snazel's review against another edition
4.0
I am deeply, deeply suspicious of DC, but this was really good. It dealt with recovery and survivor's guilt, in addition to making me really love Barb and Nightwing, and having a bunch of awesome action.
I still don't trust DC, but I might — tentatively— trust Gail Simone.
I still don't trust DC, but I might — tentatively— trust Gail Simone.
rhganci's review against another edition
5.0
The surprise winner of the first volume run of New 52 is BATGIRL: THE DARKEST REFLECTION by Gail Simone and Ardian Syaf, which knocks comic book storytelling out of the park in every regard. As excited as I was to see Barbara Gordon return to the Bat-family as Batgirl, I did not expect it to be as good as it is, itself a perfect microcosm of the New 52 itself and a perfect relaunch for what might already be the best version of the character to date.
The premise of Simone's story is simple: she answers the question of how a newly-healed former paraplegic returns to high-flying, crime-fighting ways physically, mentally, and emotionally. Through all six issues of this collected volume, that answer simply states: slowly. The two chief villains against which Barbara fights are reflections of her in a key aspect or two, carrying an inner conflict through to the very last panel on the very last page that is unique to Simone's story here. Barbara narrates not as a female junior Batman, but rather as a during-therapy shooting victim, one whose parentage and involvement with crimefighters in Gotham City has motivated her to move a little faster than her body or mind is ready for. The disconnect between emotion and reason really makes this story sing, especially in the light of accidents or instances of victimization, which become non-intrusive universal themes that Simone handles deftly, expertly, and subtly, keeping enough focus on the detective stories that carry Barbara forward in her return to Gotham. These issues communicate all of the things that great hero tales should, and manage to deal not only with Barbara's reclamation of the Batgirl mantle, but also of Barbara herself, as she looks for a job, a companion, and a place to live.
Additionally, the art of Adrian Syaf made the action sequences come alive on a par with JUSTICE LEAGUE V., with a Barbara Gordon color aesthetic that redacts Gotham into a version that champions Batgirl over Batman. The sky is always shot through with a shade of purple, the buildings with a burnished gold, and nothing else gets the shade of red that Barbara's hair does, to the effect of it always popping off the page distinctly. The combat sequences make use of Barbara's character model, and her ballet-background and feminine litheness, with less heavy-hitting uppercuttery than the rest of the Batbooks (Simone actually uses that distinction as a plot device in the middle movements of the tale). All of these things work together to the effect of reconstructing and rebooting a Bat-family figure that, while I have enjoyed her in the past, I considered a B- or even C-list character. Gail Simone's new vision of the character takes hold of the potential a figure so deeply connected to both the chief characters and setting of the Batman mythos, and constructs with her and her context a story to rival any being told in the first six months of the New 52.
The premise of Simone's story is simple: she answers the question of how a newly-healed former paraplegic returns to high-flying, crime-fighting ways physically, mentally, and emotionally. Through all six issues of this collected volume, that answer simply states: slowly. The two chief villains against which Barbara fights are reflections of her in a key aspect or two, carrying an inner conflict through to the very last panel on the very last page that is unique to Simone's story here. Barbara narrates not as a female junior Batman, but rather as a during-therapy shooting victim, one whose parentage and involvement with crimefighters in Gotham City has motivated her to move a little faster than her body or mind is ready for. The disconnect between emotion and reason really makes this story sing, especially in the light of accidents or instances of victimization, which become non-intrusive universal themes that Simone handles deftly, expertly, and subtly, keeping enough focus on the detective stories that carry Barbara forward in her return to Gotham. These issues communicate all of the things that great hero tales should, and manage to deal not only with Barbara's reclamation of the Batgirl mantle, but also of Barbara herself, as she looks for a job, a companion, and a place to live.
Additionally, the art of Adrian Syaf made the action sequences come alive on a par with JUSTICE LEAGUE V., with a Barbara Gordon color aesthetic that redacts Gotham into a version that champions Batgirl over Batman. The sky is always shot through with a shade of purple, the buildings with a burnished gold, and nothing else gets the shade of red that Barbara's hair does, to the effect of it always popping off the page distinctly. The combat sequences make use of Barbara's character model, and her ballet-background and feminine litheness, with less heavy-hitting uppercuttery than the rest of the Batbooks (Simone actually uses that distinction as a plot device in the middle movements of the tale). All of these things work together to the effect of reconstructing and rebooting a Bat-family figure that, while I have enjoyed her in the past, I considered a B- or even C-list character. Gail Simone's new vision of the character takes hold of the potential a figure so deeply connected to both the chief characters and setting of the Batman mythos, and constructs with her and her context a story to rival any being told in the first six months of the New 52.
