A well-done, defining starting point.
Wow, just wow. I really enjoyed this issue. For those of you who are fans of Barbara Gordon, you’re gonna wanna go grab this issue straightway. There’s so much goodness packed into this issue and it really feels like an origins story rather than like prequel filler. From the outset, we’re given privy to Barbara’s both introspective and reflective inner monologue that sets her up not only as an admirer of her father and his work, but also as the “drive” and effective character we knew her to be both pre and post the New 52. On a random note, there’s an ad in here about Dr. Who in which the guy playing the doctor looks creepily like Willem Dafoe. *Shudders*
The story starts out with her convincing her dad to let her take a tour of the police station as an attempt to give her studies an authentic boost. This further goes to show just how smart and clever she is as we don’t really get to know her true motivations as to why she wants the tour until a few pages later so it’s a very good “Aha!” moment. There are a few “cryptic” moments that involve her brother, James Gordon Jr., who, prior to the reboot had a very creepy yet hugely intriguing role in the story The Black Mirror. He also had a tie in with the most recent issue of Batgirl that echoes his disturbing pre-reboot personality and that is further shown here. In other words, we get some much needed and appreciated character consistency, even if it is with a more peripheral character. Keep an eye on James Gordon Jr., here. Despite this appreciated consistency, Gordon Jr.’s actions don’t really add too much to the issue but rather serve more appropriately as nods to past continuity.
Cue the villain, Harry X, and the story then goes on to show how Barbara deals with a typical day at Gotham PD, i.e everything goes to hell in a hand basket very quickly. What’s neat about this is that her character’s ingenuity and intelligence really shines through as she’s constantly planning things out the best way she knows how while remaining as cool and collected as she can. All the while, she’s also acting selflessly which is how heroes should behave.
During her fight with Harry, both she and the reader know that luck is definitely on her side as she manages to leave the encounter unscathed, but the fact that both parties are privy to this is okay and acceptable, rather than coming off as being utterly unbelievable. To be honest, I was taken by surprise by the last page but it serves as a nice way of, once again, acknowledging past continuity and when you couple that with other smaller acknowledgments spread throughout the issue, this story feels “right.”
There are some small things that bother me in this issue such as the very tongue in cheek exchange between Harry and Barbara, some stupidity on behalf of the Gotham PD, and Gordon’s reaction, or lack thereof upon coming back to the ablaze police station knowing that his kids are trapped inside, but overall, this issue comes off very strongly as establishing Barbara as the strong, self-reliant, intelligent, and resourceful member of the Bat family that she is. The book, from beginning to end, contributed to this worthwhile portrayal of her and I give it a 4.5/5.
Side note: Seeing as there were people who were upset with how the confrontation between Barbara and Kate went down in Batgirl #12, I'd think this issue would serve as a step in the right direction for those who felt this way. Do you agree/disagree?