Who is that Masked Girl?
When I heard that Batgirl was getting another monthly I was hesitant. I adored the character when Babs was under the cowl but could never connect with Cass, no matter how much I wanted to. So when it was announced that a new Batgirl was coming and her identity was withheld I wasn't quite sure what to think.
The first issue of the new series is a great intro. It gives some basic background info so that everyone can follow along, even those of us who have been out of the Bat Family loop. Miller's approach to the character is believable. Stephanie, the new Batgirl and former Spoiler, faces a dilemma throughout; should she stop crime fighting, like she promised so many people, or should she give into her addiction and take up the Batgirl mantle?
Miller also does a great job showing something that I feel a lot of writers tend to ignore, Barbara Gordon's (the first Batgirl) inner turmoil. This reinforces the idea that putting a vigilante life behind you isn't so easy. Yes Barbara is now Oracle, but there is something about being right there in the middle of the action that she doesn't quite have being behind her computer. It's her skeleton in her closet.
Garbett's art is very similar to the style I've come to expect from most DC books. It doesn't stand out, but it definitely is not an eye sore. He does do an amazing job with his action scenes and getting the message across visually.
It's definitely a character piece, but still contains a fair amount of action. Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in any of the characters involved. I'm excited to see where this series goes!
