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A review by kevinowenkelly
Batgirl, Vol. 5: Deadline by Javier Garrón, Gail Simone, Marguerite Bennett, Jonathan Glapion, Fernando Pasarín, Robert Gill, Matt Ryan
3.0
This is both a frustrating book and a great capstone to Simone's run.
The big problem is that has some pretty annoying narrative gaps and fluctuations, not the least of which is Barbara's father, all of a sudden, ending up in jail between issues. That has to do with a events in another series, but how does it get just a few vague references here? I get that it's not Simone's plot, but it's certainly part of Batgirl's, and one of the things I most admired about this overall run was Simone's ability to seamlessly and meaningfully incorporate crossover material in a way that so many of the other Bat-family titles in the N52 failed to do. On a similar, though more minor note, Barbara goes from a quasi-relationship that's wonderfully hooked into a bunch of three ongoing subplots, to an issue where she laments not having any boyfriend or prospects, and back in the just issue to the original situation. It just
But Simone really pulls out all the stops to give her run a big ending. Knightfall, as a villain, was a wonderful figurehead for this run, with compelling backstory, motivations, character, and some memorably fucked up actions. Still, it felt like she petered out a bit by the end, as did the overall threat she posed. It felt a bit like the foot was taken off the narrative pedal, but that may also be a factor of various one-off issues and guest authors pitching in.
But even if the villain falls short, the payoff doesn't, culminating in a big celebration of who Batgirl is, where she was, and where she's going. If there's one thing Simone never lost touch with, it was Barbara and Batgirl's inner voice, and her ability to use that to flesh out the world around her and deepen our own involvement. Great run, and a lot of fun.
The bonus Future's End issue is excellent as well. Such an off-the-wall concept, but she delivers a great line to tie it all together.
The big problem is that has some pretty annoying narrative gaps and fluctuations, not the least of which is Barbara's father, all of a sudden, ending up in jail between issues. That has to do with a events in another series, but how does it get just a few vague references here? I get that it's not Simone's plot, but it's certainly part of Batgirl's, and one of the things I most admired about this overall run was Simone's ability to seamlessly and meaningfully incorporate crossover material in a way that so many of the other Bat-family titles in the N52 failed to do. On a similar, though more minor note, Barbara goes from a quasi-relationship that's wonderfully hooked into a bunch of three ongoing subplots, to an issue where she laments not having any boyfriend or prospects, and back in the just issue to the original situation. It just
But Simone really pulls out all the stops to give her run a big ending. Knightfall, as a villain, was a wonderful figurehead for this run, with compelling backstory, motivations, character, and some memorably fucked up actions. Still, it felt like she petered out a bit by the end, as did the overall threat she posed. It felt a bit like the foot was taken off the narrative pedal, but that may also be a factor of various one-off issues and guest authors pitching in.
But even if the villain falls short, the payoff doesn't, culminating in a big celebration of who Batgirl is, where she was, and where she's going. If there's one thing Simone never lost touch with, it was Barbara and Batgirl's inner voice, and her ability to use that to flesh out the world around her and deepen our own involvement. Great run, and a lot of fun.
The bonus Future's End issue is excellent as well. Such an off-the-wall concept, but she delivers a great line to tie it all together.