Comic Vine Review

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Batgirl #3 - A Breath of Broken Glass

3

Batgirl faces off against Mirror, then face off against Nightwing

A little bit of action, a little bit of drama, and a little bit of old relationships dying hard. That's pretty much, in a nutshell, what this issue is all about.

The Good

I really enjoyed the "first act" in this issue. It was a great action scene, and it although it progressed the Mirror story line, it didn't have to wrap it up all nice a neat. The second and third pages' art, pencils by Ardian Syaf, inks by Vincente Cifuentes, and colors by Ulises Arreola is wonderful. I really enjoy the two page splash page not just because of the art itself, but because of how it is set up. It has a great perspective to it and I love the color scheme.

The second act of this issue revolves around Babs and Gordon chatting it up about her once being paralyzed and Babs reveals that her condition could deteriorate, and she needs to be careful. It's a short scene, but I really enjoy the dynamic between this father and daughter.

The only thing I really liked about the third act was that Nightwing was in it, and it briefly touches on these two characters histories.

The Bad

The last part of this issue, featuring Nightwing and Batgirl, is what really kills the issue for me. The book slows to a crawl here and gets confusing. The story isn't what confuses me though. It's Babs out-of-nowhere reaction to her and Nightwing playing a game of tag.

Basically, Babs goes nuts for no reason. She comes off as emotionally unstable to the millionth degree, even after keeping her cool through the many deaths in the first part of the issue. The scene wasn't pointless, and it does have it's merit. I felt it could have been pulled off a lot better and Batgirl wouldn't seem as fragile.

The Verdict

I enjoyed reading this book, but I want more out of it. I liked the first two "acts" of this issue, and I love the two-page art spread towards the beginning. I also like seeing another character, who has his own book, make a cameo in the issue, but that last story really rubbed me the wrong way because Babs freaks out and seems so emotionally unstable. Overall, I mildly recommend the issue. Three issues into Batgirl, I feel the series is right down the middle for me.

26 Comments

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lazycartoonist

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Edited By lazycartoonist

quick question do i need to pick this issue before i pick up nightwing #3

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Bestostero

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Edited By Bestostero

@lazycartoonist: Probably not. But you should pick it up anyways because it's awesome! lol

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redbird3rdboywonder

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i gota start buying comics

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tchrevor

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Edited By tchrevor
but I really enjoy the dynamic between this father and son.

Son?

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astrid12

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Edited By astrid12

I liked certain parts of it, the artwork the most, but sometimes it feels like it's just rushing through, and hearing EVERYTHING Babs has to think is taking away from her character for me, since there's no mystery, not that there needs to be any but it can get tiresome. I get about her condition, I get what happened the opening act, I get the dynamic between her and Nightwing and I loved the whole, 'with his acrobatics and my ballet' bit, however there's little emotional connection to this, it just feels like...it's there...like a stale distant story. I will continue to grab the book to see if it gets a kick out of me because there are some parts I'm enjoying.

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Mbecks14

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Edited By Mbecks14

This article needs some proof reading. "father and son"??? and there's afew other typos.

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218Comics

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Edited By 218Comics

I didn't think the fighting part was at all random or an episode emotional instability. Barbara felt that Nightwing, and therefore Batman, believed her to be weak in some way (or fragile, in relation to her former paralysis) and lashed out to prove herself.

Regardless, this was the first episode I've really liked from Batgirl. This story had multiple levels and finally got me into it. 4/5 here.

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BatBen9135

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Edited By BatBen9135

The first and second act was awesome. Love Mirror as a villian, and loved the part with Nightwing up until the very end when she started punching him. I get Babs doesn't want to seem helpless, but that was a little too much for me.

Anyways, really excited to see her face off with Mirror next month!

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doordoor123

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Edited By doordoor123

Agreed. It was enjoyable but it was a blah issue. It felt more of a fan service issue to people that like the Barbara-Nightwing relationship and want to see how they react in the DCnU.

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golvellius

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Edited By golvellius

Three issues into Batgirl and I can not tolerate her inner voice and her stupid Dialogue...Its totally disconcerting. I am quitting at number 3....

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entropy_aegis

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Edited By entropy_aegis

Simoneforce for the win,c'mon Gail,this was approaching the Batman/Catman fight levels of absurdity.

I get that Gail wants to make her favourites look badass but so far she has done it at the expense of the other character.

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Eyz

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Edited By Eyz

Deteriorate you say?

