quote:

---

It is also rumored that Simone will be writing a new Batgirl title post Infinite Crisis, with
Barbara Gordon back in the cape and cowl. Supposedly, this would be one of those initially unexplained stories from the “one year gap”, with Babs making a full recovery and returning to her earlier costumed persona. The current Batgirl, Cassandra Cain’s whereabouts may also factor into this…

---

Now, I don't know about any of you but... I AM NOT OKAY WITH THIS!!!!! For one thing, that's, like, ten steps back for Babs. She's so much more useful as Oracle with her good memory 'n' junk. Then there's the Cassandra question. I absolutely adore Cassandra and I her series too. It's awesome.

If this is true (it got 5/10th odds at AtR), then I am definitely going to flip a bastich. Seriously. That would not be okay on so many levels. Like... all of them. ><

[ June 11, 2011, 03:27 PM: Message edited by: Reboot ]
 

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Posted by Tamper Lad on :
 
Yes I would dislike this immensely. I'm okay with Babs walkin around being a secret agent type but not this.
 

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Posted by Stargazer on :
 
I have to agree with you fine folks. I dont think Barbara should be Batgirl again..move on..besides Batwoman is more PC ( laughter)

I like Cass to and hope she sticks around.
 

---

Posted by Bevis on :
 
Hmm, I'm with the not camp on this one. Babs is a much better and more useful and interesting character as Oracle than as just another Bat-flunky. Should she walk again? Maybe, if the story is done well. I can see Gail making it work fine but in a way I would like to have her remain one of the only disabled heroes in comics. The dynamics of the way that the BoP team works seems much more sutied to Babs being the 'controller' (of sorts) with agents doing the leg work. It makes the title a very different one from other team books, it lends itself more to the espionage stories than any other title and it just helps it stand out from others. Having Babs back as Batgirl just seems like a big step back to me.

That being said if anyone can make it work I would think it would be Gail. She's not put a foot wrong with BoP so far and has made Babs, Dinah and Helena into some of the strongest characters in the DCU at the moment. All three have always been favourite characters of mine so I'm happy with how they are now. That doesn't mean that things shouldn't change but this does strike me rather as taking things back rather than forward.
 

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Posted by KidMarvel (Bunny) on :
 
If she's in her Thrillkiller uniform then make it so I say.
 

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Posted by Luna on :
 
I don't read comics like I should, but I kind of miss Babs in uniform, it's like it should be hers and no one elses, it's like having someone taking the place of Bruce Wayne as Batman even though he could still do it.

Cassandra Cain could easily take on another name.
 

---

Posted by Reboot on :
 
*sigh*

Great. Another step back for DC...
 

---

Posted by Jorg-EM on :
 
This feeds my fears that Identity Crisis is an attempt to return to things pre Crisis. I understand some things make sense. But I hate Hal Jordan. I don't like Barry Allen. And while Babs returning as Batgirl sounds cool I think she' smuch cooler as Oracle personally.
 

---

Posted by icefire on :
 
I would be okay with this for a storyline or so but then I would want things back to normal. She can walk again but I don't want to see her as Batgirl.
 

---

Posted by Mattropolis on :
 
I am of the opposite side on this on.

I want her back as Batwoman, not Batgirl.

I don't like Cassandra in the role of Batgirl, never have. But if Babs is Batwoman, then Cassie can continue on as BG.
 

---

Posted by SouthtownKid on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jorg-EM:
This feeds my fears that Identity Crisis is an attempt to return to things pre Crisis. I understand some things make sense. But I hate Hal Jordan. I don't like Barry Allen. And while Babs returning as Batgirl sounds cool I think she' smuch cooler as Oracle personally.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mattropolis:
I don't like Cassandra in the role of Batgirl, never have.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jorg-EM:
This feeds my fears that Identity Crisis is an attempt to return to things pre Crisis. I understand some things make sense. But I hate Hal Jordan. I don't like Barry Allen. And while Babs returning as Batgirl sounds cool I think she' smuch cooler as Oracle personally.

---

Sigh. I swear this man takes the words right out of my mouth...
I'm with u, Jorge.

