By: Scott Beatty, Chuck Dixon Publisher: DC Comics Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: DC Comics Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 224 Publication Date: December 01, 2003 Reading Level: Young Adult Release Date: December 01, 2003
Absolutely Spectacular! This is A+ work. In the tradition of Batman: Year One and more closely Robin: Year One (Batman) Batgirl: Year One is wonderful story telling and visually lovely to behold.
Good, old-fashioned fun superhero comic "Batgirl: Year One" This is a really fun comicbook, retelling the origin of Batgirl, admittedly one of DCs minor characters, but a fan favorite as well. In this version she is both feisty and foolhardy, learning her craft at a lightning pace and surviving her adventures on a wing and a prayer. The artwork is delicious -- light, fluid, kinetic and intriguingly both cartoonish *and* realistic.
Best of all is the lighthearted tone -- this is a comic that uses classic Silver Age stories as its touchstone, and although there is some graphic violence, by and large this is a pretty innocent story, at least by today's dark, foreboding standards. (A couple of mild sexual references place this book just this side of a PG rating, which in some ways is a shame since there are so few super-books that are even remotely appropriate for really small children. Showing one of Batgirl's compuer hacker buddies surfing p*rn online while he talks to her on the phone is a little funny, but maybe the joke isn't worth it if it makes an otherwise kid-friendly book beyond the reach for younger readers.
Overall, a fun, clever, fast-moving book that pays loving homage to classic Batman lore. Great appearances from Batman, Robin and various members of the Justice League and JSA, with characterizations that will ring true for fans who still recall how innocent these books were, back in the 1960s and early '70s. Definitely recommended! (Joe Sixpack, ReadThatAgain book reviews)
Lives up to the hype! This story is every bit as good as you have heard. Barbara/Batgirl has a very unique "voice" and the art has a beautiful, cinematic quality.
The villains are also very well crafted in that we see the real conflict and motivation behind their actions, which makes them both humorous and scary at the same time.
It would be great to see a follow-up series as long as they were able to re-assemble the same creative team from this book.
Graphic SF Reader A look at Batgirl's early screwups, and her motivations, well before the Joker blew out her spine. Barbara Bordon is a fun loving, bad guy arse kicking, black leather clad redhead brilliant bombshell. She revels in the fact, and has a lot of fun in the process, as you can see in this book.
Still one of my favorite Mini-Series Still one of my favorite Mini-Series, mostly thanks to the beautiful artwork by Marcos Martin, but it's a great retelling of the Batgirl origin. Essential for any Barbara Gordon fans, like me :)
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
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