Review: Batgirl Volume 3 - Mindfields

When Batgirl begins to forget pieces of her past, she discovers that a mysterious foe known as the Fugue is responsible for her memory loss. With the help of Black Canary and her friend Frankie, Batgirl must retrieve her stolen memories in order to prevent her enemy from destroying her life.

Then, after the terrorist organization Gladius returns to Gotham City with the intention of detonating a powerful bomb, Batgirl calls upon Bluebird, Spoiler, and Vixen to aid in her quest to dismantling Gladius’ operations for good.

Batgirl Volume 3: Mindfields collects Batgirl #46-52 and Batgirl: Endgame, written by Brenden Fletcher and Cameron Stewart with art by Babs Tarr, Eleanor Carlini, and Bengal.

Mindfields serves as the brilliant conclusion to Brenden Fletcher, Cameron Stewart, and Babs Tarr’s stellar run on Batgirl after they revamped the title in 2014. Its purpose is twofold – to tie-up the various plot threads established by the creative team and to introduce a new direction for the character for the next creative team. All of the Burnside era rogues return in a splashy high stakes showdown with Batgirl and her allies during the Fugue arc (and then once again to fight Gladius). It’s a really engaging read, though it admittedly feels a bit like déjà vu as it employs much of the same story elements as Gail Simone’s final arc on Batgirl. What stands above this familiarity is strong character work that unfolds over these issues and debuts new roles for the cast. Namely, Frankie becomes the tech-savvy hero Operator and Barbara launches a Gotham-based clean energy company. These are really fresh directions for both characters to take and ones that seem like organic evolutions.

Something I love about this creative team’s take on Batgirl is that they never once forget that the titular heroine has an eidetic memory. Though their references of it tend to appear in a visual manner, here they take shape in the story itself. Essentially, the plot hinges upon the question of what happens when a person with a photographic memory begins to forget large swaths of their past? The answer is both poignant and unique to Barbara Gordon. For the average person, losing a bit of our memory is natural, but for Barbara this becomes a full-blown crisis and puts her through the wringer. It’s impressive that this form of character exploration is then used as a transitionary tool to usher in the next path she’ll be taking for DC Comics’ Rebirth initiative.

Batgirl Volume 3: Mindfields was a satisfying way to end the so-called Burnside era of Batgirl. Fletcher, Stewart, and Tarr introduced a lot of great characters that had a lot of depth and interest, so it’s naturally bittersweet to be seeing Barbara bid farewell to them. The creative team pulls out all the stops by giving readers plenty of colourful villains and team-up action in a cohesive character-focused storyline. Major props should be given for Vixen snagging a guest spot and for Frankie’s promotion to hero status. Though I would have loved for this run to continue on a little longer, I’m very impressed with all of the work that went into creating such a great series. Additionally, artists Babs Tarr and Bengal deserve a rousing rounding of applause for their contributions. Their artwork created a distinct aesthetic for this run that gave it that little extra something special.

RATING: A-

Review: Batman Eternal Volume 3

Having captured Hush, Batman realizes that Gotham City's recent misfortunes have been orchestrated by another mastermind. As Gotham's mysterious antagonist nears his endgame, Batman must rely on rookie hero Bluebird and the rest of the Family to defeat his foe and return order to the city.

Batman Eternal Volume 3 collects Batman Eternal #35-52, conceived by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV and with scripts by Tynion IV, Tim Seeley, Ray Fawkes, and Kyle Higgins.

In many ways, the concluding handful of Batman Eternal's issues is reminiscent of the iconic Knightfall storyline. Batman's most iconic enemies have been released from Arkham Asylum and are wreaking havoc on Gotham City as part of a mysterious mastermind's plan to defeat and humiliate Batman. What helps to set Batman Eternal apart is its utilization of the Batman Family, which goes to show how far Batman has come in his ability to trust others. As a result of this, we get to see some really great showdowns between the Batman Family and the rogues of Gotham. As a Batgirl fan, I'm especially happy about the fact that the male members of the Batman Family require help taking down their targets whereas Batgirl is able to do so solo. She's just that good. Beyond that, what makes the conclusion of Batman Eternal so memorable and distinct is its double twists during the reveal of the true mastermind behind all of Gotham City's tragedies. The revelation is absolutely brilliant as it really is a character that no one would have suspected, thus providing an unpredictable ending to what would otherwise be a fairly standard Batman story arc.