I like Cassandra a lot. I like John Stewart. I dig Conner Hawke and Roy Harper. Wally has definitely become the Flash for me (and a readable one at that - i never picked up the Flash when Barry was the headliner). I was even pleasantly surprised at how much I'm enjoying Warren Ellis's use of Kyle in JLA Classified right now.
So why bother with the RESTART button at DCU? I wouldn't mind Infinite Earths; I do mind obscuring the newer characters with the older ones (who were not doing so well until they had top-name creators attached to them - they did all get cancelled at some point). Why not invest in the new characters too?


OF COURSE, the fact that there's a possible BATGIRL cartoon in development (starring Babs) may have something to do with this. And of course, they could always make Cassandra another kind of Bat, or I guess she could follow her mother for awhile at the League of Assassins.
 

---

Posted by Quislet, Esq. on :
 
Barbara Gordon needs to stay paralyzed and as Oracle.
 

---

Posted by Fat Cramer on :
 
I hope it's just a rumour, too. We've got no shortage of people in tights but Oracle is fairly unique.

In addition to walking (unless she gets some sort of exoskeleton which enables her to use her legs), she'd have to get contact lenses, too.
 

---

Posted by Caliente on :
 
At the end of the last arc of Birds of Prey, it was heavily implied that Babs got use of her legs back. It won't be an instantaneous sort of thing, of course, but the set up is there.

So, the walking is not so much an issue. As for the rest of it... all I can say is that I really like Cassandra and Barbara both for their uniqueness as characters.

Barbara as Oracle is unparalleled in the DCU. She is it. Period. End of story. She's not perfect or infallable (like Dream Girl's visions ) but she does have a very distinct and useful role.

Cassandra Cain as Batgirl, to me at least, brought something new to a title I'd once laughed at. And the way she sees the world, how she communicates, it totally blows me away. Both work so well as is, I don't see the need to change things.

But, then, I also really love Cassandra period. And I've never really been a fan of Babs (excepting BoP), so I admit I'm more than a little bit biased. I just hate to see things moving backwards... ><
 

---

Posted by Outdoor Miner on :
 
I'm fine with her walking again, though I fear the reset button is going to be hit on this one, which is only going to annoy fans who want her out of the wheelchair. But I'd rather she not be Batgirl. She does better work as Oracle.
 

---

Posted by legionadventureman on :
 
I vote that Batwoman be resurrected - that Batman and Robin team looks way too suspect - it may take a woman's touch to dispel those ugly rumours...
 

---

Posted by Jorg-EM on :
 
I am getting used to the idea. But I still prefer her as Oracle.

Still if she comes back it has to be different IMO. An updated costume possibly.
 

---

Posted by MLLASH on :
 
Bah! Why can't she be both Batwoman AND Oracle? I'm 100% for anything that reverses the horrors done to Babs in THE KILLING JOKE.
 

---

Posted by 235 - Andy S on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by MLLASH:
Bah! Why can't she be both Batwoman AND Oracle? I'm 100% for anything that reverses the horrors done to Babs in THE KILLING JOKE.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by legionadventureman:
I vote that Batwoman be resurrected - that Batman and Robin team looks way too suspect - it may take a woman's touch to dispel those ugly rumours...

---

Yeah, where's Aunt Harriet when you need her? I think I'd rather have her as Batwoman than Barbara.

Well, okay. After 10 seconds of reflection, maybe not.

[ September 14, 2005, 12:44 AM: Message edited by: SouthtownKid ]
 

---

Posted by Pov on :
 
Oh, now THAT's begging for a photo manip... Aunt Harriet as Batwoman?!

Where's MEL when we need 'im?!
 

---

Posted by Quislet, Esq. on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by legionadventureman:
I vote that Batwoman be resurrected - that Batman and Robin team looks way too suspect - it may take a woman's touch to dispel those ugly rumours...

---

Who said they were rumors?
 

---

Posted by legionadventureman on :
 
Well, who knows went on behind those closed portals in the Batcave, Quis...
 

---

Posted by 235 - Andy S on :
 
What is wrong with DC???
i just started picking this up again recently (after a year off) and this most recent issue - while promising excitement in the cover - just plain SUCKED.
i think the whole issue could have been covered in a two page spread
i hate feeling ripped off by a comic
 

---

Posted by Reboot on :
 
I know there's been talk about the wind-back in the reboot threads, but I felt it was worth bumping this from one of the times they merely threatened this.

