Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Lee Garbett; Trevor Scott; Sandra Hope; Pere Perez; Jonathan Glapion; Tim Levins; Dan Davis; Aaron Sowd; Oliver Nome; Talent Caldwell; Richard Friend; Rodney Ramos; Walden Wong; Yvel Guichet; John Stanisci; Guy Major; John J. Hill; Pat Brosseau; & Travis Lanham
Cover Art by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau
SUMMARY:
Released by DC Comics in 2017, this 304-page collection assembles Batgirl # 1-12 from 2009-2010. 19-year old college freshman Stephanie Brown’s brief return as the Spoiler ends once Cassandra Cain abruptly passes her the mantle of Batgirl. Mentored by the original Batgirl, Barbara “Oracle” Gordon, Stephanie gamely faces an unpredictable learning curve as Gotham City’s newest guardian.
This Batgirl Rising storyline includes appearances from Dick Grayson’s Batman; Damian Wayne’s Robin; Commissioner Gordon; Dr. Leslie Tompkins; Wendy Harris (formerly of the Teen Titans); and Red Robin (Tim Drake). The formidable shadow of a presumed-dead Bruce Wayne looms overs everyone.
Awaiting this rookie Batgirl are: the Scarecrow; the League of Assassins; Dr. Phosphorous; Roulette; Roxie Rocket; and the Calculator, along with new threats Diesel and Riot. Amidst a torrential rainstorm, Stephanie’s initiation test is a techno-zombie virus overwhelming Gotham City.
Forced to evade an infected Catwoman, Huntress, and Man-Bat, Stephanie & Wendy must rescue an abducted Oracle from an old foe intent on setting a personal score by inflicting mass casualties. It’s up to this mistake-prone Batgirl to finally save Gotham City her way.
Note: As part of Issue # 8’s crossover, Red Robin # 10 isn’t included.
REVIEW:
Writer Bryan Q. Miller’s take on this rookie Batgirl delivers underrated YA dynamite. Exploring Stephanie’s impulsive personality, Miller sets up Barbara Gordon as an ideal ‘big sister’ in a muddled Bat-world now dominated by Dick Grayson & Damian Wayne. He throws in well-played allusions, as Barbara and Dick acknowledge familiar parallels to their own pasts while mentoring the not-always-mature Stephanie & Damian.
The ‘big sister vs. bratty little brother’-style relationship developing between Stephanie and Damian adds a terrific mix of comedic relief and poignancy. Curiously, one sub-plot that Miller abandons is the Aunt May-like presence of Stephanie’s working mother, as she is conveniently written out of the book’s second half.
To Miller’s credit, nearly two-thirds of this book is ideal teen reading — minus the predictable violence quotient, there’s minimal profanity and no sexual content. However, Miller deploys some ghoulish plot elements late in the game (i.e. dark domestic flashbacks of Calculator’s past; the presence of his son’s decaying corpse; and attempted ‘mind rape’). These macabre twists don’t necessarily distort Miller’s storyline, but their questionable presence likely precludes middle schoolers as a potential audience.
Perhaps even more essential than Miller’s contributions are the art team’s top-caliber visuals. Not only are the interior graphics consistently high-caliber, but the classy covers from artists Phil Noto and Stanley Lau signify that this creative team isn’t taking a lazy approach. Due to the creative team’s mostly commendable effort, Batgirl (Stephanie Brown), Volume 1 is a welcome revelation to Bat-fans.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
All twelve full-page cover reprints by Noto and later Lau are joined by a first issue variant by artist Cully Hammer and Noto’s unused second issue cover. Accompanying the covers are expanded full-page portraits of Stephanie’s Batgirl.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8½ Stars
