Written by Cameron Stewart & Brenden Fletcher
Art by Babs Tarr; Cameron Stewart; Maris Wicks; Jared K. Fletcher
Cover Art by Cameron Stewart
SUMMARY:
Published by DC Comics for January 2015, this issue starring the New 52 Barbara Gordon is entitled “Tomorrow Cries Danger.” At Burnside College, a stressed-out Barbara scrambles to find the necessary computer equipment to retrieve her lost thesis proposal. Her new research assistant, Nadimah, gladly hooks her up with a potential solution, as Nadimah’s robotics-savvy brother, Qadir, has a spare computer drive Barbara needs.
The baffling on-campus theft of two experimental motorcycles from Qadir’s lab sends Batgirl against sword-wielding twin sister bikers dubbed ‘The Jawbreakers.’ Her best hope may lie with a Japanese anime TV series she watched as a child. This case adds to Barbara’s anxiety re: a bogus Batgirl impersonating her on-line.
Note: Though the image isn’t available here, there is a variant cover by artist Cliff Chiang.
REVIEW:
Impressively, its mix of a fun storyline (including humorous bits re: Barbara’s interactions with her friend, Frankie) and stylish artwork makes Batgirl # 36 a wonderful read. Its hip reliance on 21st Century technology gives this revitalized Batgirl a terrific edge, implying that she’s a reliable solo heroine vs. one of Bruce Wayne’s many young protégés (with access to a seemingly unlimited arsenal). In her second fight with ‘The Jawbreakers,’ the well-choreographed sequence displays Barbara’s ingenuity and a knack for improvisation.
If anything, this issue proves why Barbara Gordon’s Batgirl is among the New 52’s smartest assets, in terms of restoring DC’s best Batgirl back to her prime.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There’s a two-page “Channel 52” spread hyping Justice League 3000. The single-page “DC All Access” column plugs the release of Adam West’s live-action Batman: The Complete Series on Blu-Ray and DVD.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
