sagesaria's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bibskan8_'s review
5.0
i absolutely ADORED barbara’s story and background, what makes her so passionate and striving for what she wants to prove and working hard to get it.
sylvain's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rabbithero's review
4.0
Great, straightforward classic stuff, and an unapologetic Robin. Batgirl's story has a sort of quaint chauvinism about it, but not, I think, to too detracting of a degree. just
Just a bit...dated for my liking. Still as far as it goes, this is really fun comics, like I remember as a boy.
Just a bit...dated for my liking. Still as far as it goes, this is really fun comics, like I remember as a boy.
whiskeydragon's review
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. It was a fun, enjoyable take on the origins of Robin and Batgirl. The art was amazing, the stories fun, the characters well realized. I have no complaints about this collection.
kips's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
vaguelymaybe's review
dnf at around 370 pages
the robin half is really cute and fun but the batgirl half has got to be THE most painfully condescending (read: misogynistic) thing ive ever read in my life! it undoes literally every single thing i loved about 60s-70s batgirl - a kickass, non-sexualised, intelligent female superhero who's on equal footing with batman and is capable in her own right. this version of bg has literally none of that going for her. also killer moth is there. not recommended
the robin half is really cute and fun but the batgirl half has got to be THE most painfully condescending (read: misogynistic) thing ive ever read in my life! it undoes literally every single thing i loved about 60s-70s batgirl - a kickass, non-sexualised, intelligent female superhero who's on equal footing with batman and is capable in her own right. this version of bg has literally none of that going for her. also killer moth is there. not recommended
ishmael's review
4.0
This was excellent. Beautiful art with nice colors, lots of energy. While there were parts I liked better than others the overall optimism and heart really makes this work. A very believable beginning for Babs.
And it has a cameo of Condiment King, who will forever be the most hilarious villain.
And it has a cameo of Condiment King, who will forever be the most hilarious villain.
tapsandtomes's review
4.0
Read my full review here: http://ilayreading.com/2015/09/30/batgirlrobin-year-one/
Robin Story: I went into this knowing only the Batman from the Christopher Nolan movies and Gotham. Robin to me was an unknown, except for the hint at the end of Dark Knight with JGL. So when I picked up this book to find out that the real Robin was a little circus kid, rather than a cop, I was pretty confused. Still, I instantly fell in love with the story, and had a pretty hard time putting this one down–even to the point where I was struggling to read my other books this week because I was so enthralled with a comic! What?! Alfred’s narration was spot on with what I expected, and “The Bat” was deliciously broody. I’ve heard a lot about Dick Grayson lately from a friend of mine (quite a lot of sexy things…another reason why I was confused at child Robin), so I’m looking forward to seeing Master Richard grow up.
Batgirl Story: Batgirl is actually why I picked this book up in the first place. I almost went with Wonder Woman for my first female superhero, but my tiny library branch didn’t have any of the origin stories, just later spinoffs, and I really like to start with the beginnings. I’m an “in order” sort of girl. Plus, I’ve been getting confused about Babs and her different reiterations, so I knew I needed to figure her out soon. At first, I was pissed because HELLO THE BOOK IS CALLED BATGIRL ROBIN YEAR ONE WHY ARE WE STARTING WITH ROBIN?! But, then, once I started reading her, it made a little bit more sense. And THEN I got scared that it was going to become this big romance between the two and she was going to be reduced to this shallow “Bruce Banner meets Natasha Romanova” plot device. GUYS BATGIRL KICKS SO MUCH ASS.
I love how she takes Batman’s overprotective “You can’t do this because you’re a naive little girl,” and questions the hell out of it. And don’t get me wrong here, I mostly understand Batman’s concerns–and when Batgirl realizes why he’s so overbearing, she does take a moment to pause and step back a bit. I just really like her “Take No Shit” attitude. When the impression is given from Batman, Robin, and her father…and pretty much everyone else…that she can’t do anything because she’s just a little girl who doesn’t meet the height requirements, Babs says “NOPE GONNA KICK SOME ASS TODAY!”
Robin Story: I went into this knowing only the Batman from the Christopher Nolan movies and Gotham. Robin to me was an unknown, except for the hint at the end of Dark Knight with JGL. So when I picked up this book to find out that the real Robin was a little circus kid, rather than a cop, I was pretty confused. Still, I instantly fell in love with the story, and had a pretty hard time putting this one down–even to the point where I was struggling to read my other books this week because I was so enthralled with a comic! What?! Alfred’s narration was spot on with what I expected, and “The Bat” was deliciously broody. I’ve heard a lot about Dick Grayson lately from a friend of mine (quite a lot of sexy things…another reason why I was confused at child Robin), so I’m looking forward to seeing Master Richard grow up.
Batgirl Story: Batgirl is actually why I picked this book up in the first place. I almost went with Wonder Woman for my first female superhero, but my tiny library branch didn’t have any of the origin stories, just later spinoffs, and I really like to start with the beginnings. I’m an “in order” sort of girl. Plus, I’ve been getting confused about Babs and her different reiterations, so I knew I needed to figure her out soon. At first, I was pissed because HELLO THE BOOK IS CALLED BATGIRL ROBIN YEAR ONE WHY ARE WE STARTING WITH ROBIN?! But, then, once I started reading her, it made a little bit more sense. And THEN I got scared that it was going to become this big romance between the two and she was going to be reduced to this shallow “Bruce Banner meets Natasha Romanova” plot device. GUYS BATGIRL KICKS SO MUCH ASS.
I love how she takes Batman’s overprotective “You can’t do this because you’re a naive little girl,” and questions the hell out of it. And don’t get me wrong here, I mostly understand Batman’s concerns–and when Batgirl realizes why he’s so overbearing, she does take a moment to pause and step back a bit. I just really like her “Take No Shit” attitude. When the impression is given from Batman, Robin, and her father…and pretty much everyone else…that she can’t do anything because she’s just a little girl who doesn’t meet the height requirements, Babs says “NOPE GONNA KICK SOME ASS TODAY!”