Review: Batgirl Vol. 1- Batgirl of Burnside

Quick Summary

Pros: The narrative is structured well and offers multiple entertaining stories that build up a larger conclusion. Batgirl’s approach to crime-fighting is well written. The emphasis on character development is entertaining. The entire collection looks great in a way that helps enhance the story.

Cons: Not everyone will appreciate the “young adult” vibe present throughout the collection. Dialogue is occasionally awkward and themes sometimes miss their mark.

Overall: At its core, this collection succeeds in providing an entertaining narrative with a charming cast of characters. This is furthered by a beautiful art style, well structured rising action, and a great portrayal of Batgirl’s unique skill-set. However, this collection also is also far more lighthearted than previous entries in the series, catering heavily to young adult readers. If readers are alright with this change in tone, then the rest of the volume will be a delight.

Story

Batgirl Vol. 1: Batgirl of Burnside, by Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher, is a collection that manages to tell several short and action packed stories while making sure to take plenty of time out for fun. The mix of crime-fighting and social interaction is interesting and certainly helps the book stand out among the rest of DC’s titles. It also leads to a few problems though, as the dialogue occasionally sounds awkward and the themes sometimes miss their mark.

However, the biggest factor that will influence readers’ opinions on this collection is how much they enjoy the dramatic tone shift this volume ushers in. Batgirl of Burnside establishes a setting and premise that is more lighthearted and fun than ever before, depicting Barbara as a young woman who struggles with personal problems as much as she struggles with supervillains. The entire series seems to be more geared toward the young adult market, which may not sit well with everyone. In the end, if this premise suits your personality, then the story is likely to appeal to you as well.

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Most of the volume follows the heroic battles Batgirl undergoes while she investigates strange occurrences in the Burnside community. This leads her to take down a few small-time villains that each require their own level of fighting and detective work. These smaller villains give each chapter some fun but also assist in building up to the collection’s grand finale. The build up to this conclusion was handled very well and gives the final battle the grandiose flair it needed.

Specifically, I loved the way this volume portrayed Barbara’s approach to crimefighting. It paints her as an analytical and intelligent vigilante, someone who does her research before jumping into battle. It also does a wonderful job in depicting how her eidetic memory assists in her work. The very first chapter highlights this as Barbara uses her memory to perfectly recall the previous night and find the one detail that seems out of place. Overall, these character traits are great to read and help Batgirl stand out as a member of the Bat-family and as a comic character in general.

Alongside battles against random villains, this volume places a heavy emphasis on personal struggles, including relationships and schoolwork. Batgirl’s friendship with Black Canary, the status of her thesis, and her relationships with a host of new people are all just as interesting to watch as her fight against evil. These aspects of the volume draw you in as a reader and cause you to become more invested than you would be otherwise.

However, the volume is not without its flaws. The overall attempt to appeal to young adults makes this book unique but also fills it with moments and dialogue that feel incredibly awkward. This includes pages where characters occasionally speak with hashtags or say other phrases that no real person would ever say. In addition, the socially progressive themes are sometimes muddled, especially in the now infamous case of the Dagger Type storyline, where the cross-dressing psychopath trope undoes some of the book’s otherwise positive social progress. These frustrations are minor but manage to occur often enough to negatively impact an otherwise entertaining book.

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Art

Though the story is a bit divisive, there is no denying that Babs Tarr’s pencils and inks give the collection a unique and tremendously appealing flair. Batgirl and her supporting cast look great and fit well in their new environment. This stylized take on the city is honestly just what this particular series needs. I specifically enjoyed Tarr’s character designs. She gives every character clothing that suits their personal style and does so numerous times throughout the collection. Small details like this stand out in this collection and really help tie the whole thing together.

This bold new art style also perfectly compliments the storytelling throughout the volume. The freewheeling and fun Batgirl seen here could not convey the same relaxed tone if the artwork was more serious and realistic. Plus, Maris Wicks’ diverse range of bright colors help reinforce the trendy nature of this new Gotham neighborhood.

Continuity

Though Batgirl Vol. 1: Batgirl of Burnside is listed as the first volume in a new series, it is actually a continuation of the previous Batgirl series, which ended with Batgirl Vol. 5: Deadline (Review). However, only a few details from that series are referenced here, making it easy for fans to begin reading with this volume.

The story started here continues in Batgirl Vol. 2: Family Business (Review).

This volume also makes references to other comic books, detailed below:

• Alysia calls Batgirl GBG. This is a reference to Batgirl introducing herself as “Gordan, Barbara Gordon” when the two first met in Batgirl Vol. 1: The Darkest Reflection (Review).
• Batgirl and Black Canary were not speaking to each other because of events at the very end of Birds of Prey Vol. 5: Soul Crisis (Review).
• Batgirl’s time in a wheelchair was the result of Joker’s attack on her back in Batman: The Killing Joke.
• The scene here where Barbara puts on a Batsuit for the first time is a flashback to Batgirl #0, which is collected in Batgirl Vol. 2: Knightfall Descends (Review).
• A number of images are shown from Batgirl’s recent past. These include:
  • Her fighting the Joker, which happened in Batgirl Vol. 3: Death of the Family.
  • Her standing with the Birds of Prey, who she joined in Birds of Prey Vol. 1: Trouble in Mind (Review).