Comic Review: Batgirl Volume 2

Volume 1 of Batgirl was one of those big surprises, because it was pretty good.  Still more of what I expect from DC than Batwoman’s more EC Comics vibe, it wasn’t ultra-silly.  And the way each villain reflected an aspect of her own character made things interesting.  This second volume builds on the first pretty well, pitting her against Grotesque, who isn’t a reflection of her, so much as a collector looking for a prize.  But the story does force her to finally confront the last barrier of her recovery, as she faces one of the men who was with the Joker the night she was paralyzed.  With that final confrontation and catharsis, Barbara Gordon and her alter ego Batgirl are finally ready to step back into the ring and become a crime fighter Gotham needs.  That brings us to the second major villain of this volume, and what appears to be the major conflict being set up for the series, Knightfall.  And there’s the reappearance of Barbara’s brother James, who apparently has a storied career in the pages of DC comics, of which I was unaware until recently.  Looks like he’s going to be involved in some serious trouble coming up, too.

There’s lots of action, plenty of fist fights, and henchmen bashing.  The art is fine, if not especially memorable.  And Gail Simone does a passable job writing, seeming to have toned down a bit of the false-hipness of the first volume.  Batgirl’s running commentary is still somewhat distracting and often contains the more groan-worthy bits of dialog.  But it’s not too bad.  The brief aside to deal with the Night of Owls multi-title event was distracting, especially since it doesn’t seem to effect anything else in the series.  But that’s kind of the problem with cross-over events.  I guess the big breakout at Arkham Asylum (which isn’t really talked about in that Night of Owls issue, but that I know about because of reading some of the other series) does cast a shadow over things.  Still.

Unlike Batwoman, which had such a dramatic shift in art style, and I would hazard quality, between volume 1 and volume 2 (so much so that I gave up on the series), this feels like a natural progression from the first volume.  And if you enjoyed the first volume, you should enjoy this one, too.  From those I’ve read, it seems to be one of the better of the New 52 lineup.  Not amazing.  Not a ‘must read.’  But if you’re looking for a Bat title that doesn’t suck, check it out.

Batgirl: Volume 2  Knightfall Descends
Author: Gail Simone
Artists: Adrian Syaf, etc.
Publisher: DC Comics
ISBN: 978-1-4012-3816-2

-Matt

Comic Review: Batgirl: The Darkest Reflection

    I’m still not all that keen on most of the characters from the big two, and like super teams, side-kicks tend to interest me almost not at all.  So, color me shocked that this volume of the New 52’s Batgirl is actually pretty good.

    Gail Simone’s name has been bandied about for years as one of the top writers, but until recently I haven’t read anything by her.  When that changed, frankly, I wasn’t impressed.  And I can’t say she’s become a favorite all of a sudden; but this is better than what I’d read before.  Her dialog (especially the running, inner monologue from Batgirl) often feels forced and artificial, like someone who is trying to be hip, but clearly isn’t.  Sometimes it feels like something Joss Wheadon would write on a bad day (not as bad a day as when he put Dollhouse together, but a bad day).  And she’s wordy.  By today’s standards, very wordy.

    But the stories are pretty good.  This volume features two tales, each centered around a different villain, each showcasing a different aspect of Batgirl herself.  The first focuses a lot on survivor’s guilt, which she has in buckets.  Now that some ‘miracle cure’ has allowed Barbara Gordon to walk again, and don the cowl again, she has a lot of emotional baggage to carry.  The second story is about the woman she could have become, if she hadn’t had a support network, love, and guidance after being paralyzed.

    I get the idea that Simone wants to spend more time with Barbara Gordon, as opposed to Batgirl.  She’s building a lot of characters for her day life, and creating a lot of tension on that end.  Not really something I care too much about.  But it’s fairly well done.  Her relationship with Batman is interesting, especially when compared to some of the Dark Knight’s other companions.  It’s like she looks up to him, not as a surrogate father, but an almost religious figure.  I wonder how that’ll play out.

    Few would be more surprised than me that Batwoman and Batgirl would trump Wonder Woman for me, but it’s true.  Both characters have a heck of a lot more personality and both comics have much better art.

Batgirl: The Darkest Reflection
Author: Gail Simone
Artists: Ardian Syaf & Vincente Cifuentes
Publisher: DC Comics
ISBN: 978-1-4012-3475-1

-Matt

A Fistful of Catsuits! (Brad's Picks)

The fourth Underworld film has arrived and the world scratches its head and asks, "Who wanted a fourth Underworld film?"  Nevertheless, you can't deny that Kate Beckinsale looks good in a catsuit and even though Brian Michael Bendis is probably right when he tweets that "poor Kate Beckinsale is going to be in that frakakta outfit until she's 57 years old" I say that's okie-dokie.  Cinema always could use a few more catsuits.  Here are my personal fave:

5.  Sybil Danning (The Howling II):  I think there is enough suit to call it a catsuit, but even if I'm cheating a little Sybil Danning's outfit from this not-so-seminal sequel was impossible to forget for this once upon a time 13 year old horror dork.  It's definitely easier to remember her outfit than Christopher Lee's super thin 80s sunglasses.  But, as far as the film's concerned, I just recommend watching the closing credits over and over and over again.

4.  Erin Grey (Buck Rogers in the 25th Century):  Here's another one that stuck in my child's mind.  And it's not really one, is it?  Erin Grey wore hundreds of different disco inspired catsuits as Wilma Deering and each one of them left an impact on my young self.

3.  Michelle Pfeiffer (Batman Returns):  Man, oh, man--when you're picking the best catsuits it's even harder to pick the best Catwoman catsuit.  Julie Newmar, Eartha Kitt, and Lee Meriwether all look stunning in their respective suits, but I gotta go with Pfeiffer cuz she's the only one that kinda scares me as Catwoman.  Every time she engulfs The Penguin's bird I swear she's gonna swallow.  Yep, she's genuinely psychotic in the role and I think it's summed up by those visible stitches. This kitty is about to break.

2.  Yvonne Craig (Batman Season 3):  But if Michelle Pfeiffer has the 60s Catwomen beat, than Yvonne Craig's Batgirl reigns supreme.  Barbara Gordon's got the whole city fooled; behind her secret, rotating vanity hides the hottest ass kicker of Gotham City.  And many a nerd fetish were born watching her few episodes on Nick At Night.

1.  John Phillip Law (Danger: Diabolik):  No, I'm not being PC.  The sexiest, coolest, most badass catsuit belongs to John Phillip Law's super-thief Diabolik.  Doubts?  Just watch the movie.  "He Robs From The Rich To Give To The Girls."  It's MODtastic.

--Brad

Dork Art: Catwoman's Boy Friend Darwyn Cooke

Found this gem from Mike Holmes over on Darwyn Cooke's blog.  Just tickled my fancy.

--Brad

To The Batpoles!

Surfing the internet this evening and discovered a rather nifty Batman TV show appreciation blog called To The Batpoles.  A lot of fun episode dissections and lots of crazy cool photos like the one above.  Check it out Dorks.

--Brad