Batgirl

[Denim]

I really liked this first issue. I hope that the "miracle" that Barbara mentioned about her getting the use of her legs is a story that will be revealed within the next year. Mirror is an awesome villian and I can already see why he has Barbara on his list.

Looking forward to issue 2.

[jaydee74]

I've got a feeling it will be revealed within this first story. If you saw Mirror's list, Barbara Gordon was on that list so I am sure this "miracle" will be the root of Mirror's mission whatever that might be.

[jaydee74]

The New 52 Interviews: Batgirl
Gail Simone talks about the return of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl.
http://comics.ign.com/articles/119/1192786p1.html

[superdoug]

I'm on the fence with this. I honestly wanted to be blown away by it, and just wasn't. I love Gail Simone, and trust that she'll do great things with the book, but I'm very much undecided as to whether I will continue to pick it up.

And that interview with Gail, while interesting, does NOTHING to alleviate my fears that someone is going to stick Stephanie back in the Spoiler outfit. I -hated- Stephanie as Spoiler.

[shark6495]

i enjoyed how they referenced TKJ and the 3 years she spent wheel chair bound... the question will be "was she oracle?" or just Batgirl in a wheel chair for those 3 years...

[rwe1138]

My review: http://panelsonpages.com/?p=42859

[Batman25JM]

Batgirl #1

I didn't really care for this. I like Gail Simone, but I'm by no means a huge fan. She's kind of hit or miss with me. This was more of a miss than a hit. I was actually pretty bored while reading this.

I love, and I mean LOVE, the previous Batgirl series by Bryan Q. Miller, so this book had to do a lot to impress me. It didn't mange to do that. I was very meh about it.

I will say that the art was great, but I don't really like the design of the new Batgirl costume.

That last page was fucking stupid. The cop is calling Batgirl a murderer while the actual murderer is standing right next to Batgirl and the cop saw them kill the guy? Really?!?! No wonder Gotham is so littered with crime; the cops are fucking morons.

I do love Barbara (as Oracle though), so I'm going to stick with the book for now in the hopes that I like it more.

[jaydee74]

As much as I liked Stephanie as Batgirl, I was never over the moon with the concept and to be honest, I like Barbara as Batgirl just fine. I did hear that Stephanie would be back as Spoiler.

[Batman25JM]

I LOVE Stephanie as Batgirl and I think Barbara is more interesting as Oracle. I want Steph to return, but I don't want her back as Spoiler. I liked her as Spoiler, but I didn't love her back then. I feel like it would be a step down and I don't really like the Spoiler costume (if she comes back as Spoiler I hope they redesign the costume). I'd rather they give her a new identity and a new costume.

[jaydee74]

They are updating most if not all costumes anyway. If Spoiler comes back, she'll have a updated costume. Stephanie Brown going back to Spoiler to me is the equivalent of Dick Grayson going back to Nightwing after being Batman. She was okay as Batgirl and not very good as Robin. So she goes back to the role she originated just like Dick Grayson is going back to his role he invented. I see no difference. Barbara is Batgirl. At the end of the day, people remember her in the cape and cowl. Gail is going to do a great job with this book and I am so excited for this series.

[Batman25JM]

They are updating most if not all costumes anyway. If Spoiler comes back, she'll have a updated costume. Stephanie Brown going back to Spoiler to me is the equivalent of Dick Grayson going back to Nightwing after being Batman. She was okay as Batgirl and not very good as Robin. So she goes back to the role she originated just like Dick Grayson is going back to his role he invented. I see no difference. Barbara is Batgirl. At the end of the day, people remember her in the cape and cowl. Gail is going to do a great job with this book and I am so excited for this series.

I think there is a difference between Stephanie going back to being Batgirl and Dick going back to being Nightwing, but I think we've had this discussion before, so I don't want to rehash it.

I just don't have complete faith in Gail Simone. I'm not saying she's a bad writer, but I don't have an undying love for her work. Like I said earlier, she's hit or miss with me, and this first issue was definitely not a hit.

[jaydee74]

Agree to disagree then.

[Batman25JM]

Agree to disagree then.

Can do.

[Rath99]

My Batgirl rating:
Babs..Old enough to remember her as the original Batgirl.
Cassie Cain..Want more of her in the new DCU
Steph...Never sold on her as Batgirl.

[superdoug]

Barbara is Batgirl. At the end of the day, people remember her in the cape and cowl.

To be fair, the only reason they remember her is because no other Batgirl has appeared in other media like animation, live-action, movies, etc. Barbara is the ONLY Batgirl that has been presented to the public at large, and therefore it's a bit biased to say that she IS Batgirl because most people 'remember' a character who was only one of many to take the name.

