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: Batgirl Volume 2 - Family Business

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-

Review: Batgirl Volume 1 - The Batgirl of Burnside

Having moved to the trendy Burnside, Barbara Gordon must start anew after a fire destroys her Batgirl equipment. With a new roommate, new costume and a new enemy, the scarlet-haired vigilante finds fame in her new surroundings and embraces her role as the beloved heroine of Burnside. However, when the citizens begin to turn against her after a motorcycle chase gone wrong, it becomes clear that fame might not be all it was cracked up to be. Welcome to Burnside Batgirl, we hope you survive the experience.

 Batgirl Volume 1: The Batgirl of Burnside collects Batgirl #35-40, written by Brenden Fletcher and Cameron Stewart with art by Babs Tarr.

It’s been no secret that I absolutely adored Gail Simone’s run on Batgirl during the New 52 initiative. She breathed new life into the character, tackled some heavy issues and created a colourful cast that I came to adore. When it was announced that she’d be leaving the title and a new creative team would be taking over, it became clear that the book would undergo a massive makeover that was intended to bring more of a lighthearted and accessible feel to the title. The art in particular emphasized a hipper and much more colourful aesthetic. It was an understandable and even admirable decision to make given the criticisms that had been heaped upon DC Comics for being too dark and gritty. Though much was gained in this process, there were also great losses. The supporting cast that Simone had so carefully cultivated was axed and the reader was now thrown into the often superficial world of college and social media. Indeed, the first few pages of issue 35 are tough to get through. The slang and dependence on forcing the title to be relevant to Millennials left me with an overall sense of a dumbing down of the series. Thankfully, that feeling would not stay with me.

There hadn’t been this big of a tonal shift on a female character at DC Comics since Ed Brubaker and the late Darwyn Cooke reinvented Catwoman for her 2001 relaunch. Much like with Brubaker and Cooke’s beloved turn on the feline fatale’s title, The Batgirl of Burnside proves that a strong creative team can transform and elevate a comic book into something truly special. There is an insane synergy between Fletcher, Stewart and Tarr here that is actually quite magical. From a strictly aesthetic standpoint, I absolutely love what they’ve been able to do with this book. They’ve made Batgirl into something that marries writing and art. The rough layouts Stewart provides and the gorgeous pencils that Tarr lays down are brilliant. For example, the use of the visual recreations of Barbara’s memories is an absolutely genius device for a character with eidetic memory. Tarr also does an impeccable job of distinguishing each character from one another. Her style is gorgeous and I’m in constant awe of each page. Her take on Black Canary in particular is especially stunning.

The other thing Batgirl has with Brubaker’s Catwoman is its distinctive ability to build a world for its lead character that gives her a purpose and an identity. Of course, unlike the poverty-stricken East End setting in Catwoman, Batgirl’s Burnside is a trendy borough of Gotham City populated by college students and party-minded twenty-somethings. Technology, education and social media all play crucial roles in the makeup of Burnside and its inhabitants, which does a fairly adequate job of mirroring our own world. Though I was gutted by the removal of Alysia from the supporting cast, I was overjoyed by the diverse group of characters that was brought in to fill that void. Frankie is Babs’ stylish roommate who works as a developer for a dating app called Hooq, Nadimah is a fellow student helping Babs with her thesis and Nadimah’s brother Qadir becomes Batgirl’s equipment provider. I fell for each one, particularly since they were all very distinctive and thoughtfully conceived characters that served a purpose to the overall narrative. That said, I do feel Black Canary was misused throughout. She seemed out of character, sulking and being antagonistic towards Babs for much of this collection. The Black Canary I know, at least the one written by Gail Simone, would never harbor a grudge as long as she does here.

The overall narrative structure of The Batgirl of Burnside is extremely solid. The story itself revolves around Barbara’s move to Burnside and the mysterious presence of someone’s knowledge of her exploits as Batgirl. Over the course of each individual issue, she faces off against some heavily stylized (but ultimately amateurish) bad guys who are all part of some larger plan by her unseen foe. Meanwhile, Babs struggles to recover an algorithm she lost that was necessary for her schoolwork and must mend her relationship with Black Canary after it becomes frayed. As such, there’s a sense of direction and purpose to the book. It’s well-done and the issues themselves are very engaging.

I greatly enjoyed The Batgirl of Burnside. Though it was a sharp turn away from the world Gail Simone had built for the character, it was still entertaining and makes great strides in proving that DC Comics isn’t all doom and gloom. Despite OOC moments from Black Canary and slight issues with dialogue here and there, the creative team on this book is simply sensational. The characters are loveable, the setting is distinctive, the tone of the book is consistent and the art is jaw-droppingly beautiful. For fans of Bryan Q. Miller’s Batgirl, this book will capture the excitement and youthful exuberance that Batgirl represented while Stephanie Brown was under the cape and cowl.

