What Does the New Batman On the Block Mean For Batgirl?

The new Batman's been on a tear of late, popping up in almost every title that the old one used to occupy and shaking things up wherever he goes, but nowhere is that likely to be more pronounced than in the pages of BATGIRL for reasons that will become clear after the obligatory SPOILERS FOR BATGIRL #41 as well as the identity of this new Batman!

With her father as the man behind the metal mask, Barbara Gordon's life is about to be turned completely upside down. The new Batman has a zero-tolerance policy toward Gotham's various vigilantes, as well as its super-criminals, and that includes Babs, who Papa Gordon is fully unaware is Batgirl. This issue has a more serious tone than a lot of the previous ones since the latest creative team took over, but it's still got plenty of room for levity. This is mostly centered around Barbara and Jim and the latter's new look.

Gordon actually does something rather surprising after this, outing himself to his daughter as the not-so-caped crusader, but before she can finally reveal her secret double life to him, he's spilled the beans on the new objective of the Bat: to bring down Gotham's vigilantes by force. It's always tricky to see Babs keep Jim in the dark, often resorting to verbal gymnastics to do so, but this actually feels earned and genuine as the shoe's never been on the other foot before. We also see the shocking return of the villainous Livewire and Babs' own Oracle Frankie being placed in the cross-fire, as well as suffering physically for her role in aiding Batgirl. That feels like a thread that'll get picked up another time as the issue ends with father and daughter confronting one another while only one knows the truth about the other.

Now THAT is a cliffhanger!

This all looks very... cute.

I really dig the artwork and layout design of this series. Oh, and the great new perspective of Babs from the writing =)

I picked up the trade today and flicked through, I think it was of the issues before this one, but the art...I just couldn't get past it :-(

I dropped batgirl when she changed her outfit and moved to Burntside, can I read this as a stand alone issue focusing only in the plot development of the new Batman and independent of what happened since Babs moved or does it continues some previous plot or does the majority of the issue is untelated to the new Batman?

Gordon looks gross without his mustache

I want this issue! The art is amazing!

So how is this different from the storyline where he was hunting her because he thought she'd killed his son? As I recall Gail Simone got a lot of flack for making that too dark, yet this is meeting with approval?

Wow, I'm not a fan of that artwork

Didn't care much for this, that said the mustache bit, was adorably on point.

Nice Robocop reference.

And why is Jim so anti vigilante now? Wasn't he Batman's number 1 fan?

Another day in the life for the Gordon family. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Good and fun issue. A brighter side to the Gotham comic book scene.

The super best partners thing has my guy brain...intrigued. I am still recalling all the subtexts Gail Simone put in her characterization of Barbara Gordon. And by subtext I mean sexuality.

The suit looks funny when firing Batarangs... pffft XD

Batgirl's costume isn't very identity protective. I don't get why people cant tell its her? her hair eyes, nose, and mouth are expose. Not to much the hair being expose offers the same disadvantage as the cape

@justice_teen: That's like asking why it took a news story from Lois Lane for people to realize that Superman is Clark Kent.

Exactly he has the worst secret Identity ever.

''Batgirl..you risked yourself to save this city and in my way of honoring the Bat-family.....Nevermind you are under arrest '' Really ? That didn't take long >_>

And yes, clena shaven Gordon doesn't look like Gordon at all. If the book didn't tell me that he IS Jim , I wouldn't have believed it. Without his specific features, Jim Gordon is hard to recognize really.

I agree he kinda looks like an age Steve Trevor in Argus.

Seriously, I don't get the lack of mustache. Is it supposed to block his cybernetic hookup with the costume or something? I don't think there are rules against cops or the military having mustaches?

@mantequilla: there's some slight mention of plot threads and villains from before, but it's all pretty easy to pick up. It'll be easy to jump on here. The Batman/Batgirl situation promises to get interesting.

Personally, I think the art took a step down from where it was. i guess it's just not my style. DC is really running this MechaGordon concept into the ground. To me, it makes no sense for Gordon to be running around in a vigilante's symbolic suit (of armor) and going after vigilantes on the streets. I understand he is working for the police and as such has some GCPD pieces of flair. Why does he have to wear a Bat symbol and have his police issue power suit look similar to something Batman may wear? If you are going to have a story without Batman in Gotham city, either have no Batman figure at all or have an actual vigilante take up the mantle of Batman.

Why do Batgirl writers have to write Gordon like an idiot?

@wowlock:

'Batgirl..you risked yourself to save this city and in my way of honoring the Bat-family.....Nevermind you are under arrest '' Really ? That didn't take long >_>

I always thought the GCPD put more effort in getting vigilantes than other criminals.

And yes, clena shaven Gordon doesn't look like Gordon at all. If the book didn't tell me that he IS Jim , I wouldn't have believed it. Without his specific features, Jim Gordon is hard to recognize really.

When I first saw his new look in Batman 41 I thought they de-aged him.

This actually looks good. It was cute fun and interesting. It makes me want to start reading batgirl

It's more like a combination of Robocop and Batman.

This.

Honestly my biggest problem with this issue is that in Batgirl #26 it was heavily implied that Jim knew that Barbara was Batgirl (similar to the scene in No Man's Land with Batman) but just didn't acknowledge it. I know that this run has hand-waved/ignored parts of the previous run, but it still feels weird that he'd just arrest his daughter.

Why the heck does Gordon want to bring in the bat family? Honestly they should all be good enough to wreck him in a fight

Good art. There's just one small problem.

I think I'll buy the Batgirl/Burnside trade though, seeing this preview has piqued my interest and actually the art is growing on me

What can it mean?

Superhero father/daughter arguments.

"Young lady, it's way past you bedtime!"

"But daaad..."

(Or maybe I am just thinking Tiny Titans)

AMAZING! The GCPD against the Bat-Family? So new, so fresh, so...dull.

Very predictable

I miss Gail.

So was this Made for teenage girls? Seriously this sh*t sucks.. So sad I had to drop this book, oh well secret six is pretty sweet so far

Yeah its kinda sad what they did with Batgirl, her former series was awesome and now it turned into some kiddie book. Must be the Ms Marvel influence...

I love this new Batgirl :)