As for me, well, this earlier post still sums it up for me:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Reboot:
*sigh*

Great. Another step back for DC...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by MLLASH:
Bah! Why can't she be both Batwoman AND Oracle? I'm 100% for anything that reverses the horrors done to Babs in THE KILLING JOKE.

---

I am still very much on this page.
 

---

Posted by Reboot on :
 
Well, the reason she can't be Batwoman is pretty obvious. Plus, it's a different patch for the same wound.
 

---

Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
 
I'm with Reboot on this. Huge step back, going from one of DC's characters that mattered most to just another Bat-character third fiddle to Batman and Nightwing (possibly even Batwoman).

A new 'Oracle' and a new physically disabled character won't ever match up to what Babs became under Ostrander, Dixon and so many others.

I didn't care for how Babs ended up in the chair, but her Batgirl stories never held a candle to her Oracle stories (having read the vast majority of both).

Just my opinion though.
 

---

Posted by MLLASH on :
 
My "Batwoman" statement was made before the creation of the all-new Batwoman. I'm content with her being Batgirl.
 

---

Posted by Dev Em on :
 
One thing that get's me...you're all assuming that she is going to be a third fiddle to the other characters. Why? Why can she not have top tier status through all of this?

Not saying she is absolutely going to be the case...but why not? Gail is a powerful writer. She has bought into what they are doing and thinks it is a good thing at this point.

We also have not seen how/why she got out of the chair and back into the cape and cowl. Like most things of this magnitude...I'm waiting and seeing what happens.
 

---

Posted by Reboot on :
 
Here's the thing about saying "why can't she get out of the wheelchair". It's like asking "why doesn't Daredevil get his eyes fixed/replaced"? There's a thousand ways in the Marvel U that Matt could start seeing, but no-one ever brings HIM up as an example!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dev Em:
One thing that get's me...you're all assuming that she is going to be a third fiddle to the other characters. Why? Why can she not have top tier status through all of this?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Reboot:
Here's the thing about saying "why can't she get out of the wheelchair". It's like asking "why doesn't Daredevil get his eyes fixed/replaced"? There's a thousand ways in the Marvel U that Matt could start seeing, but no-one ever brings HIM up as an example!

---

quote:

---

Because, as Batgirl, she's purely a spin-off character, and they NEVER get genuine "top tier status".

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dev Em:
So...Nightwing is not top tier.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dev Em:
I'm interested to see how this came about...what history they keep, and how they explain it...if they even do. I hope that they do, and Gail seems to be hinting that there is a reason for this.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dev Em:
It wasn't like they had a plan for her with that little story arc. It wassn't until a few years later that John and Kim had a brainstorm that made her a fixture once more.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dev Em:
Even then, she was in the shadow of the Bat. he funded her. he supplied the tech that she utilized, at least in the beginning. So any heights that she hit as Oracle was as a spin off character as well. Thre's no saying she will not flourish here as well.

---

But the point is that, as Batgirl, she's simply the Xteenth Batclone - we know that AT LEAST Bruce/Batman, Damien/Robin, Dick/Nightwing, Jason Todd/Red Hood, Tim/Red Robin and Kate Kane/Batwoman are still running around in the DCnU. [It's quite possible that Helena/Huntress, Cass Cain/Blackbat (only found out about that name the other day... really?!), Steph/Spoiler and others are still around too]. Moreover, she doesn't have the inherent character "hook" that most of those have - she's JUST a Batclone without an distinguishing feature.

Whereas, as Oracle, she has an actual character niche and hook not covered elsewhere. And any attempt to create a replacement Oracle will be in HER shadow, rather than her lying in someone else's.
 

---

Posted by Dev Em on :
 
Batgirl: Having been crippled by the Joker and forging a new career for herself as Oracle, she has ought back and regained the ability to fight crime in cyberspace and the streets of Gotham.

Look. I happen to agree with you in the respect that I would rather see her continue as Oracle, and leading the Birds of Prey. But I am also open enough to check out the Batgirl book...why, because I am trusting Gail to tell a damned good story.
 

---

Posted by Doctor One on :
 
In order to do what Oracle does Barbara doesn´t have to be crippled. It wouldn´t surprise me in the least if the new Batgirl is both Batgirl and Oracle. That would certainly give her a 'hook'...
 

