Batgirl #5
Writer: Hope Larson
Artist: Rafael Albuquerque
Publisher: DC Comics
Batgirl #5 is the final issue of Rebirth Batgirl’s first arc: “Beyond Burnside”. Having set off from Burnside on a soul searching adventure that took her from Japan to Singapore to South Korea and finally to China, Batgirl and the villainous Teacher face off to decide the fate of Barbara’s newfound beau Kai and the intelligence drug that was stolen from him.
Taking Babs out of Burnside and having her explore Asia was a cool premise. Barbara has always been one of the smartest members of Batman’s family, so it’s interesting to see her in a situation that directly addresses intelligence as a major theme. For those in the know, some of the Asian school systems are notorious for using examinations as bottlenecks to weed out students seeking formal education, to the degree that underperforming students rarely get a chance to go to college or even high school. Of course, higher education is a big deal in these countries as education is directly correlated with not only having a chance at success, but at being able to survive. With this in mind, it’s surprisingly lucid that an American comic like Batgirl is able to dive in and talk about these problems in an intelligent, well-researched manner.
Interesting setting aside though, I’d have to rank Batgirl as probably the weakest of the Bat books. I wouldn’t say that the comic is terrible – in that the writing style, art and colors are all decent - but it falls into the trap of never giving you a reason to care, and sometimes that can be just as bad.
Batgirl #5 continues to bring us a colorful adventure that highlights some of the better parts of Barbara’s character while also bringing back some of her charm from the Burnside era. However, oftentimes it’s the supporting cast of a comic that really makes or breaks a book, and unfortunately the weak villains and side characters in Batgirl lean this book towards the latter end. By the end, I don’t think that Kai or Teacher and her Students were developed enough to let me build any kind of emotional rapport and get me to really invest in the story. Without giving away too much, the hero wins the day, the villains are apprehended and things progress the way we expect. But, does it really matter? Did Barbara grow and learn something about herself that a reader can relate with? Are the villains well written and memorable enough that we’re excited to talk about them afterwards and like to see them return? Answering these questions for myself, I’d have to give a resounding no. That’s a shame because it seems like a lot of potential was left on the table.
Batgirl #5 is the conclusion to the first arc of Hope Larson’s run on the title. Larson’s Batgirl is well-written and placed in situations that highlight her best attributes, but the weak plot, boring side characters, and underdeveloped villains make the story hard to emotionally resonate with. Does anyone really care what happens to Kai? Will people remember Teacher and her Students a year down the line? The result is a mediocre conclusion to a mediocre title that leaves me wondering if it was worth the investment by the end.
Artist: Rafael Albuquerque
Publisher: DC Comics
Batgirl #5 is the final issue of Rebirth Batgirl’s first arc: “Beyond Burnside”. Having set off from Burnside on a soul searching adventure that took her from Japan to Singapore to South Korea and finally to China, Batgirl and the villainous Teacher face off to decide the fate of Barbara’s newfound beau Kai and the intelligence drug that was stolen from him.
Taking Babs out of Burnside and having her explore Asia was a cool premise. Barbara has always been one of the smartest members of Batman’s family, so it’s interesting to see her in a situation that directly addresses intelligence as a major theme. For those in the know, some of the Asian school systems are notorious for using examinations as bottlenecks to weed out students seeking formal education, to the degree that underperforming students rarely get a chance to go to college or even high school. Of course, higher education is a big deal in these countries as education is directly correlated with not only having a chance at success, but at being able to survive. With this in mind, it’s surprisingly lucid that an American comic like Batgirl is able to dive in and talk about these problems in an intelligent, well-researched manner.
Interesting setting aside though, I’d have to rank Batgirl as probably the weakest of the Bat books. I wouldn’t say that the comic is terrible – in that the writing style, art and colors are all decent - but it falls into the trap of never giving you a reason to care, and sometimes that can be just as bad.
Batgirl #5 continues to bring us a colorful adventure that highlights some of the better parts of Barbara’s character while also bringing back some of her charm from the Burnside era. However, oftentimes it’s the supporting cast of a comic that really makes or breaks a book, and unfortunately the weak villains and side characters in Batgirl lean this book towards the latter end. By the end, I don’t think that Kai or Teacher and her Students were developed enough to let me build any kind of emotional rapport and get me to really invest in the story. Without giving away too much, the hero wins the day, the villains are apprehended and things progress the way we expect. But, does it really matter? Did Barbara grow and learn something about herself that a reader can relate with? Are the villains well written and memorable enough that we’re excited to talk about them afterwards and like to see them return? Answering these questions for myself, I’d have to give a resounding no. That’s a shame because it seems like a lot of potential was left on the table.
Batgirl #5 is the conclusion to the first arc of Hope Larson’s run on the title. Larson’s Batgirl is well-written and placed in situations that highlight her best attributes, but the weak plot, boring side characters, and underdeveloped villains make the story hard to emotionally resonate with. Does anyone really care what happens to Kai? Will people remember Teacher and her Students a year down the line? The result is a mediocre conclusion to a mediocre title that leaves me wondering if it was worth the investment by the end.
A Look Inside
