Batgirl #2

Writer: Hope Larson
Art: Rafael Albuquerque
Colors: Dave McCaig
Letters: Deron Bennett
Publisher: DC

After spending some time in Tokyo, Barbara and her childhood friend Kai head to Singapore as Batgirl follows a clue that the Fruit Bat gave her. The first issue of Batgirl was lovely, it had great art and engrossing dialogue and action.

This issue's pacing is messy. There's some interesting things going on with Kai and Barbara's characterization but it does feel like the conflict isn't explicit enough, there's a larger quest but it does feel like Batgirl is just around. I think that could work in theory, especially as Kai and Barbara's budding romance is actually a thing I would like to see explored more, but there's this sense of her training and investigating something but it's never clear what that is. Larson has found a distinct, compelling voice for her main character and this will probably read better as a part of a trade paperback but as a single issue it feels way too decompressed.

The art and the layouts are still pretty fantastic. I really like that Larson and Albuquerque just take a panel to emphasize that Babs is ripped. She, as well as Wen Lu, are consistently as being very strong throughout the issue. Albuquerque's faces are a bit too exaggerated sometimes but everything that I loved from the art on the first issue is still here. All the layouts are very stylish and Albuquerque and McCaig's use of negative space and simplified backgrounds is very widespread, putting Barbara front and center at all points.

Batgirl #2 is a bit of let-down. There's still a lot to like here, so hopefully the series will pick up with the next few issues.