Barbara Gordon: Breakout #1 is written by Mariko Tamaki and published by DC Comics. Artwork is by Amancay Nahuelpan, colours by Tamra Bonvillain and letters by Ariana Maher. Main cover art (left) is by Karl Kerschl.
Barbara Gordon: Breakout #1 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
Framed. Outlawed. Hunted. The extralegal activities of Gotham’s vigilantes have never been more dangerous. After Barbara Gordon is arrested for aiding the Bat-Family, she is shipped off to Supermax, GCPD Commissioner Vandal Savage’s pet-project prison for all who oppose him. She will find herself alone, surrounded by dangerous criminals and equally dangerous guards, in a place where nothing is what it seems. The true danger is just beginning…
Review
DC’s original Batgirl, Barbara Gordon, is starting a new and very unexpected adventure this week. Spinning out from the events of last week’s Batman #9, Mariko Tamaki is steering the ship as Babs finds herself behind bars in Gotham’s brand new Supermax prison.
For the Babs fans who are jumping into Barbara Gordon: Breakout cold: Gotham Commissioner Vandal Savage has launched a new anti-vigilante task force set on taking out the Bat-family. Sanctioned by Mayor Pamela Isley, Batman #9 saw Savage’s forces storming many of Batman’s hideouts across the city. As the Bat-family raced to protect their assets, and themselves, Barbara sacrificed herself and the Oracle program to save her friends.
Tamaki and artist Amancay Nahuelpan pick up the story as Barbara arrives as Supermax. This is no Arkham Asylum. She’s not surrounded by Gotham’s most wanted. Instead it’s packed with Savage’s biggest threats and detractors and more than a few criminals sent down by Batgirl and the Bat-family. We’re used to seeing her with technology to back her up or support nearby. For a while now Barbara has been more than a supporting player in Nightwing. But here Tamaki is stripping her of all those things. This is Barbara at her most bare. But don’t be fooled…
Tamaki quickly reveals that Barbara planned for this to happen. Her trip into Supermax wasn’t purely a consequence of Savage’s attempt to take down Batman. Clever DC, you had us all fooled. With former supporters of her father having been murdered, Barbara sets her sights on finding out who is behind the killing spree. With the groundwork laid, Tamaki wastes no time in throwing Barbara into the day-to-day routine of life in Supermax interspersed with moments of insight and flashbacks backing up her already incredible strength of character.
This first issue covers an impressive amount of ground, managing to feel like an extended debut in the process. Tamaki is able to acknowledge the wider workings of Matt Fraction’s Gotham, adding real depth to the political issues bubbling beneath the surface. But in just this first chapter is able to setup the entire inner workings of the Supermax prison to the point issue #2 onwards is immediately free to get down to the business of solving the murders. It’s fast work but never out of control. If this tight narrative holds it could easily become a must-read in release week.
It helps that Tamaki is backed up by an incredible art team. Nahuelpan brings a cool scope to Supermax which fits perfectly with the work Jorge Jimenez has put into rendering Matt Fraction’s vision of Gotham. It feels like the kind of hulking building that belongs in the Gotham skyline. But is then beautifully coloured by Tamra Bonvillain. Prison stories can easily get lost in shady corners and dingy cells. But Bonvillain brings a vibrancy which again feels connected with the world of the main Batman book.
Verdict
Barbara Gordon: Breakout #1 is dynamic and often tense debut which puts the former-Commissioner’s daughter back in the spotlight where she deserves to be. With all of the foundations in place, Mariko Tamaki and co. are already free to dive deep into Gotham’s latest nimble murder mystery.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate advertising program also provides a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We are also members of the Forbidden Planet Affiliate Program.