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Posted by doublechinner on :
 
There just isn't a good solution to this. DC wants Babs to be Batgirl, so it IS a question of whether it is done well. I don't think it is fair to compare ancient Batgirl backup stories to contemporary Oracle stories. The only fair comparison is between Oracle stories and the upcoming Batgirl stories we haven't read yet. I think if you liked Gail's Oracle, there ought to be a decent chance her Batgirl will be goos, as well.
 

---

Posted by superboymddjr on :
 
I wonder what happens to Cassandra, Stephanie, Proxy, Lady Blackhawk, and Helena B? its like that they are just blanked out of existence....
 

---

Posted by MLLASH on :
 
let's dance, Babs!
 

---

Posted by Pov on :
 
We need a "Batgirl, Inc." comic with Babs heading Stephanie, Cassandra and Misfit. Get Flamebird back into her Bat-girl togs.
 

---

Posted by superboymddjr on :
 
funny thing you mentioned Flamebird.... she'll appear in Batwoman and they changed the relationship by making them cousins instead of Aunt/niece. :\
 

---

Posted by Jerry on :
 
How come we never have super-heroes who are congresswomen any more?
 

---

Posted by Pov on :
 
From a Bleeding Cool report on the New York DC Retailer Roadshow last Friday:

quote:

---

Barbara Gordon is back as Batgirl. The events of Killing Joke and her tenure as Oracle have occurred and this title addresses her return to the role.

---

quote:

---

Barbara Gordon will still be part of the [BoP] book.

---

quote:

---

what about Stephanie Brown? It was hinted that we would see her in Batman Incorporated. Dan Didio said she worked better as Spoiler.

---

quote:

---

TINY TITANS #45
Written by ART BALTAZAR and FRANCO
Art and cover by ART BALTAZAR
On sale OCTOBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED E
You are invited to a special Batgirl issue featuring Cassandra, Stephanie, Flamebird and, of course, Barbara. Find out what happens to The Batcave when the girls take over!

---

-- ? Some of the DC October solicits are mindnumbingly headscratching... mostly the trades.

Still getting this, though.
 

---

Posted by doublechinner on :
 
If you aren't reading Tiny Titans, you are missing a treasure. Imagine a mind meld of Julius Schwartz and Charles Schultz.
 

---

Posted by Debbie T. Tastic on :
 
BATGIRL (DCnU) # 1

I saved this book for next-to-last to read, meaning I was really looking forward to it.

While I thought it was okay, I was a bit let down.

Where other titles' final pages had me hooked for the next issue, this books' final page is almost a dealbreaker for me.

Babs freezing at the gun being held on her by Mirror was not my problem... it was the COP who had the nerve to pull the gun on Babs and call her a murderer IN DEFENSE OF THE FAMILY-KILLING SCUMBAG that Mirror had just killed.

That guy was absolute trash and IMO deserved every bit of what he got.

I'm seriously on the fence after that scene. Didn't like it one bit. IMO the same should have been done to the Joker years ago. I know it's supposed to be innocent until proven guilty but we had JUST witnessed the horror this guy was capable of. I repeat: HATED that scene. How dare anyone be upset this psycho would NEVER be able to slaughter families again!! Yep, I had major problems with that.

On the plus side, the art is good and Gail is still able to create some memorable villains.
 

---

Posted by Power Boy on :
 
I named my car Barbara after ... Barbara Gordon Bat Girl ... not Barbara Streisand.
 

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Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
 
So the red-headed Barbara Gordon has an "eidetic memory" and there's a new tv show about a red-headed crime-fighter called "Unforgettable" about a woman who would appear to have HSAM, an advanced kind of photographic memory which has red-headed Marilu Henner (who has HSAM)as a consultant... coincidence?? (yeah, probably but I thought it was interesting)

Reading "Batgirl #1" and "Detective Comics #1" it seems people with Bats on their chest dive into situations without being totally prepared. (and yes, that actually applies to Batman - crazy, huh?) The Big Secret of this series so far would appear to be the "miracle" that gave Babs her use of her legs, but for me it's the "miracle" that gave the Commish his youthful red hair again. (does that put him on Mirror's list? )
 

---

Posted by Fat Cramer on :
 
Alas, poor Oracle. I will miss her.

