Reviews

Batgirl, Vol. 1: The Darkest Reflection by Gail Simone

annashiv's review against another edition

4.0

I liked it more than I thought I would. I still find parts of barbara's personality or story annoying but I thought the were some really great moments in there mainly when it came to her relationships with others. I also was not a fan of the art at all. Just not my style I suppose.

kjboldon's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I love the character of Batgirl even though I hate calling grown ass women girls. This reboot by Gail Simone has a lot going fornite and ends up as solidly above average. Simone's writing can he spot on, and the psychological PTSD and questioning is good. Sometimes it's overwritten and spills into cliche, but mostly it's strong, smart, and interesting. 

The art is uneven and typical superhero. I often wished that there was less script and more art storytelling. The art is average. Not often painful, but never great. The Adam Hughes covers are pretty, but too pin-up-y for me. 

I love the intro of Alysia and the female friendship. I borrowed this from the library. Not sure I like it well enough to have it for the home collection.

clairedrinkstea's review against another edition

4.0

Very good continuation from The Killing Joke which I recommend is read before if you've not read it already (or read it again because that's great too).

Batgirl returns but not without some psychological damage, questioning her recovery and battling for her independence and the right to wear the Bat Symbol.

Night Wing pops up, as does Bat Man an Bruce Wayne which links it together well.

Very promising start to a good series and Gail Simone has created a sympathetic, believable Bat Girl.

labunnywtf's review against another edition

5.0

All my life, I've had well-meaning guys hovering over me, protecting me when I didn't need or want it. Enough with the well-meaning guys. They want to keep an eye on me? I'll send their eyes back blackened.

I never read comics as a kid. Which is a shame. But my parents and older sister weren't into them. My father watched the Christopher Reeves Superman movies, and I loved (LOVED) Helen Slater as Supergirl, but that was the extent.

Then when I got older, and became friends with the best kinds of people, the nerds, there was too much history for me regarding comics. How do you delve into, what, 60 years of mythology? Where do you start?

Cod bless [b:The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy|22926684|The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy A Handbook for Girl Geeks|Sam Maggs|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1416432620s/22926684.jpg|42495858], and books like it, for showing me to look for "The New 52!". This wasn't one of the series' recommended, but my library had just gotten in the newest volume, so I requested them all in one fell swoop.

And I went in excited, because I'd heard fantastic things about Gail Simone. Nervous, because comics are not my genre, but excited.

And dear god, I was not disappointed. Barbara Gordon is the woman. I love her. LOVE HER. I have volume 2 in my hand, and am speeding through this review so I can jump back into the fray.

Trouble is now, though...I want her backstory. I want to read everything ever written about Batgirl, and my resources are limited, to say the least. I really need to learn how to jump into the comic book world with both feet, as opposed to dipping my toes in.

Also, does Commissioner Gordon know his daughter is Batgirl?! Will I find that out in the next few volumes?! He can't have, or he wouldn't have sent Detective Loose Cannon after her, right?

Damn my need for an origin story.

probertoj's review against another edition

2.0

Psé. Simone alterna momentos buenos con algunas de las líneas más ridículas que ha escrito.

twig_cat's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

This is the sort of thing I read comics for. Taking a concept that people weren't fully happy with (Barbara getting stuck in a wheelchair to motivate Bruce & Gordon in Killing Joke), and turning it into the instigator for a whole storyline. 

Seeing Babs return to her role while still carrying the psychological strain of what happened to her, and how that affects her interactions with Gotham's criminals, is a great insight into the character

chrisb913's review against another edition

5.0

Really enjoy Gail Simone and her Batgirl was no exception

serafim's review against another edition

1.0

i'll admit i came into this book predisposed to dislike it cause i think shoving barbara back into the batgirl suit was a dumbfuck decision, but it was just so bad. barbara's less-than-witty one-liners, the incessant cop bootlicking, the incredibly boring villain, the lackluster art, it was all just.....sigh

thisisstephenbetts's review against another edition

Wasn't a massive fan of this. Too wordy and rather serious.

natopotato's review against another edition

5.0

¿Cómo no amarla? Siendo Barbara Gordon en su traje de batgirl cualquier comic seria asombroso para mi. La adoro. Sin embargo, al ver como lucha contra el panico luego de la tragedia entregada por Moore la hace ser un poquito más especial.