Tasked with solving Gotham City's vigilante problem, Jim Gordon (as the new Batman) begrudgingly sets his sights on apprehending Batgirl. This proves to be a major inconvenience for Burnside's fearless defender as he begins hindering Batgirl's pursuit of the recently escaped Livewire. Then, Batgirl must deal with a series of mysterious tiger attacks on some of the city's most prominent tech firms.
Batgirl Volume 2: Family Business collects Batgirl #41-45, DC Sneak Peek: Batgirl #1, and Batgirl Annual #3, written by Cameron Stewart and Brendan Fletcher with art by Babs Tarr.
Family Business is an energetic continuation of the revamped Batgirl series set in Gotham City's trendy Burnside neighbourhood. This collection brings it with colourful villains and guest stars galore. It begins with Batgirl's conflict with her father in his new mantle as Batman and focuses on their subsequent team-up to bring down Livewire. These issues are frenzied and colourful, with plenty of action and gorgeous art done by Babs Tarr. Liveware's inclusion feels like a throwback to The New Batman Adventures episode "Girl's Night Out." She's a character who visually and thematically works as a villain for Batgirl and would be a welcome addition to Batgirl's relatively modest rogue's gallery. The latter half of the book focuses on Batgirl's investigation of a series of tiger attacks led by a Catwoman/Cheetah knock-off named the Velvet Tiger. Despite its somewhat uninspired villain, these issues feature Batgirl doing some fantastic detective work and highlight how effective she is as a hero.
The action in Family Business is undeniably engaging. We get to see Batgirl team up with the likes of Spoiler and Batwoman, while also flexing her own investigative muscles. What is even more remarkable though is the character work that Stewart and Fletcher lay down over the course of the issues collected in this trade. Amidst the insanity of Barbara's career as Batgirl, we see her take on the role of maid of honour when her best friend Alysia becomes engaged. Through this subplot, the writers explore how difficult it is to be a good friend and perform normal tasks when you live a double life. It's a nice little glimpse into how Barbara is as a friend and her loyalty throughout is endearing. There's also a subplot involving Frankie Charles' evolution from a supporting civilian character into a hero in her own right. There are several really cool hints at her becoming Oracle as she involves herself actively in Batgirl's investigations and begins using her impressive technological skills to help. Batgirl's reluctance to accept Frankie's help, largely out of concern, add depth to this ongoing development. Finally, Stewart and Fletcher indulge in a little matchmaking as they give Batgirl a new boyfriend in the form of Luke Fox (AKA Batwing). He's a really great match for her and the two have palpable chemistry. Even still, there's the added complication of Dick Grayson, who just can't seem to keep himself out of Babs' life for too long. I appreciate the exchange Stewart and Fletcher write for the pair when they're forced to confront the fact that Babs is now dating someone new. It's a standout scene that is reminiscent of one Gail Simone wrote during her tenure on the book as it solidifies Babs' need for independence and freedom from the drama that follows her relationship with Dick. It also gives the writers the opportunity to orient readers towards her new beau and accept that change is sometimes necessary.
Family Business is enjoyable from beginning to end. The dialogue is snappy and the character development is consistent throughout. The art is almost always on point, with Babs Tarr and Bengal being the major aesthetic innovators in this collection. Their art is dynamic, distinct, and has a youthful flare that visually distinguishes this book from most other traditional superhero titles. Stewart, Fletcher, and Tarr's Batgirl is light-hearted and is far more concerned with the interpersonal relationships of its cast than on superhero antics. For some, this may be a drawback. Aside from Livewire, this series hasn't had any memorable villains under their tenure and the action is always quite brief. From my perspective, it's a welcome change and it's just a whole lot of fun. It brings a kinetic energy and youthfulness back to the character, while also giving readers a really fantastic supporting cast we can become attached to.
RATING: A-
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