I'm not saying you don't have a valid point. I'm just saying that it's hard to remember characters who weren't given a fair shake by the higher-ups at the end of the day.

[Bigtymin504]

Batgirl #1

Decent enough but nothing really outstanding enough to keep me coming back. Might give #2 a try but honestly I don't see myself sticking around since I wasn't big into Batgirl in the first place (any incarnation).

I may have missed it but did they explain how she's walking again?

[Batman25JM]

^So far all we know is that it's a miracle that she's walking again. There hasn't been any specific explanation.

[jaydee74]

Batgirl #1

Decent enough but nothing really outstanding enough to keep me coming back. Might give #2 a try but honestly I don't see myself sticking around since I wasn't big into Batgirl in the first place (any incarnation).

I may have missed it but did they explain how she's walking again?

No, they haven't but I suspect her "cure" the reason Barbara Gordon was on the list.

[jaydee74]

To be fair, the only reason they remember her is because no other Batgirl has appeared in other media like animation, live-action, movies, etc. Barbara is the ONLY Batgirl that has been presented to the public at large, and therefore it's a bit biased to say that she IS Batgirl because most people 'remember' a character who was only one of many to take the name.

I'm not saying you don't have a valid point. I'm just saying that it's hard to remember characters who weren't given a fair shake by the higher-ups at the end of the day.

To be fair, the Batgirl in the movie "Batman & Robin" was not Barbara Gordon but I do get your point. The question though is why do they keep using Barbara Gordon as Batgirl?

[Batman25JM]

To be fair, the only reason they remember her is because no other Batgirl has appeared in other media like animation, live-action, movies, etc. Barbara is the ONLY Batgirl that has been presented to the public at large, and therefore it's a bit biased to say that she IS Batgirl because most people 'remember' a character who was only one of many to take the name.

I'm not saying you don't have a valid point. I'm just saying that it's hard to remember characters who weren't given a fair shake by the higher-ups at the end of the day.

To be fair, the Batgirl in the movie "Batman & Robin" was not Barbara Gordon but I do get your point. The question though is why do they keep using Barbara Gordon as Batgirl?

She may not have been Barbara Gordon, but she was still named Barbara.

I'd say they keep using Barbara because she's the first Batgirl in modern continuity. It makes it easiest to just use her. If they were going to properly use Cassandra or Stephanie they'd have to explain that Barbara used to be Batgirl and I'm sure they fear things getting too complicated for the general audience. Also, since a lot of the movies and cartoons start earlier in Batman's career it makes sense to go with the first (modern) Batgirl. It's the same reason that Dick is almost always Robin.

[Bigtymin504]

Thanks for the explanation guys.

[Rath99]

To be fair, the only reason they remember her is because no other Batgirl has appeared in other media like animation, live-action, movies, etc. Barbara is the ONLY Batgirl that has been presented to the public at large, and therefore it's a bit biased to say that she IS Batgirl because most people 'remember' a character who was only one of many to take the name.

I'm not saying you don't have a valid point. I'm just saying that it's hard to remember characters who weren't given a fair shake by the higher-ups at the end of the day.

To be fair, the Batgirl in the movie "Batman & Robin" was not Barbara Gordon but I do get your point. The question though is why do they keep using Barbara Gordon as Batgirl?

She may not have been Barbara Gordon, but she was still named Barbara.

I'd say they keep using Barbara because she's the first Batgirl in modern continuity. It makes it easiest to just use her. If they were going to properly use Cassandra or Stephanie they'd have to explain that Barbara used to be Batgirl and I'm sure they fear things getting too complicated for the general audience. Also, since a lot of the movies and cartoons start earlier in Batman's career it makes sense to go with the first (modern) Batgirl. It's the same reason that Dick is almost always Robin.

Good point

[jaydee74]

My Batgirl rating:
Babs..Old enough to remember her as the original Batgirl.
Cassie Cain..Want more of her in the new DCU
Steph...Never sold on her as Batgirl.

Pretty much how I feel but I'm also old enough where I read Barbara Gordon as Batgirl as well.

[D-Rock]

Two things I really liked about this issue:

1. In her first fight with the thugs, Barbara mentions how her legs are still shaky which might just be from nerves, but it may mean she's not 100%. Sure she's mobile again, but maybe not to the same extent. I also remember someone from DC saying to pay attention to the costume. Her's looks more high-tech than some other updates... perhaps the suit is somehow enhancing her agility? I guess time will tell there..

2. Her reaction to Mirror pointing the gun at her. To me, that felt pretty real and believable.

I'm not exactly sure how I feel about Barbara being Batgirl, but I'm sticking around for the time being.

[Joshua]

In case anyone missed it, Nick posted an interesting op/ed on the main site concerning this issue.