By: Bryan Q. Miller (writer), Lee Garbett (artist), Jonathan Glapion and Richard Friend (inkers), Guy Major (colorist)
The Story: The Flood, Part One of Four: It’s a typical evening in Gotham for Batgirl, jumping onto a speeding train while making quirky, distracted comments about gym class. She bursts through the window, making short work of a guy who held the train hostage with more than sausages strapped to his chest. But as she rejoins Oracle, something more sinister looms on the horizon. Some sort of phone-transmitted nanovirus is forcing people to collect pieces of technology for ends unknown. Can Batgirl stop the rising tide?
What’s Good: Miller is pretty close to top form in this issue. Stephanie Brown is quirky, funny, self-deprecating, proud and uncertain all at once. She has throwaway lines that kept me enjoying the fun ride, even as they exposed her character. She’s always been a bit of a screw up (to the point where she has to point out the stuff she does on purpose to whoever’s listening), so her uncertainty of what to do with praise from Commissioner Gordon is a fun change to see. The romantic tension between her and the detective was also great. I mean, her ex Tim has like, what, four possible girlfriends, so maybe she’s moving on? Nope. She and the detective are certainly interested in each other, but Miller has Stephanie resolutely holding onto that torch she’s holding for Red Robin. Miller is also a great writer to watch if you’re trying to learn about pacing. He spools the mystery out at the beginning of this new arc, even as he mixes it with beautiful character moments and action-filled laughs.
On art, Garbett, Glapion and Friend are also in fine form. When drawing comics set in Gotham, you’ve got to be able to deliver a lot of fearful expressions. When you’re drawing a comic starring Batgirl, you’ve got to be able to deliver expressions of uncertainty and self-doubt. The art team does both, even as they have Batgirl leaping onto a speeding train, leaping through windows, or getting caught in the rain. Major’s work on colors, as always, is great. He brings the moody shades of gray and purple and green that work so well with an unhinged Gotham. All in all, a fine visual offering.
What’s Not So Good: I can’t really criticize anything in this book. Batgirl delivers consistent quality adventure and personality, month after month.
Conclusion: Pick it up. This is the right time to jump on this series (well, you should have jumped on with issue #1, but if you’re not here now, beggars can’t be choosers, can they?).
Grade: B+
-DS Arsenault
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