kvcatnip's review against another edition
5.0
Re-read this because I love Gail Simone’s writing and I love Batgirl so much. This is a comic sweet spot for me, a home. This comic and this character changed me as a person. There are parts of Babs I identify with. There are parts of her that I want to be. But always, always - she inspires me. Her determination and strength, her cleverness and bravery - all of it. That’s my Batgirl.
angelwolf45's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this comic graphic novel. I liked the story and how Batgirl is trying to do her own thing and saving people on her own.
In this book it is about Barbara Gorden and how she is recovering from an injury that left her unable to walk but after about 3 years she is able to walk again due to a procedure that has been helping her to get back to being independant. She goes back to being Batgirl and she is going to go up against some new (to me) villians.
I loved how she wants to be able to trust those around her again. That she wants to save Gotham from the criminals and has to get over a fear of getting hurt. It is a hard thing to learn but she is willing to put to rest her fear of anyone new. I really like how she decides to live with a woman she doesn't know to learn to trust people and that she does not have to fear that everyone is out to get her.
I am really excited to see how things go for her and that will happen to her next as the series continues. It was fun being with Batgirl.
In this book it is about Barbara Gorden and how she is recovering from an injury that left her unable to walk but after about 3 years she is able to walk again due to a procedure that has been helping her to get back to being independant. She goes back to being Batgirl and she is going to go up against some new (to me) villians.
I loved how she wants to be able to trust those around her again. That she wants to save Gotham from the criminals and has to get over a fear of getting hurt. It is a hard thing to learn but she is willing to put to rest her fear of anyone new. I really like how she decides to live with a woman she doesn't know to learn to trust people and that she does not have to fear that everyone is out to get her.
I am really excited to see how things go for her and that will happen to her next as the series continues. It was fun being with Batgirl.
amydieg's review against another edition
4.0
Gail Simone you are my hero. I was so worried taking Barbara Gordan out of her wheelchair was going to just be a lame cop out. Instead its an interesting layer to add to the character, a real issue with repercussions she has to deal with. I'll be keeping up with this one.
livvanii's review against another edition
2.0
The worst part of this book, by far, is how much it invalidates the importance of Barbara’s time as Oracle, and erases both Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain’s legacy under the Batgirl mantle. It sucks especially hard knowing how much Gail Simone loves and cares for Barbara and Oracle.
geese82's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked it.
This is a great book if you have not read a work by Gail Simone. Superb storytelling where it brought me to point B from point A without too many existential philosophy like any of the DC New 52 books that I have read before.
Speaking of existential philosophy, the entire volume has 2 antagonists that dealt with surviving death in two different ways, one from a burning car where his family died and he was saved and the other, shot to the head which gave her psychic abilities to control men. I've been reading up on death lately, writers who faced cancer and wrote about it, even great men like Steve Jobs, and so much more I can't list them all.
I am glad that I am sticking to the bat family from DC New 52 even if there are some kinks that I am concerned and worried about. Like now that Barbara Gordon can walk why is she totally different than her Oracle version, mentally?! You can't be one one awesome character and completely change within "3" years. This is one of many reasons I do not like reboots. I wished they kept the other Batgirls and have Barbara a supporting character, maybe in the future Gail Simone will surprise us.
This is a great book if you have not read a work by Gail Simone. Superb storytelling where it brought me to point B from point A without too many existential philosophy like any of the DC New 52 books that I have read before.
Speaking of existential philosophy, the entire volume has 2 antagonists that dealt with surviving death in two different ways, one from a burning car where his family died and he was saved and the other, shot to the head which gave her psychic abilities to control men. I've been reading up on death lately, writers who faced cancer and wrote about it, even great men like Steve Jobs, and so much more I can't list them all.
I am glad that I am sticking to the bat family from DC New 52 even if there are some kinks that I am concerned and worried about. Like now that Barbara Gordon can walk why is she totally different than her Oracle version, mentally?! You can't be one one awesome character and completely change within "3" years. This is one of many reasons I do not like reboots. I wished they kept the other Batgirls and have Barbara a supporting character, maybe in the future Gail Simone will surprise us.
lmatakas's review against another edition
5.0
This series is going to destroy me just completely and totally. So so good.