new (to me, at least) heel called "The Mirror", who is apparently on a mission of vengeance that may have personal repercussions for our heroine, and ends with a cliffhanger that certainly leaves one wondering what will happen next.

 

So, pretty well-written, I'd say.

 

And the art's real nice, too.

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  • Yeah, three thumbs up on this one from me.

     

    (One thumb may be plastic.)

     


    "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." -Groucho Marx

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  • I liked it a lot. It's most likely going to make the cut -- it's a really well done superhero book. The question is, will I want another well-done superhero book more than I'll want a book with a different tone & subject altogether? Books like Men of War and I, Vampire have a leg up in that regard.
  • I am a big Batgirl fan (i.e., Barbara Gordon Batgirl), and so is my wife, but I didn't bother with this one because I assumed that, in this new universe, Barbara Gordon was never crippled. Learning that The Killing Joke is still in continuity somehow makes this series more interesting to me.
  • This book will likely make the cut for me.  The question I have is: Since it's only been three years since Barbara was shot, and she seems to be having money troubles here...was she ever Oracle in the DCnU?
  • My impression is that she was Oracle, Don. I, too, was impressed by the issue. This isn't a title I was planning on buying regularly but #2 is now in my "buy" list based on this first issue. Great stuff.
  • Don Collett said:
    This book will likely make the cut for me.  The question I have is: Since it's only been three years since Barbara was shot, and she seems to be having money troubles here...was she ever Oracle in the DCnU?

    I suspect there's a big difference between what Barbara Gordon can afford and what she can appear to afford, but it's too early to say.


    "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." -Groucho Marx

    Check out the Secret Headquarters (my store) website! Comics and Games for Everyone!

    I used to listen to WOXY.com; It was the future of rock-n-roll! RIP WOXY


  • I suspect there's a big difference between what Barbara Gordon can afford and what she can appear to afford, but it's too early to say.

     

    The $20,000/yr millionaire? We have a lot of those around here.

  • A fun issue, with the great characterization that you usually get from Gail Simone.  I'll miss Gail's Birds of Prey and Secret Six, but having her on a Barbara solo book makes for a nice consolation prize.


  • KSwolf said:
    A fun issue, with the great characterization that you usually get from Gail Simone.  I'll miss Gail's Birds of Prey and Secret Six, but having her on a Barbara solo book makes for a nice consolation prize.

    What he said. I wouldn't have even considered Batgirl had it been someone other than Gail Simone wielding the pen.
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