DCU Comic Book Reviews

BATGIRL #9

The Flood, Part One of Four

June 2010

Written by Bryan Q. Miller

Pencils by Lee Garbett

Inks by Jonathan Glapion and Richard Friend

Cover by Stanley "Artgerm" Lau

Synopsis

On the train, Batgirl, with the help of Oracle, subdues a potential bomber.  Afterwards, Commissioner Gordon commends Batgirl for a good job.  At Gotham University, Barbara Gordon (aka Oracle) helps Wendy, the daughter of the Calculator, overcome her paralysis in an incident that also caused her brother’s death.  At Elysium Tech, Commissioner Gordon and Detective Nick investigate the death of an employee.  At Firewall, Oracle’s new headquarters, an alarms sounds a second time at Elysium Tech.  Already there, Detective Nick rushes to investigate.  He encounters a security guard who somehow has been mind controlled.  Batgirl saves Nick just before the security guard jumps out a window and kills himself.  Later, Oracle is able to review the blood work from the corpses and determines they were infected by nanites from Apokolips.  Oracle realizes that she is coming.  Outside Gotham, the Calculator gets he wanted from Elysium Tech.  No he is ready to get back what was taken from him.  His daughter. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

That is a wonderful cover.

This was a very good transition from the previous story to the next story.  I like the fact that Miller makes sure to build upon the previous story, continuing to show the duo growing together as a working unit.  We get to see them taking down a bat cave and then engaging in some witty reparatee.  It is also nice to see that the subplot of Wendy (does she have a last name) finally coming to fruition.  The exposition of what happened to her was perhaps not necessary, but I understand that this will probably by the lead for the next trade paperback so needs to be touched upon to make sure readers understand what the Calculator is doing at the end.  So, overall, this was a decent transition to the next story. 

I like the relationship between Oracle and Batgirl.  The dialogue on the written page, I don’t think, works as well as it would if it were spoken by two actresses; I think there is a lot in tone and infliction and timing that is lost when put onto paper.  However, it still comes across as humorous, and a little self-deprecating and easily identifiable as short-hand for two people who like each other and like working with each other.  Their relationship is easily the best thing about this book.  I really hope that when the new Birds of Prey series begins that Oracle doesn’t get pushed off this book.  

His actions might be stupid, but I have to admit I kinda agree with Johnny C’s sentiment when he wonders why people are still living in Gotham City.  I mean, with all of the stuff that has happened over the years, all of the crazies living near and around the city, hell even with Arkham Asylum right there, why would anyone want to be in Gotham.  Unless you were a hero or a villain hoping to work with the big guns such as Batman or Joker.

What was the deal with Oracle drinking a bottle of wine (chardonnay)?  Is she stealing from Bruce Wayne’s private collection, thinking he doesn’t need it now that he is dead?  The brand, as far as I can tell, is Foppoli Wine and the type is 1470 Foppoli Chardonnay. It is a very limited wine to celebrate the company move to Italy to grow grapes.  Maybe Miller and/or Garbett really like the wine.  I don’t know, it seems like an odd thing to add into the story. 

 

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