Review: Batgirl Vol. 4- Strange Loop
Quick Summary
Pros: The volume’s later chapters are interesting and fun to see play out. These chapters also feature some unique reflection from Batgirl that connects to real-world young adulthood. The volume’s artwork suits the storytelling.
Cons: The opening few chapters are not that memorable.
Overall: This is another positive entry for the Batgirl series. The majority of the book succeeds in telling stories that are interesting and simply fun to read. Plus, these stories have some meaning behind them too, meaning that is specifically relevant to young adults. There are a few stories that fail to capture these positives, but these are in the minority. Overall, this is a solid Batgirl collection for fans of the character.
Story
Batgirl Vol. 4: Strange Loop, by Hope Larson, collects a variety of stories that are enjoyable to experience. Many of these stories feature Batgirl taking on a unique villain, participating in a character-focused team-up, or utilizing her very specific skills in order to save the day. Many also center around the troubles of young adulthood and have Batgirl attempt to work her way through these problems. The only downside is that a few of the chapters are lackluster. All in all though, this collection is fun to read and has a nice message behind it.
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The book’s opening few chapters are alright but don’t stand out as anything memorable. The first is a Christmas crossover with Harley Quinn, a quick adventure with added slapstick from Harley’s corner. Then, the next story details the return of Penguin and his son. This two-chapter arc is pretty simplistic but still has some appeal as a straightforward clash between a hero and her villains.
The quality of the storytelling then improves from this point. The following stories are more compelling and interesting. One has Batgirl participate in a wholesome team-up with her father, another has her fight to break free of a mental prison within her own mind, and others have her connecting emotionally to cases while still solving them with heroic prowess. Each adventure feel unique and stands out in its own way.
These higher quality stories also bring up some meaningful reflection for Barbara Gordon as an individual. They have her questioning the path she has made for herself and consider altering it in some way. She begins the feel the pressures of society that exist in real life and, like real life, finds herself swayed by these pressures. Though Barbara appears to find a way to stay true to herself, watching her struggle with an issue like this makes her more relatable than before.
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Art
The artwork in Strange Loop looks nice and properly captures the tone of this particular volume. The collection starts out with visuals from Sami Basri and Chris Wildgoose. Both of these artists are able to capture the bright and stylized visuals that have dominated Batgirl’s Rebirth adventures. Then, as the volume progresses, and Scott Godlewski and Minkyu Jung step in to bring out a style that is similar to before but also subtly different. Here, the visuals are a little more detailed and realistic, a change that occurs as the volume moves toward deeper and more meaningful messaging behind the stories. Each of these artists’ work is appealing on its own but, together, they help further establish the growth Batgirl undergoes throughout the book.
Continuity
Batgirl Vol. 4: Strange Loop continues the story from Batgirl Vol. 3: Summer of Lies (Review).
The story here continues in Batgirl Vol. 5: Art of the Crime.
This volume also references other comic books, detailed below:
- Batgirl #25 shows the aftermath of a murder Joker committed in Batman #48, collected in Batman Vol. 7: The Wedding (Review) (Reading Order).
- Batgirl #25 mentions the fallout from the Wedding in Batman #50, collected in Batman Vol. 7: The Wedding (Review) (Reading Order).