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aprilpoole's review against another edition
4.0
Another strong, dark installment in Gail Simone's Batgirl run. The first half of the arc is suitably creepy, featuring a murderous ventriloquist which is very in line with Gotham's tone. The second half explores complex issues as Barbara struggles with the aftermath of her brother's death and finds herself fighting against cops rather than with them. These stories were visually dark and dramatic to suit the mood, and overall this was a strong continuation of Batgirl's story.
iamrainbou's review against another edition
1.0
I haven't been loving Batgirl as I thought I would. And at first of Wanted I was excited. Barbara is dating a disabled Latino and it made my heart warm. They are a cute couple. And although I have feelings about the way Ricky is portrayed, I like him.
But then Detective Gordon shoots Ricky. Only because he is a brown, poor Latino and thought he was dangerous. I AM SO FURIOUS RIGHT NOW. I feel hurt and horrified that the comic justifies Gordon. Of course, it does, because Gordon is fucking loved in the DC universe, and who cares about disabled brown Latinos? I DO OKAY.
Ricky doesn't die and he decides to sue Gordon (who, by the way, doesn't feel terrible or horrified because he had reasons). Barbara defends her dad because, I don't know, bullshit reasons really. Ricky was defending Batgirl, but Barbara decides to side with her racist dad. Wonderful.
Fuck everything. I'm so pissed. Especially because Gordon never gets a word about what happened and he is defended by everyone. SO.ANGRY.
But then Detective Gordon shoots Ricky. Only because he is a brown, poor Latino and thought he was dangerous. I AM SO FURIOUS RIGHT NOW. I feel hurt and horrified that the comic justifies Gordon. Of course, it does, because Gordon is fucking loved in the DC universe, and who cares about disabled brown Latinos? I DO OKAY.
Ricky doesn't die and he decides to sue Gordon (who, by the way, doesn't feel terrible or horrified because he had reasons). Barbara defends her dad because, I don't know, bullshit reasons really. Ricky was defending Batgirl, but Barbara decides to side with her racist dad. Wonderful.
Fuck everything. I'm so pissed. Especially because Gordon never gets a word about what happened and he is defended by everyone. SO.ANGRY.
directorscut's review against another edition
2.0
If only this book was half as awesome as Alex Garner's covers. It isn't.
booknooknoggin's review against another edition
3.0
Average read. Started out decent then fell off towards end.
helenareadsbooks's review against another edition
2.0
2.5/5. This volume is all over the place. The first half is about the Ventriloquist, but that story isn't even resolved?? It was kind of interesting but it didn't go anywhere. The other half focuses on the aftermath of the events from volume 3. This is better than the first half but not as good as the previous volumes. I wish the situation with Ricky was handled differently. The fight scene with Knightfall's goons was pretty cool and is probably my favourite moment in this volume.
Overall, I'm still impressed with Gail Simone's writing but there are many moments in this particular volume that I don't like.
Overall, I'm still impressed with Gail Simone's writing but there are many moments in this particular volume that I don't like.
strikingthirteen's review against another edition
3.0
After the catastrophic events of Death of the Family and the previous volume Barbara Gordon is reeling. Not only because of the actions she had to take but because the result of it is the further fracturing of her family and her father bent on catching and arresting Batgirl. Barbara decides that she needs to hang up her cape and cowl for good but how often does that plan work out for a mask?
You feel for Barbara here but you know that things are going to sort of work out in her favour. That's not to say however that you aren't taken by some panels and there are few moments here that you are just so happy for her in her non Batgirl life that you almost wish that she could keep it. At the same you also want to cheer when she comes back. No winners here, no victories, but a lot of issues being worked out (or not) for everyone.
You feel for Barbara here but you know that things are going to sort of work out in her favour. That's not to say however that you aren't taken by some panels and there are few moments here that you are just so happy for her in her non Batgirl life that you almost wish that she could keep it. At the same you also want to cheer when she comes back. No winners here, no victories, but a lot of issues being worked out (or not) for everyone.
ishmael's review against another edition
3.0
Ventriloquist was bad and there was so much drama but Ricky and Alysia were solid.
alenka's review against another edition
5.0
Gail Simone's Batgirl is amazing! Barbara is so strong and nuanced. Her actions are fueled by such real love, pain and rage, and it's incredibly satisfying to see her threaten catcallers the way we all want to, then use criminals as her therapeutic punching bag. In this volume she faces potentially having to show her father the full truth of her life, and the messy but emotionally charged ways in which they interact are so wonderfully written and compelling to read. Batgirl <3
angieinthemorning's review against another edition
2.0
The more I read this book the more difficult I find it to remember why I even liked Simone's Barbara in Birds of Prey. It's not a fair comparison at all, I know; for one, this Barbara is clearly in a different stage of her life than the Birds of Prey's version was, and two, Simone's creativity is quite obviously stunted by the endless editorial mandates plaguing DC offices these days. But there's a very ham-fisted quality to her writing in this particular book --almost authorial intent, really-- that doesn't settle well with me.
Barbara Gordon is a rich character that doesn't need any writer to force readers to love her, and yet this is exactly what I feel Simone is doing. The on-going is essentially one long, awkward, and slightly embarrassing plea to readers to love Barbara as much as DC and the writer think everyone should love her. Which would be just fine, except they have given us no reasons to do so. Barbara is but a shadow of who she can be, and her supporting characters are barely characters at all. To say nothing of the plot, which the less said of it, the better. It didn't benefit any of the characters involved, and if anything, it brought out the worst in them. At best, it was mediocre writing, and at worst, downright offensive to longtime fans of the Gordons.
The only saving grace this book continues to have is its art, which is not great, but it's certainly consistent. It fits the mood of the book Simone probably thinks she's writing, but, most regrettably, is not.
Barbara Gordon is a rich character that doesn't need any writer to force readers to love her, and yet this is exactly what I feel Simone is doing. The on-going is essentially one long, awkward, and slightly embarrassing plea to readers to love Barbara as much as DC and the writer think everyone should love her. Which would be just fine, except they have given us no reasons to do so. Barbara is but a shadow of who she can be, and her supporting characters are barely characters at all. To say nothing of the plot, which the less said of it, the better. It didn't benefit any of the characters involved, and if anything, it brought out the worst in them. At best, it was mediocre writing, and at worst, downright offensive to longtime fans of the Gordons.
The only saving grace this book continues to have is its art, which is not great, but it's certainly consistent. It fits the mood of the book Simone probably thinks she's writing, but, most regrettably, is not.
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