From the
DCU Review:
Last issue Batgirl failed to stop the Mirror from hurling his latest victim to his death, because she froze when he pointed at gun at her gut. For those who don’t remember from last issue or “The Killing Joke,” that’s how the Joker paralyzed Babs all those years ago. Looks like she isn’t quite over it yet. If there’s one thing Barbara Gordon is not, it’s a quitter. When the going gets tough, the tough get going… right out a hole in a hospital wall.
Batgirl chases down the Mirror, and just when she almost had him, she decides to be nice and let him toss her off a building. How the Mirror got down is a mystery. I didn’t even think about it until I read this issue a second time. The first time through I was completely distracted by the funny scene of Batgirl crashing into a taxi.
It appears Detective McKenna may be a recurring character, since she got an extra page of story. She reminds me of Renee Montoya a bit (but without the lesbianism.. at least so far). I definitely like this ongoing theme in the Bat-books that puts the heroes against the police. And by the look on Jim Gordon’s face, I wonder if he knows his daughter is Batgirl in the New 52.
Highlight of this issue is the fight scene at the cemetery. Batgirl’s interior monologue reminds us that she isn’t Batman. She’s not as physically strong or massive. Plus, she’s not up to par with her former glory days as Batgirl the first time around. She’s been out of the business too long. She has to rely on skill and intelligence to keep her alive against a villain this powerful.
I really like the rough around the edges approach. It makes her adventures more genuine, more relatable. Barbara Gordon is clearly in over her head at this early stage and it amps up the reader’s concern for her safety. You never know when she might make the wrong move and that’s the end of Batgirl.
Barbara’s roommate isn’t the best character. Nothing exciting about her, but I do suspect her aggressive personality will cause some trouble for Barbara’s secret identity.
When you look at how many different scenes and characters are in this issue, it’s really a tightly-packed story, and all the elements work. Barbara Gordon is a well-rounded character in and out of costume.
Of all the new villains, I think the Mirror is my favorite. His origin story is fitting to his goals. I wonder how the logistics of that cape work. Wouldn’t a cape full of mirrors be kinda heavy? It’s gotta be a pain to fold too.