Comic Vine Review

9 Comments

Batgirl #16 - Collision, Part Three: Ceremony

4

Batgirl is forced to face her ultimate demons in the latest issue of BATGIRL.

The Good

The way this issue opens is absolutely awesome. Gail Simone sets a really somber scene and delivers one of the best moments I've read yet in her series. Utilizing Barbara's recovery, she sets the tone and the mood, reflecting on Barbara and the way she processes her emotions after she was first shot by the Joker and through her recovery that followed. It's a really well written series of panels and serves as a great segue into the present, where Barbara is forced to face the Joker and marry him in order to save her Mother.

I think the dialogue here is definitely some of the best I have seen in issues of the BATGIRL series. I loved the depiction of Barbara and the way that Gail really got into the character's head in this issue and dissected her in a way we hadn't really seen before. The story flows in a very natural way, and develops in a way that is really interesting.

It is clear that Barbara still holds some residual fears of the torture that the Joker had put her through and you can see that reflected here in a very eloquent way that doesn't oversaturate the the story. We're not bombarded by what happened to Barbara; it's used instead as an integral part of the plot in a way that really makes sense to the story.

Up until this point I haven't really enjoyed the portrayal of James Gordon Jr., but Gail really does a fantastic job depicting his character here. And although it is clear that James is able to get away by the end of the issue, the cliff hanger at the end alone makes this issue worth picking up.

The Bad

I am still not the biggest fan of Ed Benes' art style, and I think that if the art were not as bright as it is here, it might better reflect the somber tone of Gail's story. I simply don't think that the style is very complimentary to Simone's writing and that the action sequences are not as well executed. Benes could have provided more detail in these scenes than he did.

The Verdict

Aside from Benes' art, I think this is by far one of the best issues of BATGIRL in all of Gail Simone's run. From the somber reflection we get in the beginning of the issue, to the action packed sequences that follow, to an ending that will leave you at the edge of your seat; Simone knocks it completely out of the park. If you had been disappointed by this series in the past, this issue redeems it by delivering the story I think most Barbara Gordon fans have been waiting to see. Overall, this is definitely a well written, accessible read that is highly recommended.

9 Comments

Avatar image for arnoldoaad
arnoldoaad

1038

Forum Posts

1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

Edited By arnoldoaad

SPOILERS

this arc was full of holes

If Joker wants to use a chainsaw to cut off Barbs arms and legs, why doesnt he do so when she was knock down by Jr? she is at his mercy now, thats the idea of this entire plan, why doesnt he do it?

Why does Jr brings 2 fake grenades with him to bluff the Joker if he actually has a real grenade with him?

How the hell did Jr knew where was Barb and Joker? or where was the mother in the first place?

Jr lies when he says that he saved the mom, but wouldnt the Joker had put something to check at any possibility that the police or anyone else try to save her, like a video/audio feed, or even communication with the goons at the rollerskate ring, if he didnt, how did Barb knew that her mom wasnt dead already much less safe when Jr declares that he saved her?

why does Jr needs her mother alive?

If Jr KNEW that Joker was going to kidnap his mother and she wants her safe, why didnt he rescue her before she was kidnapped instead of tricking(I underline this) Barb into saving her own mother who she would obviously wanted to save

and finally maybe she is not "victimized" again like always in this comic, however she doesnt improve either, she is still taken down from behind by her sociopath brother, who she BELIEVES that had saved her mother and saving her, despite having you know, try to kill her.

and the worst part, the very horrible part is that Batgirl tries to kill Joker with a chainsaw, and if it hadnt been because of Jr she would had cut Joker in half, even the internal dialog back it up, she would had done it.

She is a Psychopath Now

this is NOT a sign of mental health, it is something completely different to want to harm someone because of grudge but something completely different to carried it out much less like this.

even Jason Todd in his worst moments was better than this and he had better reasons to kill the Joker

Avatar image for reignmaker
reignmaker

2484

Forum Posts

25

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 4

Edited By reignmaker

Truthfully I expected better from Gail Simone. Just not a great tie-in. The wedding thing sounded cool to begin with, but in the end it hardly meant anything to the story. Just a gimmick. And frankly I didn't give a gnat's ass about Jr. His inclusion (whenever it happened) just annoyed me.

Avatar image for ensabahnurx
EnSabahNurX

2321

Forum Posts

248

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By EnSabahNurX

hmmm, i have this on my sub list. Happy to hear its actually pretty good since i'm really trying to pick this series up again starting with this arc.

Avatar image for namtabmi
namtabmi

102

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By namtabmi

Loved the issue...Enjoyed the art too but..meh...opinions.

Avatar image for batwatch
BatWatch

5487

Forum Posts

274

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 238

User Lists: 1

Edited By BatWatch

I'm pretty much right there with you on this issue. There was a lot of good in this issue especially with Barbara finally (or so it appears) deciding to stop playing the part of the victim. On the flip side, I found James Jr.'s motivations very confusing. What did he accomplish by the end of the issue? Nothing in as far as I can tell.

The BatWatch Review is up.

Avatar image for booster_bronze
Booster_Bronze

204

Forum Posts

9

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Booster_Bronze

@arnoldoaad: Hey there's a spoiler option in the text options. Please use it instead of giving us the Reader's Digest version of the issue for those of us who might not have read it yet. Thank you.

Avatar image for arnoldoaad
arnoldoaad

1038

Forum Posts

1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

Edited By arnoldoaad

@Booster_Bronze:

sorry, i put a tag, though you should reconsider reading a review first if you dont want to be spoiled in the slightest

Avatar image for imagine_man15
Imagine_Man15

1809

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By Imagine_Man15

I like Gail Simone, and I (for the most part) am liking her run on Batgirl... but damn it, I wish she wouldn't try to write James Jr. She just doesn't capture the character quite right, in my opinion. She comes close at times, but his characterization here, as a whole, just hasn't been working for me.

Avatar image for blackkitty
blackkitty

449

Forum Posts

1552

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Edited By blackkitty

Curious, you said you don't like the art because it's too bright, could it be more the colorist you don't like then rather than the artist?