In my review of the previous volume in this series, I detailed my affection for the character development that became central to the narrative once the convoluted subplots were resolved. This collection continues this trend in spades. By this point, Catwoman has fully taken control of Gotham City as its new kingpin and she rather hilariously had Killer Croc as her enforcer. As I've said before, it's a really smart move for her character and it opens up a lot of great avenues for her to grow. What is also great about this is that it alters her dynamic with Batman and maintains an edge her character had been losing. Another standout character is Harper Row, who finally makes her debut as the vigilante Bluebird. Decked out in one of the coolest costumes we've seen in the 2010s, she makes quite the impression as she helps to rescue Spoiler from Catwoman and aids in the defeat of the Mad Hatter and Mister Freeze. Of course, what I like best is the interactions she has with the other characters. From her flirtations with Red Robin to her friendly rivalry with Spoiler, she comes across as a multi-dimensional character who fits in remarkably well within the Batman Family. Needless to say, she's an excellent edition to their team.

There's very little to nitpick about Batman Eternal Volume 3. The payoff that the conclusions offers us far outweighs the messy subplots that dragged down the quality of the first volume in this series. This collection shows how a storyline can build and improve despite having a weak foundation. The personalities and decisions made in this volume are all on point, particularly with standouts like Catwoman, Spoiler, and Bluebird. The ultimate reveal is really great and the writers manage to pull off at least a couple twists that will leave any reader impressed. While the art of this trade is handled by a rotating assortment of artists, it's much higher in quality. Of those who contributed pencils to this volume, Joe Quinones, David Lafuente, and Juan Ferreyra are my favourites due to their colourful and dynamic styles that offer a kinetic energy to the narrative and characters. Overall, Batman Eternal is worthy of being regarded as a great storyline in spite of its faults and should be read by any fan of Gotham City's Dark Knight and his costumed allies.

RATING: B+

Review: Batman Eternal Volume 2

With Jim Gordon behind bars and Alfred Pennyworth recovering from an injury, Batman must enlist the aid of SAS operative Julia Pennyworth to track down the villain Hush. Meanwhile, Spoiler continues her crusade against her father Cluemaster and Catwoman is targeted by the gang lord Louis Ferryman after she interferes with his operations.

Batman Eternal Volume 2 collects Batman Eternal #22-34, conceived by Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV. It features scripts by James Tynion IV, Ray Fawkes, Tim Seeley, and Kyle Higgins, with art by such artists as Fernando Pasarin, Jason Fabok, and Dustin Nguyen.

Just as with the previous collection, volume two of Batman Eternal is densely plotted with an oversized cast and numerous subplots. Thankfully, it's been refocused to concentrate on three central narratives - Batman's pursuit of Hush, Spoiler's actions against her father, and Catwoman's involvement with Gotham's criminal underworld. However, it does also tie up the loose ends of plots from the previous collection as well. 

Of the primary storylines presented here, the bulk of the action is concerned with Batman and Julia's burgeoning partnership as they work in unison to uncover the truth about the recent events in Gotham City. Batman believes it to be the work of his old foe Hush, which leads him on a hunt across the city. The most engaging aspect to this narrative is the dynamic between Batman and Julia, as well as the overall development of her character. As an operative of SAS, she's used to working in the field and seems out of place working behind the computers in the Batcave. Even still, her ability to adapt and fill the role her father once filled is quite remarkable. Similarly, there's quite a bit of development done with Catwoman as well. The purpose of her inclusion in this particular chunk of Batman Eternal is to shift her character from independent thief to queen of Gotham's underworld. It's a bold new direction for the Feline Fatale that works really well and that I find to be absolutely brilliant. 