It made sense that Barbara has not entirely recovered, psychologically, from the Joker's attack; it was good to see she has some weakness to overcome. I'd agree that the cop's reaction didn't make sense; a cop of all people must know that things go wrong sometimes, someone doesn't act fast enough and people get killed. Unless there's something about the cop that we don't yet know.

The Mirror is a very interesting villain. Vigilante of some sort, rather than going for personal power/gain.

Babs is sort of pushing her luck for her secret identity by getting a roommate. She can't afford her own place - or does she want to get found out? If the book explores Barbara's psyche, I'll be interested - but if it's just another Bat family member chasing troublemakers, I'll pass.
 

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Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
 
I don't think of the Mirror as a vigilante, more like a nutjob who's seen too many of those "Final Destination" movies. (he's like the embodiment of the film's concept)

I have to wonder if Simone will feel a need to have Barbara maintain some kind of relationship to the handicapped community to compensate for the loss of Oracle. It would then stand to reason that perhaps one of those characters could inherit Oracle's mantle in spirit if not in name as an outright replacement.
 

---

Posted by Risky Barton, boy adventurer on :
 
That's a great idea!!
 

---

Posted by DrakeB3004 on :
 
If they decide to introduce a new handicapped character/hero, I think I'd rather s/he did something unique to that character rather than simply do what Oracle did.
 

---

Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
 
At long last I finally got around to reading Batgirl. Originally I had made the decision not to buy it at all: such was my outrage at the reversal of Barbara not being in the wheelchair anymore. But since I’m basically buying almost all the DCnU #1’s and reviewing them, I figured what the hell; its Gail, who I love and Adrian Syaf, who I really like, plus a character I love.

Since I was so adamant about not being down with this new status quo, I was waiting to read it and love it so then I’d be like “wow, I was wrong”, which has happened with some DCnU stuff already. Well, that didn’t happen. I actually thought it wasn’t terrible, but I didn’t really like it that much.

First, the elephant in the room: the fears I had about “losing” Oracle? Well, I feel those are kind of justified so far. We have Babs de-aged to her college years or just after college years; she’s just moving out of her Dad’s place to get a roommate. So sure, she’s smart and all, but all of that development as a character to become such a strong, admirable heroine seems to have taken a huge step backwards. Sure, she’s still incredibly smart and stuff, but you can clearly see she is not Oracle; she doesn’t have that immense edge that Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, Flash, etc all have. As Oracle she was as top-tier as it got in the DCU. Now she’s no longer top tier. You can see that immediately in one issue. In terms of her not being in the wheelchair, well, yeah, that sucks too. That’s a huge loss to DC because that made her so unique and so different. Because let’s be honest, as Batgirl, there isn’t that much that is unique to her.

So that brings me to the next point: as Batgirl, we see her jumping through windows, kicking bad guys, riding around on a motorcycle and all around battling trouble-makers. Okay, cool. But we also have Batman, Nightwing, Batwoman, Black Canary, Huntress and so, so many others doing that. And let’s face it: Bats is the best. If there was a #2, it’s Dick. And Batwoman, though she’s much newer, has one of the very best written series in comics based on her #1 and what’s come before. So in order for Babs to stand out, she’s got to stand out. Nothing in this issue did that.

The end sequence where she freezes when a gun is pulled on her was heart-breaking to see. First, because of the traumatic effect on her. But second, because of how far she had gotten before. We saw her overcome her fear of violence; we saw her actually beat the shit out of the Joker. Are we going to see all that stuff again? Didn’t I just read all those stories over the last 15 years?

Syaf does a great job on the art but it wasn’t enough. I was really disappointed. I thought for sure I’d be proven wrong and I felt all those fears I had were totally justified.

I wanted to like it. I didn’t.

Cobie Comparison: Did I enjoy it as much as JL #1? No, not at all. This is among the lower tier of comics I’ve gotten so far. I’d rank it below Hawk & Dove, honestly.
 

---

Posted by Lard Lad on :
 
Batgirl was on my pull list from the moment it was announced. Not because I approved of her not being Oracle and wheelchair-bound. Hell, I should have given it a pass because I absolutely loved Stephanie Brown's dearly departed Batgirl series that got the shaft in favor of this one. But I do love Barbara Gordon and knowing that Gail Simone was onboard gave it an automatic spot. If pretty much anyone else was writing it, I'd have given it a pass.

