DCU Comic Book Reviews

BATGIRL #6

Batgirl Rising: Core Requirements, Part Two

March 2010

Written by Bryan Q. Miller

Pencils by Lee Garbett

Inks by Trevor Scott

Cover by Phil Noto

Synopsis

Stephanie Brown (aka Batgirl) has been shot when she attempted to stop the kidnapping of Francisco Garcia.  The paramedics take her to West Mercy Hospital, which happens to be where her mother works.  However, Oracle is able to stop the ambulance and Batgirl gets away.  At Gotham Police headquarters, Commissioner Gordon contacts Batman about the kidnapping.  Batman thinks Francisco’s father is being targeted.  Nearby, Batgirl watches.  Robin interrupts to tell her they have it covered.  They fight.  Batman interrupts them and forces a time out.  As they sit and sulk, the two decide to work together.  In Devil’s Square, Batman examines the scene of the kidnapping.  Meanwhile, Batgirl and Robin visit Francisco’s girlfriend, who tells them Francisco’s father is deep in debt and the kidnapping is a way to get out of it.  Elsewhere, Batman is attacked by Roxy Rocket, then by Riot.  Francisco and his father watch the action from nearby.  His father then calls Roulette, who tells him they are now even. All bets for the death of Batman are now final.  Let the games begin. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Somewhere along the way, the focus of this issue went in the wrong direction.  The issue started off very good with the way Oracle and Batgirl escaped heading to the hospital and it continued with the unfolding of the mystery of the Garcia kidnapping.  But then the issue hit a snag and the ending fell flat on its face.  Up until the final couple of pages, I was enjoying this issue.  The last few, not so much.  We’ll have to see what happens next, but I think the betting on the death of Batman is the wrong choice of a stroy for this book. 

I like the idea of Batman’s role in this issue in terms of the being involved with the mystery and being the mentor to Batgirl.  I also liked the time out.  This, I think, is effective way to use Batman in this series.  What I think is not the right way is to shift the plot to villains attempting to kill Batman.  This is a story about Batgirl.  Wouldn’t it make more sense to have the bets on Batgirl.  Thus, the threat and the danger is on the titular character rather than a supporting character.  Granted, Batgirl (with Robin) will eventually find the Garcia’s and end the situation, thus giving her the hero role, but even so it is ancillary to what has become the main action. 

On page 2, Oracle refers to the victim as “Fernando,” but later Batgirl calls him “Francisco”.  Since Francisco was used in the previous issue, I went with that for the synopsis.  No matter what, the proof checker is probably going to get an earful for a mistake like that. 

When did Stephanie learn Batman’s identity?  When talking to Damian, she refers to her lessons from Bruce, so she must know.  Yet, for some reason I keep thinking that even when she was Robin, he made sure to keep her in the dark on who he was.  Maybe when he died, they told her?  Unless there is something I forgot, I just don’t remember when she learned Bruce Wayne was Batman.

 

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