Review: Batgirl Volume 1, The Darkest Reflection

After surviving a horrific attack that left her paralyzed, Barbara Gordon is finally starting to put her life back together. Following a three year period of being confined to a wheelchair, Barbara undergoes an experimental procedure that grants her the ability to walk again. With her newfound lease on life, she returns to the mantle of Batgirl and faces off against the menaces of the Mirror and Gretel.

Batgirl: The Darkest Reflection collects the first six issues of Barbara Gordon's return to heroism as Batgirl and chronicles her struggles to escape the nightmares of her past. Written by Gail Simone and pencilled by Adrian Syaf, this collection is a must-read for any Bat fan.

Having penned Birds of Prey for close to a decade, Gail Simone is no stranger to writing Barbara Gordon and her love of the character comes across in every panel. Barbara is brimming with personality and is more tangible than she's been in years. Simone portrays the character as someone who is full of flaws and contradictions, making her extremely realistic and relatable. Of course, she also makes sure to add a touch of sass to the iconic redhead to keep things from getting too serious.

What is so notable about Simone's writing on Batgirl is her dedication to the relationships Barbara that maintains. First and foremost, the father-daughter dynamic between Barbara and the Commissioner is both compelling and unique to the pair. Her budding friendship with her roommate Alysia and her seemingly strained relationship with Dick Grayson are also noteworthy for bringing out different sides of the character. It's clear that she's become quite guarded and doesn't want to be coddled, but at the same time it's evident that she needs to open up to others.

With all the controversy surrounding Barbara Gordon regaining the use of her legs, it was smart of Simone to tackle the themes of survivor's guilt and victimization in this collection. We see this in the forms of the book's villains -- Mirror and Gretel. Both are survivors of horrific accidents and who have subsequently lashed out at the world for not being granted the sweet release of death. Simone is to be applauded for not leaning on Batman villains and for creating foes for Batgirl that the character can sympathize with. Doing so gives Batgirl a rogue's gallery of her own and helps to highlight Barbara's compassion as a hero. Gretel in particular stands strong and would do well as an ongoing foe.

Of all of the books in DC Comics' New 52, Batgirl stands as one of its strongest. Beyond its sales figures and talented creative team, it is a title that has something to say and has a whole lot of heart while saying it. Simone's words are at once tragic and hilarious. She blends humour and drama together seamlessly and organically, making Batgirl one of the most interesting superhero comics around. This first collection of her run is a fantastic starting point and does a great job of breathing new life into a character who has been around since the 1960s.

Rating: A-