Plus, well, I have to admit to rooting for Babs to at least get out of the chair someday. In a Universe of woders, it didn't seem like she should necessarily be in this state indefinitely. It's been teased and discussed a lot over the years, and you just knew if it ever happened, she'd be Batgirl again. That's not something I ever necessarily desired, but I empathized with the character enough to hope for her.

So what did I think? Well, after mostly negative reviews here and elsewhere, I was expecting to hate it. But I didn't. Did I love it? Well, no, not exactly. But it was well-written and beautifully rendered, and I definitely enjoyed it.

What really hurts this book for many readers is the loss of Oracle. I miss her, too, and don't like those stories being done away with, either. I'm not sure if this would have been an easier sell if in the new continuity, they'd simply said Barbara was never shot. Instead, she still was but apparently never made the leap to becoming computer genius to the superheroes.

In other words, this is probably how Barbara's story would have played out had John Ostrander never come along and placed his ingenious mark on the character which grew and grew in the hands of writers like Chuck Dixon and Gail. If not for John, she probably would have been a background character for a while until somebody decided to cure her paralysis and put her in the cowl again. And if she was ever going to be Batgirl again, I guess it would work better if she had never been Oracle in the first place. This way, it doesn't seem as much a step backwards if that makes sense. Taken in that manner and in the general spirit that most of the DC Universe has been rebooted, maybe this take becomes easier to embrace.

Or maybe not. Oracle was great, and it's impossible to forget her incredible stories and role over the past two decades. Hell, there isn't so much clamor over the key marriages being dissolved and the JSA being removed from this world's history. It can color how one judges a book on its own merits. Me, I've seen reboot after reboot of my beloved Legion and stuck with it, so I guess I apply that to what's been done here.

Reading this first issue, it's clear to me, at least, what makes this book and character stand out and justify its existence among the books that Cobalt mentions, including the excellent Batwoman book. It's unique because it's about a woman looking to stage a comeback. From being in a wheelchair. From being rusty as a hero. From living in fear.

Gail painted that mission statement very well for me in this first issue, and I got it. Yes, we've seen Barbara come back from these things as Oracle in the former continuity. Now, we are going to see if she can do it in this new one as Batgirl instead. And at this point I'm onboard. If Gail and Ardian Syaf stay chronicling her adventures, I trust that it will be a journey worth taking.

That said, if there was one thing (other than preconceptions) that took me out of the story, it was wondering how Barbara knew where the home invasion was taking place. Did she just happen to spot them through the open window? Seemed like low odds that she would happen to spot it. Any lead she mentioned seemed pretty vague. Not as bad as the logistical issues I had with Action Comics #1's train sequence but still a puzzler.

Nice full page spread of Babs swinging over Gotham. The Mirror looks interesting, and I'm curious to see what his deal is. I guess he doesn't like people beating the odds?

Curious to see what all Gail has up her sleeve....
 

---

Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
 
So with month #1 over for the DCnU, I’ve found myself collecting far too many DC titles. In month #2 there are several that just have to be cut. The two I’d been leaning towards the most are Mr. Terrific (haven’t read yet) and Batgirl (my earlier post explains my disappointment). I grabbed Batgirl #2 with this in mind, seeing it as a chance for the series to overcome that hurdle and convince me to keep buying. Quite simply put: it didn’t.

The loss of Oracle still stings. She was one DC’s most unique heroines that could stand on her own and now I feel a lot of that is lost. The bottom line is that all “Bat-“ characters fall within a food chain and Batman is #1; Nightwing is #2. Oracle had moved beyond that and now as Batgirl she’s right back in there. I want to be proven wrong but all this series has done so far is the opposite: it’s proving me right since this story is pretty run of the mill and could easily be foil for Stephanie, Cassandra, Huntress, Batwoman, and so many other female vigilantes related to the Bat-universe.

The art by Syaf is good and the writing by Gail is a bit by the numbers though not bad by any means. But its hard to justify why I’m collecting this series when I hate the entire concept of why it exists; if it was really that fantastic, I’d feel obligated to buy it because it was great. I don’t feel that here at all.