RATING: A- 

Top 10: Best Catwoman Stories

Despite being one of Batman’s most iconic foes, Catwoman has largely been a bit-player for most of her history. Prior to the 1980s, she appeared sporadically as a villain and later became a minor supporting character in the Batman comics. After the astronomic success of Batman Returns, DC Comics were finally given the push to give the Feline Fatale her very own ongoing solo series.

Chronicled here are ten of her best solo ventures. These include a variety of stories featuring Catwoman at her best. For any fan of the Feline Fatale or anyone looking to learn more, these are ten stories you do not want to miss!

10. “Birds of Prey: Catwoman/Batgirl” (2003)

This two-part series tells the story of Catwoman and Batgirl teaming up to stop a serial killer. Written by John Francis Moore, this series revisits Catwoman’s past to reveal her long-standing distaste for injustices committed against women. It also gives a rare glimpse into Catwoman and Batgirl’s history together.

09. “Devil Does Your Dog Bite” (1996)

Catwoman v1 #33-36

When Chuck Dixon took over Catwoman’s solo title in the mid-1990s, he introduced a new and dangerous foe for the Feline Fatale – Hellhound. In this four-part narrative, Catwoman is kidnapped by Hellhound and is tasked with recovering a lost artifact. This adventure is highly inspired by Indiana Jones and forces Catwoman to overcome some rather crazy traps.

08. “Wild Ride” (2003)

Catwoman v2 #20-24

After a year of ups and downs, Catwoman decides it’s time for a break and heads off on a road trip with her friend Holly Robinson. Writer Ed Brubaker shows the Feline Fatale having fun and has her interact with a bevvy of interesting guest stars. From Captain Cold to Hawkgirl, this five-part adventure is light-hearted and solidifies Catwoman’s place in the DC Universe at large.

07. “Larceny Loves Company” (1996)

Catwoman v1 #28-30

Despite her independent nature and distrust of others, Catwoman reluctantly teams up with a group of thieves to pull off a high-stakes caper. Chuck Dixon delivers another action-packed adventure for the Feline Fatale and, in the process, crafts some rather colourful characters.

06. “No Man’s Land” (1999-2000)

Catwoman v1 #72-76

When an earthquake decimates Gotham City, Catwoman left her hometown and briefly moved to New York City. While on the outside, Gotham City was declared a No Man’s Land and Catwoman was subsequently barred from returning. However, when Batman asks for her help, she sneaks her way back into Gotham City and finds herself in the middle of Lex Luthor’s scheme to take over the city. This five-part arc features Catwoman facing off against the likes of Lex Luthor, Mercy Graves, and the Penguin, and shows how capable she is of taking down even the most dangerous of enemies.

05. “She-Cats” (1997)

Catwoman v1 #42-44

Following Chuck Dixon’s departure on Catwoman’s title, veteran Batman writer Doug Moench took over the writing duties. One of his most memorable contributions to the series was the introduction of the villainesses Alley Cat and Cyber-Cat. While the former was largely a joke villain, the latter became Catwoman’s most dangerous enemy to date. This three-part story featured Catwoman facing off against these two copycats as they vied for the same prize.

04. “Anodyne” (2002)

Catwoman v2 #1-4

After faking her own death, Selina Kyle donned her Catwoman costume once more when prostitutes began showing up dead in her neighbourhood. This four-part narrative was the start of a new series for the Feline Fatale helmed by the critically acclaimed writer Ed Brubaker. It’s stylish, dark, and ushered in a new era for Catwoman.

03. “When in Rome” (2004-2005)

With the popularity of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s work on Batman: The Long Halloween and Batman: Dark Victory, the pair teamed up once more to address the dangling plot threads they had left behind with Catwoman’s character. This mini-series sees Catwoman travelling to Italy to discover the truth about her heritage. Along the way, she goes shopping, steals some stuff, and faces off against Wonder Woman’s nemesis Cheetah.

02. “Catfile” (1995)

Catwoman v1 #15-18

When Catwoman is captured by a covert government agency, she is caught in a web of international intrigue after being forced to cooperate with them. This high-stakes adventure is Selina’s most memorable capers and features some of the wittiest writing she has had to date. Chuck Dixon does an amazing job and this served as a brilliant introduction into his run on her first solo series.

01.  “Relentless” (2002-2003)

Catwoman v2 #12-16

Arguably one of the best runs to date, Ed Brubaker’s time on Catwoman’s second solo series remains the most consistent depiction of the Feline Fatale. His crowning achievement was this five-part narrative introducing Black Mask as a nemesis for Catwoman. This story is full of unexpected twists and features some of the most devastating events that have ever happened to the Feline Fatale and her closest allies. This Catwoman arc is not to be missed!