While the story has been streamlined, the art in this collection is inconsistent. Since Batman Eternal employs a variety of artists to provide the pencils for the series, it creates an uneven tone that lacks a uniform aesthetic. There's a lot of lacklustre art, particularly early on, that is muddy and lacks dynamism. However, there are some artists whose work stands out tremendously. Javier Garron, Meghan Hetrick, and Jason Fabok all contribute memorable art that shows just how magnetic the series could be visually.

Batman Eternal Volume 2 is an improvement over the previous collection, which was admittedly quite stuffed. The emphasis placed on character development is refreshing from the more action-oriented issues that preceded this volume. The storylines presented here are still quite involved and requires a working knowledge of the Batman mythos, especially since there are some lesser known characters who appear here. Fans of Spoiler and Catwoman are sure to enjoy this trade, though those who enjoyed Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee's Hush are likely to find this to be an unfavourable rehash of it.

RATING: B-

Review: Batman Eternal Volume 1

After cornering a criminal in the train tunnels beneath Gotham City, Commissioner Gordon appears to shoot the unarmed man. Now stripped of his rank and facing a criminal trial, Gordon is sent to Blackgate. It’s up to the Dark Knight and the newly transferred Police Lieutenant Jason Bard to prove Gordon’s innocence. Meanwhile, a turf war is brewing between Penguin and the mobster Carmine Falcone.

Batman Eternal Volume 1 collects Batman: Eternal #1-21, written by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Ray Fawkes, Tim Seeley and John Layman.

Batman: Eternal is an expansive series with an impressively large cast, which makes it feel like a modern update on the classic Batman Family series from the 1970s mixed with Gotham Central. It’s a title that is complex and focuses on the interwoven narratives of the most iconic Gotham City-based characters. From Spoiler to Red Hood, just about every fan-favourite Gothamite shows up and contributes a little something to the story. This is both a pro and a con. It’s great because you’re getting to see a wide range of diverse characters in one place, but is disappointing because some feel misused or fail to contribute anything substantial to the narrative. An example of this would be Catwoman. She shows up early on and is featured rather prominently in the first quarter of the story, but disappears for the rest. Something similar can be said for Spoiler. Eternal was hotly anticipated for re-introducing her to the DC Universe, but her origins are shoehorned into the book and a lot of time passes between the scenes featuring the character.

The narrative quality of Batman: Eternal is varied. There’s a lot to love, but just as much to dislike. My biggest issue was the overabundance of subplots, which also ties into the massive cast. The main plot seems to be that of Commissioner Gordon’s unjust imprisonment and the investigation to prove his innocence. This includes Batman’s alliance with Jason Bard, as well as Batgirl going rogue and being intercepted by Batwoman and Red Hood while following a lead in South America. These are the two most noteworthy and character building plots. In fact, the scenes with Batgirl and her allies are perhaps my favourite. Red Hood’s explanation of Batgirl’s motives shows tremendous depth for both characters, as do the exchanges he has with her after she turns against him. 

Then there’s Falcone and Penguin’s turf war, Red Robin’s trip to Japan, the origins of fan-favourite Spoiler, Alfred tending to his injured daughter Julia, and Batwing’s team-up with Jim Corrigan to investigate the underground. Some of these subplots are better than others, but for the most part they all feel unnecessary. While it’s evident that each one is hinting at something bigger to come, there’s zero pay off due to a lackluster cliffhanger. If you don’t give your readers some sense of closure or direction after having them read 21 issues of a series, then why should they keep reading?

Batman: Eternal is at its core a companion series to Scott Snyder’s run on Batman. There are many moments of brilliance, but these are often dimmed by a meandering narrative that goes nowhere for over 20 issues. Overall, the quality of the dialogue is above average and the potpourri of art styles functions quite well for this type of vignette-style storytelling. This book is a mixed bag. For fans of Stephanie Brown, it serves as her much awaited return to comics. Sadly, you have to drudge through a bunch of other stories to even get to it. The same can be said for just about every character or plot. I really want to like Batman: Eternal because it features a lot of characters I love and many of the storylines have potential. Unfortunately, the execution is messy and by the end of the first volume I had to wrack my brain to even remember every subplot. If you’re intending to pick this one up, be ready to take notes so you can keep track of everything.

RATING: C+