*looks at Steph* See!! There's still some room for you!!! :'3

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spaceboy

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Edited By spaceboy
@entropy_aegis said:

Simoneforce for the win,c'mon Gail,this was approaching the Batman/Catman fight levels of absurdity.

I get that Gail wants to make her favourites look badass but so far she has done it at the expense of the other character.

She always does that. Think Shiva vs. Huntress.
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No_Name_

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Edited By No_Name_

@golvellius said:

Three issues into Batgirl and I can not tolerate her inner voice and her stupid Dialogue...Its totally disconcerting. I am quitting at number 3....

^^ Yup.

I was expecting so much more. Her dialogue is not good.

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daredevil21134

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Edited By daredevil21134

I stopped after one,I miss her as Oracle

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BatBen9135

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Edited By BatBen9135

@doordoor123: I think what hurt it was the fight with Nightwing. I was really loving it up 'til that point. It just slowed down when Dick showed up, and I think it will translate better in the tradeback. I'm ready for the showdown with Mirror. To me, Mirror is an awesome villain and one of the best new ones in the Bat-family.

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SUPER-MAN 23

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Edited By SUPER-MAN 23

So now we can call this Batgirl And Now... Nightwing [Issue] #3? What happened to Batgirl And Now... Nightwing issues 1-2? lol. Good review Mat.

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Shamelesslysupportinaznballers

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Based on DC's track record with the new 52, I was expecting a sex scene every time I turned the page once Dick showed up.

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RareCheshire

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Edited By RareCheshire

@Shamelesslysupportinaznballers: Another reason why we should have faith in Gail Simone! I thought the moment between them was incredibly endearing!

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yo_yo_fun

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Edited By yo_yo_fun

I really like this issue. I agree, the dialogue wasn't that good. It made her seem a lot younger..and not in a good way. But other than that, it was a great issue!

And of course she got defensive! She just wanted to prove she can still kick some ass. If u hear Batman was checking up on u, "love" wouldn't cross ur mind for the reason why.

And that cop is definitely going to cause some trouble...interesting:D

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Knight Train

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Edited By Knight Train

Well, I loved it

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luckydomino1

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Edited By luckydomino1

i read it but didnt buy batgirl is kinda uninteresting way back i said both batgirl and batwoman were bad but batwoman got better unfortunately the same didnt happen for batgirl

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sixpin

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Edited By sixpin

I thought this was a great issue as well. I enjoy anytime Jim Gordon can be worked into a story. Nightwing was a nice touch, but Babs was a little over the top with the rooftop brawl.

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EnSabahNurX

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Edited By EnSabahNurX

@yo_yo_fun said:

I really like this issue. I agree, the dialogue wasn't that good. It made her seem a lot younger..and not in a good way. But other than that, it was a great issue!

And of course she got defensive! She just wanted to prove she can still kick some ass. If u hear Batman was checking up on u, "love" wouldn't cross ur mind for the reason why.

And that cop is definitely going to cause some trouble...interesting:D

I think gail is trying to cover too much ground in such a short number of panels and barbara comes off bipolar and creepy when she cuts her hair(wouldn't be so creepy if nightwing gave her something in return or that scene wasn't so choppy)

I think the nightwing stuff should have been between arcs not in the middle of the mirror arc, this would have made a great character development issue and explain what barbara is going through

I'm holding hope that gail hits her stride with this younger barbara by the next issue/arc

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yo_yo_fun

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Edited By yo_yo_fun

@EnSabahNurX said:

I think gail is trying to cover too much ground in such a short number of panels and barbara comes off bipolar and creepy when she cuts her hair(wouldn't be so creepy if nightwing gave her something in return or that scene wasn't so choppy)

I think the nightwing stuff should have been between arcs not in the middle of the mirror arc, this would have made a great character development issue and explain what barbara is going through

I'm holding hope that gail hits her stride with this younger barbara by the next issue/arc

I definitely agree with u on that! The comic does seem pretty rushed, especially the 2nd issue. But this issue didn't seem AS rushed.

The whole cutting her hair thing...I didn't really understand that. The only thing I came up with is she wants him to let her go so she gives him a piece of her hair to let him know she will be okay, just let her go...idk I could be wrong.lol

I really hope so too! This comic has HUGE potential and I just hope it gets better!

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X9

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Edited By X9

Babs and Dick, I simply love seeing them together. And you can tell she really means a lot to Nightwing. I'm just afraid she might be putting herself away from the ones who love her.