Lardy brings up a few really nice points:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lard Lad:
What really hurts this book for many readers is the loss of Oracle. I miss her, too, and don't like those stories being done away with, either. I'm not sure if this would have been an easier sell if in the new continuity, they'd simply said Barbara was never shot. Instead, she still was but apparently never made the leap to becoming computer genius to the superheroes.

In other words, this is probably how Barbara's story would have played out had John Ostrander never come along and placed his ingenious mark on the character which grew and grew in the hands of writers like Chuck Dixon and Gail. If not for John, she probably would have been a background character for a while until somebody decided to cure her paralysis and put her in the cowl again. And if she was ever going to be Batgirl again, I guess it would work better if she had never been Oracle in the first place. This way, it doesn't seem as much a step backwards if that makes sense. Taken in that manner and in the general spirit that most of the DC Universe has been rebooted, maybe this take becomes easier to embrace.

Or maybe not. Oracle was great, and it's impossible to forget her incredible stories and role over the past two decades. Hell, there isn't so much clamor over the key marriages being dissolved and the JSA being removed from this world's history. It can color how one judges a book on its own merits. Me, I've seen reboot after reboot of my beloved Legion and stuck with it, so I guess I apply that to what's been done here.

Reading this first issue, it's clear to me, at least, what makes this book and character stand out and justify its existence among the books that Cobalt mentions, including the excellent Batwoman book. It's unique because it's about a woman looking to stage a comeback. From being in a wheelchair. From being rusty as a hero. From living in fear.

Gail painted that mission statement very well for me in this first issue, and I got it. Yes, we've seen Barbara come back from these things as Oracle in the former continuity. Now, we are going to see if she can do it in this new one as Batgirl instead. And at this point I'm onboard. If Gail and Ardian Syaf stay chronicling her adventures, I trust that it will be a journey worth taking.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by Cobalt Kid:
But its hard to justify why I’m collecting this series when I hate the entire concept of why it exists... So I’m out.

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Ah, learn well you do. Mastery, you may yet achieve
 

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Posted by Mystery Lad on :
 
Of all the new villains from the new DCU I've read, the one I find most intriguing is The Mirror, at least so far.

If the aim is to invent recurring opponents, this one's the one I'd like to read about again. The Trench, NOWHERE, a seemingly endless list of shady government agencies (yawn)... any rival the 'old' villains for any readers out there?
 

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Posted by lil'rhino on :
 
I'm still not feeling this book, but I'll give it another issue.
 

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Posted by Jerry on :
 
Okay guys, do yourselves a favor and read issue #3 before giving up on this book. I was disappointed in issue #1 and not completely on board with #2, even though Mirror has been shaping up into a decent villain.

Nightwing is the guest star in issue #3. The chemistry between Barbara and Dick is as strong as, perhaps stronger, than ever. We get some backstory that helps explain the relationship. I choked up a bit before it was all over. The best comic book I read this week.
 

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Posted by Quislet, Esq on :
 
Gosh, I've liked this book since issue #1.
 

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Posted by Mystery Lad on :
 
I agree-- #3 was a good comic. The Barbara/Dick relationship is going to be even more more important than ever if DC's going to stick to their stupid guns and keep Dick's two closest friends, Wally West and Donna Troy, out of continuity. Which would be an argument for a strong nonromantic friendship between the earliest Bat kids if it weren't for the palpable chemistry that Jerry mentioned above.

I'm looking forwarding to seeing Flamebird interact with either or both of the pair somewhere down the road, after the events BATWOMAN.
 

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Posted by Jerry on :
 
#4 was another strong issue. I was worried about this series when the first issue came out, and I thought it was weak. Batgirl takes the prize for most improved of the new 52. Barbara's relationship with Alysia has my interest. We get a little more backstory on Barbara's recovery. The battle with Mirror is being executed well, and we get a surprising new addition to the cast. Gail gets bonus points for good planning. We get a Christmas scene in a book that is released in December. The art is approaching excellence.
 

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Posted by MLLASH's back on :
 
Read BATGIRL 8, skimmed only on 9.

I'm not sure what I am wanting out of a Barbara Gordon BATGIRL comicbook, but I have decided that this isn't it. With 9 (and 10) being Batfamily crossover issues, now seems a good time to drop it.

Life's too short to be vaguely dissatisfied with a comic and to be skimming ones you pay 3 dollars for. I'm out.
 

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