Another venture into the comic book world courtesy of my library, this time a look at one of DC's heroines, as written by acclaimed writer Gail Simone.
'Batgirl, Vol. 1: The Darkest Reflection' is awesome. Batgirl is bloody awesome. Really, there is not much to say other than this whole book - my first real look at Batgirl as a character in her own story - BANG! nails it. Just read it. 'cause did I mention that it's KICKING awesome?
But I suppose I should elucidate the reasons for why I think this. In PUNCHING bullet points:
- Barbara Gordon is great. Instantly relatable and able to carry the story all by herself. She is just regaining the use of her legs after being shot by the Joker three years previously (an incident that, I believe, may have crippled her but from there she'd adopted a new alter ego, the Oracle, and enhanced her phenomenal computer skills). Once again Barbara wants to fight crime in Gotham as Batgirl, to regain her old life and sense of justice and self. Extremely smart and reasonable, she also has a vulnerable side which helps readers to connect with her as both a competent hero and as a human being. Barbara doesn't want to believe in miracles, and is aware of how lucky she is compared to most other disabled people in the world. Not wanting to waste her mind and body from lack of exercise for much longer, this Batgirl uses her hard-earned talents to save people from serial killers and terrorists, despite her PTSD and lingering limitations. With every success she manages on her own, failures persist, and she suffers an identity crisis nightmare. A multilayered and sympathetic lead all around.
- The moments with Barbara's father Commissioner Gordon, and with her new female roommate, are very well done. Even the brief moments with her estranged mother help to lend nuance to her already heartfelt character study. They bring to light the importance of Bab's everyday life with the emotional resonance needed to further develop her ever-changing character. She sees something of herself in everyone she exchanges dialogue with.
- There's a somewhat filler scene near the middle of the book where Batgirl "dances" all over Gotham with Nightwing, aka Richard "Dick" Grayson, the former Robin. Ahhh Nightwing, a boy wonder after my own heart. Barbara still goes out with men in her normal life during the daytime, and admits in her narration boxes that she has a little crush on her old crime fighting partner and friend. And really, who can blame her? This is the only scene in the book that features Nightwing, and it isn't especially important to the plot. It’s there to show how Batgirl used to be in her bright-eyed youthfulness before she was shot, and that there are people left who care and worry about her. And she is the one in control of the two past sidekicks’ game of tag. Beautiful in its own right.
- Terrific artwork and costumes, even if Barbara in her civilian form does look like every other red-haired woman in nearly every graphic novel ever. A mixture of darkness and adult cartoons.
- Gail Simone is a writer deserving of her praise, and not just for her female characters. The narrative structure of each plotline is very strongly realised and the twists are executed excellently. Not every location of each subsequent scene is the same as the one before it – everything moves at a steady yet urgent pace.
- Batman shows up, but only in the last quarter of this volume. He is the great heroic badass we all known him to be without overshadowing Batgirl. What I'm most impressed by is his unwavering trust in Barbara's abilities as a strategist. Even after she was critically injured, Bruce Wayne still has total faith in her as Batgirl. He listens to her when she asks things of him, even when her suggestions might sound more sentimental than logical. Without Bruce having to say a word to her, Barbara knows he loves her like a daughter, but he does not replace her real father, who always tries to be there for her.
Yep that's about it.
‘Batgirl, Vol. 1: The Darkest Reflection’ is a great, exciting first volume; accessible even for people unfamiliar with any of the ‘Batman’ comics, or the cartoons or movies.
Final Score: 5/5
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