Batgirls #17 is published by DC Comics and written by the team of Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad. This issue features artwork by Robbi Rodriguez, colours by Rico Renzi and letters by Becca Carey. Main cover art (left) is by Jorge Corona with Sarah Stern.
Batgirls #17 is available from today in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold.
Synopsis
Nothing says spring like the Aparo Park Spring Jubilee-live music, good food, and besties Cass Cain and Steph Brown unwinding after a long day of Batgirling. But the day turns sour quickly when snipers Gunbunny and Gunhawk appear on the scene…why are they here, and who are they targeting? It’s up to the Batgirls to protect their fellow Hills residents and find the snipers before anyone gets hurt.
Review
Since I last reviewed Batgirls we received the sad news that the series would be coming to an end with issue #19 in June 2023. Whilst I’m still grieving the loss of Steph, Cass and Barbara in their own book there’s no doubting the delight in seeing the story come full circle.
Over the course of nearly two years we’ve seen the team carve out an incredible niche for themselves in the Hills district of Gotham. I’ve written much about how giving the Batgirls their own corner of the city has revitalised their characters, allowing them the chance to exist adjacent to the rest of the Bat-family. With that ethos in mind, Cloonan and Conrad has stuck to their guns. Batgirls has never relied on blockbuster cameos and that is still true of this final arc.
Issue #17 kicks off with Steph and Cass enjoying some downtime. After what they’ve been through in the past few months they certainly deserve it. These moments of seeing the heroes out of costume, have been some of my favourite in the book. Cloonan and Conrad has made sure to dedicate time to developing both Cass and Steph as people as well as their hero personas.
Everything about this final arc screams the best of Batgirls. Bringing the focus back to Hills, seeing Steph and Cass in a much better place emotionally. Cloonan and Conrad weave in elements from across the series, including putting a stronger focus on local journalist Grace O’Halloran. O’Halloran has been a supporting player throughout Batgirls run and it seems this final arc may tie up a very long-game with her development.
There is absolutely a sense of coming full circle in this final arc. As the citizens of Hills enjoy the Aparo Park Spring Jubilee there’s a sense that this community has finally embraced its heroes. As Grace interviews attendees the commentary becomes almost a meta glimpse as fans acceptance of the Batgirls book and its impact of the characters.
Cloonan and Conrad keep the book running at a brisk pace. It’s the perfect pager turner as celebration turns to chaos. Batgirls finest stories have struck deep to the core of who each of the characters are. Attacking their new found home does this perfectly. But making this a shooting also digs deep in to what makes Steph who she is. It doubles down on the impact of the story for the characters and ramps up the same for the reader.
With issue #17 we’re back with my favourite art team of Rodriguez and Renzi. Teamed with Becca Carey’s letters, Batgirls looks the best it ever has. Uniquely dynamic in style and instantly recognisable. I’m just not prepared to lets this team go yet.
Verdict
Batgirls comes full circle. With just two more issues to go the series is bringing the focus back to Hills and how the team has come to call this corner of Gotham home. It feels right that the story should end where it began with a strong focus on its fan-favourite central characters.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
