BATGIRL #1
Shattered

November 2011

Written by Gail Simone

Pencils by Ardian Syaf

Inks by Vicente Cifuentes

Cover by Ardian Syaf

Synopsis

Prologue… Graham Carter, who somehow survived a sinking boat, is drowned by the Mirror.  Later… Barbara Gordon (aka Batgirl) is on the trail of the Brisby Killers, a group wanted for home invasion and murder.  The Brisby Killers have found new victims, but Batgirl interrupts the attacks and saves the family.  The next day, Barbara prepares to move into her new apartment.  At the hospital, Theodore Rankin (one of the Brisby Killers) is under police custody.  That does not stop the Mirror from coming after him.  When Barbara hears the police call, she becomes Batgirl and heads over to the hospital.  She gets there just as the Mirror gets there.  She rushes in.  The Mirror points a gun right at Batgirl’s spine, the same spot where the Joker had shot and paralyzed her.  Batgirl freezes, unable to move for fear she might be paralyzed again.  As Batgirl watches, the Mirror kills Rankin.  As he get away, the police point their guns at Batgirl, calling her a murderer for letting the Mirror murder Rankin.   

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

I was really, really enjoying this issue right up until the final two or three pages.  That whole moment when Batgirl freezes because the gun was pointed at her spine totally blew it for me.  I do not for one minute believe that Batgirl would freeze like that.  As Oracle, she has been through a lot of stuff, including behind held at gunpoint.  I would like to think that over time, Barbara would’ve been able to get over that one horrific moment.  In fact, a lot of her character is based on her ability to overcome her disability and become something more than just a victim.  She became Oracle.  It does not stand to reason that just because she is Batgirl once more that she lost her nerve and will.  It didn’t ring true and as a result it sinks the entire story. 

To make matters worse, the moments after the gun-at-the-spine scene doesn’t help matters anymore.  I understand what Simone is going for, but I don’t think she really thought through the actions of the other characters in the scene.  In particular, I am thinking of the policewoman.  Not only is she inactive as the Mirror kills Rankin (what? she couldn’t fire her gun despite the wounds, but she could yell at Batgirl?), but rather than (you know) stop the actual killer, she points the gun at the one who didn’t do anything.  Granted, not doing anything in this situation is pretty bad, but what about the one who committed the actual crime?  If you are going to point your gun at someone, about the killer?

Having said that, I really did enjoy the issue up to that point.  I thought it was well paced, managing to provide decent action and characterization mixed in with the exposition.  I liked the emotions prevalent in the scene with her father and the new roommate has potential.  The Brisby Killers had a touch of Grant Morrison, which made their appearance pop.  In contrast, the Mirror was dull, but that’s fine as he is not meant to upstage Batgirl, just provide a vehicle for her angst.  As for the exposition, there was a lot of material that Simone needed to cover, especially the Killing Joke, but it was handled well.  I liked the fact that the reasons how and why Barbara is walking is still a mystery.  It is secondary to what she is doing now and should be revealed only after a few more issues. 

How many times is Barbara going to move out on her own?  And why is it she is broke?  Is that because of the cost of all of those computers she has to by?  Speaking of which, what happened to them.  What happened to the needle building or whatever it was that was in the Birds Of Prey where she had set up shop.  As far as I know, Batman continuity is still in play, so why would she abandon that building?  I don’t know, it feels weird. 

DC has said that the current DCnU takes place 5 years after the emergence of the world’s first superhero, Superman.  In this issue, Barbara was paralyzed for a period of 3 years.  Oracle first appeared in 1989.  So, in essence, 20 years of publications amounts to 3 years of real-time.  However, I am not quite sure what to make of Batgirl’s appearances from 1967 (first appearance) to 1985 (Crisis) and then the post-crisis continuity up until 1989. 

Hey, look, another issue of Gordon with red hair.  So they really did de-age him a little bit didn’t they?

Strange Sighting

Page 19, bottom panel in the right hand corner, presumably standing across the street but visible in the reflection of glass.

	Main		Page	NEXT ISSUE