Batgirl #1 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 #1 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology right here.
Synopsis
Hold on to your seats, clutch your pearls, and rejoice in celebration because Cassandra Cain is taking center stage in her ?rst solo Batgirl series in nearly two decades! When a deadly group of assassins shows up to kill Cassandra, Lady Shiva comes to the rescue, and they must put their complicated past aside and work together as mother and daughter to ensure they make it out alive. Unfortunately, things are never as easy as they seem, and Cass must embark on a jaw-dropping, martial-arts-?lled adventure in her quest for truth and justice…and revenge?! It’s a Batgirl book like never before, so join us as we dive into the psyche of one of Gotham’s deadliest fighters, while exploring her deep and complex relationship with her mother.
Review
It’s been almost two decades since Cassandra Cain last headlined an on going series. Whilst there has been a consistent presence for the Batgirl brand, it’s about damn time that DC gave fans what they want. A seriously cool, edgy series from one of the hottest writers in comics which puts Cass right back in the DC spotlight.
Cue the brilliant Tate Brombal of The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos and today’s brand new Batgirl #1 which finds Cass forced to team up with none other than her mother, Lady Shiva. Make no mistake, this is a huge series to take on. Cass is a fan-favourite of Jason Todd-level proportions. Her fans are incredibly dedicated and Brombal find himself completely open to their criticism should Cass’ characterisation not seamlessly fit with her 25 year history across the DC brand. Add to that Lady Shiva and you’ve got a recipe for potential chaos by exploring one of the most difficult relationships in comics since Damian and Talia al Ghul.
Batgirl #1 feels meticulous in its approach. Before there are any bells and whistles both Brombal and artist Takeshi Miyazawa get to grips with both of the book’s leading women. Both writer and artist start with bold statements. The opening barbs the two share are pitch-perfect. Whilst Miyazawa’s edgy artwork proves to be sumptuous as both character’s have a moment to stand full across the page. Metaphorically speaking, the fact they appear on separate pages despite sharing the same space speaks volumes about their relationship in subtle but still noticeable ways.
Cass isn’t a character necessarily known for her dialogue. In case you are coming to Batgirl #1 as a new reader, for many years the character was mute. Only in more recent interpretations has she been written to have learned language and been able to communicate more openly. Brombal finds a pleasing balance between who Cass was and who she is now. I hate to use the word again but her choice of words is as meticulous as any other creative decision in the entire book. Both inside and outside of her mind. The mix of narration and dialogue feels authentic to the character I have grown up reading. As does her acerbic delivery and choice of words. Hats off to Brombal for connecting with Cass so quickly right out of the gate.
The back and forth between mother and daughter is electric. The dialogue is full of subtext, covering their actions in the moment as well as their longstanding feelings for each other and their situation. No stone is left unturned despite the fact neither character has particularly moved from the spot where the series began. The level of focus on character over action is dominant in the first half of the book and really can’t be faulted.
Then, with the almighty shattering of the window behind our characters, Brombal kicks in to high gear. The second half of Batgirl #1 is fairly relentless. It builds on the back-and-forth, layering it on top of a fight for their lives against a rather lethal foe. Whilst the back-and-forth is maintained, Brombal does choose to drop small nuggets of information in from this point on to build in some narrative thrust. We learn this ninja-types are called The Unburied and that they have a serious grudge against Shiva and anyone connected with her. Shifting locations we also learn that Shiva’s presence in the DCU has shifted a little from where we last saw her. It all leads us in to a fiery conclusion and another stunning splash from Miyazawa.
There is no one star of the show here. Both Brombal and Miyazawa deserve equal credit for bringing their A-game to Batgirl. Not forgetting Mike Spicer whose inky blackness of Cass’ costume stands out so well against the dynamic backdrop of Gotham City. Batgirl #1 is undoubtedly visually impressive. Particularly when taking a step back to realise there’s little movement in the first half of the book. It does spring to life as the action moves out in to the streets but it’s hardly lifeless as mother and daughter trade barbs.
The framing is often quite tight in the first half, training the reader on Shiva’s facial expressions and the elegance of Cass’ Batgirl costume. Then in the second half it opens up to take in a little more of their surroundings. Both approaches work impeccably. There’s no tradeoff in either which detracts from the story. It really is compelling from start to finish.
Verdict
I’m calling it. This is a 5⭐ debut for Cassandra Cain’s Batgirl. Tate Brombal has instantly connected with the character and has begun to weave and exciting story for her to inhabit. Whilst the artistic team of Takeshi Miyazawa and Mike Spicer has created an already riveting landscape for Cass and Lady Shiva to inhabit.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
