Batgirl Vol. 4

Batgirl, Volume 4: Wanted came out over a year ago, but I wanted to review something for International Women's Day, 2016, and I also wanted to take advantage of the ComiXology sale.  I bought the following issues, which make up Batgirl, Vol. 4.  The Batgirl issues are $0.99 each, and Batman: The Dark Knight issue is $1.99, bringing the total to $8.92:

• Batgirl, Issue #20
• Batgirl, Issue #21
• Batgirl, Issue #22
• Batgirl, Issue #23
• Batgirl, Issue #24
• Batgirl, Issue #25
• Batgirl, Issue #26
• Batman: The Dark Knight, Issue #23.1

I haven't read much DC in the past year, but Gail Simone's writing had me hooked from the first issue.  A drunk Barbara Gordon stumbles into her psychiatrist's office without an appointment and going through a crisis.  She narrates the "Ventriloquist" story, where a super-villain kidnaps one of the judges of Gotham's Top of the Charts, a play on various talent shows.  She can't tell the psychiatrist that she's Batgirl, which adds an extra layer to the narration.  

I absolutely love the covers by Alex Garner.  He puts a lot of effort into the realism of the artwork; it's above and beyond what I've been seeing in comic-book art.  Fernando Pasarin's pencils are fantastic, although he does make Babs look a little fat in Issue #22.  I think this is by design, though, as she is overeating and lazing about when her car thief date comes calling.  I do think Barbara's transgender roommate looks a little more masculine now that she's out of the closet.  The letters by Dezi Sienti are clear and readable, and the colors by Blond are vivid yet dark.  Jonathan Glapion is the inker.  

But what makes Batgirl such a great comic is what Gail Simone has done with Batgirl, herself.  Batgirl is haunted by the apparent death of her brother, from a Batarang from her own hand to the eye socket of her only sibling.  I love how in Issue #20, her drunken state isn't elaborated upon.  It's out of character, but done so by design to show how much she is in extremis.  

I think I'll be reading more of this title.  I was reading Catwoman, Batman, Detective Comics, Nightwing, and Batgirl when the "Death of the Family" arc occurred, and I only went forward with Detective Comics and Nightwing before petering out on The New 52 altogether a year or two ago.  I started reading manga, Image Comics, and a few European and South American comics instead, plus a little Marvel and some older DC comics.  Batgirl is simply on the same level as those comics, and I'm very excited about my renewed interest in this title.