Review - Batgirl #1

BATGIRL #1
Written by GAIL SIMONE; Art by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES; Cover by ADAM HUGHES

Of all the New 52 titles, Batgirl has had the most hype, controversy and curiosity surrounding it. Taking a character like Barbara Gordon back out of her wheelchair (and a role in which she has shone for 20 years) was always going to be tough. Gail Simone has written Babs as Oracle for years in the pages of Birds of Prey with great success, and she has done so with great love for the character. So there was no doubt that she would be the one to bring her back as Batgirl.

It's a shame then, that the first two pages of this new Batgirl series, rather than setting up a terrifying villian, come across as goofy. It's unfortunately a combination of the art (comedy eye-bulge) and the writing (yapping dog, death by hose and 'to-kill' checklist). This really is a shame because both art and writing have improved by page three.

Bab's Batgirl interrupts a gang of home invading would-be rapist-murderers (who Gail makes us want beaten up) and succeeds in taking the gang out, but at the same reveals just how rusty she has become. Batgirl has to haul the gang-leader back into the building after he nearly sends them both plummeting for the street. The middle of the issue sets up the book's supporting cast, including Jim Gordon and Barbara's new room-mate (whose name we don't get, despite her appearing on three pages) who bears a striking resemblence to Bridget Clancy (former Nightwing supporting cast).

We return to the villian, who refers to himself as Mirror, from the prologue who arrives at the hospital where the police are guarding the gang leader from earlier. Mirror storms through the hospital security and shoots the police guard. Batgirl arrives just in time to experience a crucial moment of self-doubt and fear.

Overall, the story and art do their job well, but inconsistencies and plot-holes niggle. The fact that we have referenced the Killing Joke, but not any physical therapy or recovery time (other than 'miracle') is fine, as I'm sure that will come. The bigger question is; If Mirror is hunting people who "shouldn't have survived" from a list, then how did he ge the name of, and find, the gang-leader so quickly? His fall and subsequent rescue by Batgirl was less than 24 hours previous and he's been moved to the top of the list? Odd and disappointing, as I expect so much more from Simone.

My rating:
An off-kilter start to one of the biggest hyped New52 books. There is potential here, but it doesn't hit the ground running; more a jog.