Comic News And Reviews

By: Bryan Q. Miller (writer), Dustin Nguyen (penciller), Derek Fridolfs (inks), Guy Major (colors)

The Story: We get a history of the Bat-world as a visually-cool expository lump at the beginning of the issue. Then, into Steph’s problems fitting into college life and then her action as Batgirl, chasing that nut-case grad student who made those sci-fi vampires last issue. Weird thing is, he’s being chased by some robed people and let’s just say that Steph gets a little too close.

What’s Not So Good: I thought I’d start on the negatives with this review, just because the visuals really make or break a story for me. It doesn’t matter how good the writing, plotting or characterization is; if the lines and colors on the page don’t work for me, the writer’s craftsmanship never even gets tested. I felt that was about this issue. We’ve been relatively spoiled on this series with some pretty consistent and competent artwork through the first year by Garbett and Scott. Nguyen and Fridolfs on the Batgirl art chores didn’t work for me. Stephanie became stylized, unattractive and older. In costume, her proportions seemed wrong (check out a couple panels of long, stick legs) and the faces and textures reminded me of Giffen’s work when he was inking his own pencils on the early Ambush Bug stuff– unattractive. I also found it a bit disappointing that there were a bunch of panels bereft of background. If I’m shelling out $2.99, please give me all the art I’m due, unless there’s a stylistic or storytelling reason not to do the backgrounds. I couldn’t think of any for this story, but I might not have all the answers.

What’s Good: Major’s color work was good, especially the red skies of Gotham and the lurid bat-signal. On writing, Miller has Stephanie Brown tone perfect and has reinforced the book by bringing Oracle back. These are, I think, the two important pieces to the vitality of this series: Steph’s self-deprecating thirst for acceptance and adulthood, and Oracle’s mentorship. I got pretty worried when Oracle took a powder. I’m ready to let Proxy go back to wherever she came from, although this issue she served as a handy excuse for Miller to make this issue accessible to new readers. Smart move, and it was fun enough that someone who’s been following Gotham’s news for a couple of years didn’t find it slow.

Conclusion: Miller has begun some clever story work. I’d say for now that it’s worth buying at this price, but if the current art team stays on, I may slide Batgirl off my pull list. Mike Marts: Please send back Garbett and Scott!

Grade: C+

-DS Arsenault

Filed under: DC Comics Tagged: | DC Comics, Dustin Nguyen, Guy Major, Derek Fridolfs, Comics, Reviews, comic books, Comic Book Reviews, Weekly Comic Book Review, Oracle, comic reviews, Lee Garbett, Trevor Scott, Gotham, DS Arsenault, Bryan Q. Miller, Barbara Gordon, Stephanie Brown, Mike Marts, Proxy, Batgirl #15, Batgirl #15 review

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