Batgirl #50
Originally presented on Comixtreme.com on March 20, 2004
Quick Rating: Good
Title: Tough Love
The big blowout - Batgirl versus Batman!
Writer: Dylan Horrocks
Pencils: Rick Leonardi
Inks: Jesse Delperdang
Colors: Jason Wright
Letters: Clem Robins
Editor: Michael Wright
Cover Art: James Jean
Publisher: DC Comics
Review: DC has, for some time, been promoting this comic as a big blowout fight between Batgirl and Batman. This is, while technically true, a little misleading. The two of them do come to blows, and in fact the fight takes up most of this issue, but they’re going at each other because they’ve both been doused with “Soul” - a designer drug that brings out rage and anger in whoever takes it.
The fight scene is fun, but the real story in this issue is Robin, Oracle and Nightwing tracking down the man who made the drug, Dr. Death, while the other two tear through the streets of Gotham City. While the fight does turn out to have some relevance for the characters at the end, it sort of relegates Batgirl to a supporting role in her own book.
Rick Leonardi’s artwork is always welcome - I wondered where he had landed after he left Nightwing, and he’s a perfect match for this title he does high-octane martial arts fight scenes better than almost anybody in comics, and he gets to show off all of his skills in this comic. From hand-to-hand combat to a chase across a speeding train to aerial battles at the end of a batrope, this is a great looking comic book.
Although it feels somewhat odd that the rest of the bat-family does more than Batgirl herself in this issue, it is a solid read once you get deep enough in to piece together what the situation is (assuming you didn’t read last issue). It just feels like it’d be more suited for an issue of Gotham Knights than Batgirl. If you’re looking for a good bat-read with great action and solid storytelling, get this book. If you just want to see Batgirl and Batman whale on each other, you’ll probably be disappointed.
Rating: 7/10
Quick Rating: Good
Title: Tough Love
The big blowout - Batgirl versus Batman!
Writer: Dylan Horrocks
Pencils: Rick Leonardi
Inks: Jesse Delperdang
Colors: Jason Wright
Letters: Clem Robins
Editor: Michael Wright
Cover Art: James Jean
Publisher: DC Comics
Review: DC has, for some time, been promoting this comic as a big blowout fight between Batgirl and Batman. This is, while technically true, a little misleading. The two of them do come to blows, and in fact the fight takes up most of this issue, but they’re going at each other because they’ve both been doused with “Soul” - a designer drug that brings out rage and anger in whoever takes it.
The fight scene is fun, but the real story in this issue is Robin, Oracle and Nightwing tracking down the man who made the drug, Dr. Death, while the other two tear through the streets of Gotham City. While the fight does turn out to have some relevance for the characters at the end, it sort of relegates Batgirl to a supporting role in her own book.
Rick Leonardi’s artwork is always welcome - I wondered where he had landed after he left Nightwing, and he’s a perfect match for this title he does high-octane martial arts fight scenes better than almost anybody in comics, and he gets to show off all of his skills in this comic. From hand-to-hand combat to a chase across a speeding train to aerial battles at the end of a batrope, this is a great looking comic book.
Although it feels somewhat odd that the rest of the bat-family does more than Batgirl herself in this issue, it is a solid read once you get deep enough in to piece together what the situation is (assuming you didn’t read last issue). It just feels like it’d be more suited for an issue of Gotham Knights than Batgirl. If you’re looking for a good bat-read with great action and solid storytelling, get this book. If you just want to see Batgirl and Batman whale on each other, you’ll probably be disappointed.
Rating: 7/10