Batgirl #10 is written by Tate Brombal and published by DC. Artwork is by Takeshi Miyazawa, colours by Mike Spicer and letters are by Tom Napolitano. Main cover art (left) is by David Talaski.
Batgirl #10 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
The Batgirl must die in the action-packed second chapter of “The Three Swords”!The Unburied have sent their greatest assassin to kill Cassandra Cain for the sinsof her mother, but Cass is still recovering from the revelations of the previousissue. Will she accept her unlikely allies and join forces with them to defeat thefirst sword—or will they be their undoing as the second sword arrives to kill theBatgirl?! Destiny is calling. Will Batgirl answer…or die fighting?
Review
The second chapter of Batgirl’s latest arc, “The Three Swords” lands in comic book stores today. After the fascinating revelation that Cassandra Cain has a brother. Writer Tate Brombal is looking to cements the series’ current Shiva-less status by pairing our lead with someone new as the first of The Unburied’s uber-henchmen arrives for a showdown.
Opening in a brief flashback, Brombal capitalises on the short prologue to catch up on the life of Tenji. Raised by his father on the Dragon Farm, Tenji spends much of his time training for an annual birthday visit from his mother. Brombal swiftly sets up Tenji’s dedication to his training but also his devotion towards his mother. In stark contrast to Cass he’s worked his life to impress his mother and gain her affections. So it’s much to our surprise that Shiva makes a cameo appearance proving she was much more involved with this child then she was with her daughter.
Back in the present day Cass and Tenji have much bigger problems to deal with than sibling rivalry. Norbu, The Untested, has arrived and is out for blood. As is always the case, Brombal doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to Cass. She instantly steps in to protect her newfound sibling by trying to hide his lineage. The differences between the two fighters may not be subtle. But Brombal’s writing is incredibly canny in communicating to us just who these two fighters are without endless exposition.
Batgirl has always impressed in its ability to use its dramatic scenes for character building. It speaks directly to Cass’ past and her upbringing. It also acts as a considerably more captivating read for the audience. So as Norbu attacks it’s easy to become lost in Takeshi Miyazawa’s consistently dynamic visuals whilst forgetting we’re learning that Tenji is a keen but ultimately inexperiences fighter. Brombal illustrates this brilliantly by juxtaposing Cass’ inner thoughts against Tenji’s impulsive reactions which ultimately lead to his incapacitation.
It never ceases to amaze me how much of an arc Brombal is able to cram in to a single issue. In under 30 pages he’s able to take us on a journey through flashbacks, dive head first in to lethal combat and still find room to explore a healthy dose of character drama. During a pause in the fighting Brombal doubles down on Cass’ inquisitive nature to analyse Tenji’s body language, finding common ground just in time for the fighting to begin again. I’ve highlighted this time and time again. But the mix of drama and action in Batgirl is exquisite.
The farmland location offers up an interesting challenge for Miyazawa. Batgirl has had a plenty of lively locations so far. But the more idyllic surroundings put a stronger focus on foreground action. It’s no less energetic than what we’ve seen before. But the emphasis on the action in each panel means that every punch has to land with even more force. Which, of course, they do. Miyazawa and colourist Mike Spicer also find plenty of ways to have fun with the format. Introducing a pulpy quality to the opening flashback to affirm the shift in time.
In its closing moments Batgirl #10 sets up the arrival of Sword #2 ready for next month. It’s a head spinning moment which is one of the series bloodiest to-date. Raising the stakes perfectly but also setting up more character development for Cass and her new-found sibling.
Verdict
Batgirl #10 proves yet again why Tate Brombal is the perfect writer for this series. The mix of intense hand-to-hand combat with rich character development is nothing short of a joy to read. Particularly when it continues to put one of DC’s finest characters in the spotlight.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
