Batgirl #4 is written by Tate Brombal and published by DC. Artwork is by Takeshi Miyazawa and colours by Mike Spicer, letters are by Tom Napolitano. Main cover art (left) is by David Talaski.
Batgirl #4 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
As Batgirl grapples with the unlikely allies Lady Shiva has assembled to combat the Unburied, a surprise attack derails their burgeoning plans. Suddenly, it’s all-out war with Cassandra Cain caught in the middle of the deadliest hands in the DC Universe! Will she stand and fight alongside the enemies of her enemy? Or will she take them all on herself?
Review
Tate Brombal’s blockbuster Batgirl is back in comic book stores today. The ride out of Gotham arrives at a crossroads this month. Leaving Cass with an important decision to make about which path she will choose to follow moving forwards.
The fourth issue once again picks up directly in the wake of last month with Cass and her mother on the train out of Gotham. Issue #3 left us on a monster cliffhanger as Lady Shiva revealed potential co-conspirators also on the run from The Unburied. So this month’s issue gives Brombal a choice. To stay in that train car, forcing Cass to confront this assembled group of foes in a moment of fight or flight.
I will admit Brombal had me fooled this month. I thought I had Batgirl all worked out. This was going to be a low-key issue compromised mostly of dialogue. Cass, unmasked in front of Nyssa, Angel Breaker, Jayesh and Bloodmaster, would be forced to listen to her mother’s plans. It would be a clashing of the wills as Cass would initially refuse to listen to her mother’s reasoning. But slowly we would see that begin to change and that would bring this chapter to a close.
Oh how wrong I was…
Not that there would be anything wrong with Batgirl becoming a more contemplative book this month. But Brombal clearly had other plans in mind. Staying true to Cass and her values is core to this book’s success. So that train car, in the moment, confronted by this group she assesses all her options and we go on that journey with her. A brilliant fake out moment actually visualises how Cass would take out each of Shiva’s associates, giving her the chance to flee the train and probably return home to Gotham and to Batman.
As he has done with every issue in the series so far, Brombal neatly balances Cass’s ability to read the situation with a natural curiosity. As both Shiva and Cass have been nudged closer together we’ve seen both taking just a fraction of a second longer to consider the other’s viewpoint. So Batgirl #4 affords character’s like Nyssa al Ghul the chance to do a little monologuing whilst Cass fleetingly decides whether her story is worth believing. Of course anyone who gets in to bed with Lady Shiva probably has ulterior motives. But Brombal also isn’t one to lay all his cards on the table. Even as things on the train take a turn heading in to the conclusion of issue #4, we’re still somewhat in the dark as to what set this chain of events in motion.
The subtlety with which Brombal is turning the screw is scintillating. There are certainly hints throughout this issue that perhaps an act of aggression on Shiva’s part is to blame for Cass’s predicament. That alone could flip the entire narrative on its head. Taking the arc from one of protection and turning it in to something manipulative. For Batgirl to have longevity as a series we need to see her developing as a character. So what better way to do that than dangling the carrot of repairing the mother-daughter bond only to reveal that nothing was quite what it seems? I may be clutching at straws but given the evidence I have a feeling disappointment lies ahead for Cass when it comes to her mother’s motivations.
Batgirl #4 plays to all of Takeshi Miyazawa’s strengths. There are opportunities to hone in on Cass, Shiva and the others for some intense character work. But the Unburied’s attack on the train removes the shackles and allows for those big fun, action set piece moments that we’ve already grown to love from this series.
Verdict
Batgirl #4 continues the series streak of dynamic storytelling and strong visuals. Brombal’s adoration for Cass has never been clearer as plot points from the past rear their head to delight long-time fans of the character. But as things get tougher for our lead the series only seems to be stronger and more compelling.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
