Batgirls #15 is published by DC Comics and written by the team of Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad. This issue features artwork by Neil Googe, colours by Rico Renzi Frank Cvetkovic. Main cover art (left) is by Sarah Stern.
Batgirls #15 is available from today in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold.
Synopsis
There’s nothing like some father-daughter bonding! Unless you’re Stephanie Brown, and you thought your father was dead…until he kidnapped you! At least your BFF Cassandra Cain’s determined to find you. It’s a deadly adventure for Cass, but nothing can stop her from risking it all to save Steph-unless it’s death itself…
Review
Last month Batgirls broke the mould with an incredibly special, silent issue. Like watching a film with the sound turned down, you’re able to appreciate the artwork on a whole new level. So how on Earth do the creative team follow-up such a game changing issue? Well by giving us the hardest of gut punches they could possibly swing for.
This latest arc started out with a Freaky Friday style body-swap which, at face value, could have been deemed comedic. It certainly brought lighter elements to the story which brilliantly masked the true international of Cloonan and Conrad’s story. Scratch the surface and you’ll soon see that everything has been about testing and strengthening the bond between Steph and Cass.
Before the body-swap, the two were in a place where the grass appeared greener. Each admiring aspects of the other’s life that they lacked. It wasn’t a point of conflict between them, but mutual admiration. You see Batgirls isn’t a book about pitting female characters against each other. It’s about family and sisterhood.
The issue kicks off with Cass on the trail of the missing Steph. She’s heading to Cluemaster’s not-so-secret hideout at top speed, desperately hoping to reach her fellow Batgirl in time. Meanwhile a very sinister game of Dead Wrong, the clue is in the title, is playing out indoors.
There’s some comic book zaniness which pads out the emotional core of the book. Cluemaster, somehow returned from the dead, is clearly unhinged and so borders on reaching a level of melodrama which would match Joker. But Conrad and Cloonan clearly don’t want to distract from the true intention and so never take the story too far. Cluemaster goads Steph to interact with him, eliciting responses which drive home the real, abusive and manipulative emotional which underpin their relationship.
In just the short space of one issue there’s a real breadth of emotions at play. Between the simple dialogue and the strong visuals from Googe and Renzi it’s difficult not to get choked up. Steph is really put through the wringer but in incredibly compelling ways. It’s also important to note this isn’t happening for the sake of it. It’s organic to her character history and who she is as a person at this stage.
I’m not going to spoil the big ending. But suffice to say the entire creative teams pulls off an incredibly tense, nail biting finale which is as satisfying as it is emotional. As the dust settles there’s just enough time to really drive home how far these two have some as sisters.
Verdict
Coming off the back of a stunning issue in January, Batgirls packs the biggest of emotional gut punches this month. Wrapped up the usual comic book trappings are feelings of loss and grief but also the hope and strength which rise from overcoming trauma.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
