This series just gets better and better with every issue. Stephanie Brown, as the new Batgirl, was the best move that DC has made in a long time. The series reminds me so...much of the original Batgirl, when she first appeared in the comics. Barbara Gordon as Batgirl, wasn't always confident, and sometimes acted before she thought, and her detective skills increased as time went along, but most important she had excitement for what she was doing. I see all these things when I read the new Batgirl with Stephanie Brown. This storyline is complete within the TPB of issues 1-7, but I have a feeling, that once you read it, you will be as hooked as I am with this series and want more.
Full Review, some Spoilers:
When this series started, the Batfans didn't like Stephanie Browns character for the choice of Batgirl, and was critical of everything. I wasn't a fan of Steph's either, but I thought I'd gave the series a try. The first two issues were building on Stephanie and the interaction with Oracle, Barbara Gordon who was the original Batgirl, they were solid issues but didn't "wow" me.
The third issue..., Oh it hooked me, and.... I'm convinced that Stephanie was the perfect choice.
The title, Batgirl Rising, does rightly describe these issues. It is a uplifting story of an underdog becoming the hero.
To help with the enjoyment for the series it might help to know about...
SPOILER, but it's not necessary. If you already know about Spoiler you can skip this paragraph.
Before this series, Stephanie was a crime fighter called Spoiler (picture on the cover to the right). Her father was a bad guy called The Cluemaster. She got the name Spoiler because she would spoil her fathers plans. Every time her father escaped from prison, she would don the costume, and find ways to help police, and Robin, to capture him. She decided she liked being a heroine and started following Robin around.
Several adventures followed:
She had a baby that she gave up for adoption,
She trained with Batgirl(Cassandra Cain) and with Batman,
She became Robin when Tim Drake quit.
She was raped and tortured by Black Mask and Dr Leslie Tompkins faked her death,
She came back sometime later as Spoiler and under Batman's orders helped the villains of Gotham make Tim a better Robin,
Tim felt he couldn't trust her anymore and Ordered her to never put on the Spoiler costume again.
This is where you start in issue #1, Stephanie is seen in the Cassandra Cain's Batgirl costume. In a really nice flashback, Cassandra Cain as Batgirl, fights side by side with Spoiler against some Bad guys. Steph admits she shouldn't be in the Spoiler costume because of a promise. Cass says, "That symbol...his crest, his fight, I fought for HIM. But no more. Now the fight is yours." Then Cass disappears leaving behind the Batgirl costume.
Oracle, Barbara Gordan, is also doing her own soul searching. She has a lot of pent up anger because she will never walk again. Her father says, "It's like you don't want to be Happy."
Batman/Dick Grayson, gives her a call, and tells her of seeing Stephanie wearing the Batgirl costume. When Steph sees Barbara in her kitchen, she knows it's not good. Barbara is pissed that Stephanie would dare ...wear that costume, with the Batgirl name, her Batgirl name.
In issue 2, a confrontation in the kitchen, and later in the issue Barbara has a caption, “And just like that, I suddenly realize I’m trying to break her on purpose. And so does she.”
In issue 3, (the issue that converted me) it all comes together, in a scene where Scarecrow has Stephenie beaten and broken on the floor. She pulls herself up, and turns the tables on Scarecrow and by the end of it, I'm crying, and Barbara's crying, because she was monitoring Batgirl from the Batcave, and Stephanie has earned being called Batgirl. At the end of the issue Barbara has a new Batgirl suit to give to Stephanie.
In issue 4, Barb and Steph start working together as a team, instead of against each other, becoming friends.
Issue 5,6,7.... I'll just sum these up...because I don't want to spoil everything, but Stephanie proves herself to Batman/Dick Grayson and Robin/Damian as they go up against Roulette. The interaction in these three issues is awesome. A panel from issue 5 is to the right, and shows the confrontation between Dick and Barbara, BUT by the end of issue 7, there is another misty eyed moment as Barbara and Dick reconcile. Damian is his typical bratty self, these issues are really fun.
BATGIRL: Issues 1-7
TPB Title: Batgirl Rising
Issues Title:
1-3: Point of New Origin
4: Field Test
5-7: Core Requirements
Writer:Bryan Q. Miller
Pencillers: Tim Levins & Trevor Scott & Lee Garbett
Inker: Trevor Scott, Dan Davis, Aaron Sowd, Sandra Hope, & Oliver Nome
Colorist: Guy Major
Letterer: John J Hill
Covers: Phil Moto
Publisher: DC Comics
2009-2010
