Batgirl # 1
Written by: Gail Simone
Art by: Vincent Cifuentes
WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD:
Barbra Gordon is back as the one and only Batgirl! This exciting new issue written by Gail Simone features Barbra Gordon adopting the mask and cowl once again. The issue opens up with a new serial killer in Gotham, known as the Mirror. Not much is known about this mysterious new villain but he has one agenda and its to kill people who have survived great feats. His first victim is an innocent man who was the only survivor of a tragic transport ship accident. The Mirror brutally murders him outside his garden and checks him off his apparent hit list and his next victim is none other than Barbra Gordon.
During the next few pages we are given a daring rescue by Batgirl against a group of serial killers known as "The Brisby Killers" who are attacking an innocent family in Gotham. These pages are just sheer brilliance and gives us a reminder of just why Barbra is Batgirl and why no one else could truly replace her. During this rescue we are able to get a basic rundown of whats going through Barbra's head as she resumes her career as Batgirl. Fans should not worry if the "The Killing Joke" actually happened because it did. We are given minor flashbacks of events that took place between then and now. Throughout the issue Barbra does go through emotional hurdles of that fateful day and of her confinement to a wheel chair. Batgirl easily disposes the culprits and is given a warm thank you from the family.
After Batgirl's daring rescue, she wakes up in her bed in the house of her father Commissioner Gordon. Barbra's ability to walk does not just have a heavy toll on her, but on her father as well. Next we have Barbra moving into a new apartment with a new roommate. Her meeting with her roommate is cut short thanks to the arrival of Mirror at Gotham General Hospital where he is attempting to murder one of the brisby killers. The next few pages hold a very dark and grim tone as the Mirror holds no regard for innocent lives as he murders innocent cops and even violently punches a nurse. Batgirl arrives on scene to confront Gotham new villain. Just as she is about to engage the criminal, Barbra freezes as the Mirror points a gun in the exact location she was shot during the Killing Joke storyline. And with that the Mirror is able to kill the serial killer by throwing him out the window. From there this issue draws to an exciting climax.
Batgirl #1 kicks off with a straight forward telling of how Barbra has become Batgirl again. Many fans worried that by having Barbra adopt the cape and cowl again it would be tarnishing her time as Oracle. And I'm happy to say it does not. In the issue Barbra does recall her time in the wheel chair and does realize how much of an impact it has had on her. It would be very nice in the latter issues of this series to be given a bit more of an insight of just how she rehabilitated and the effect it has had on the Bat family. Fans are also given an exciting new villain in Gotham. Lets just hope fans are given a good explanation of just how this new foe and Barbra Gordon are connected. So until then Batgirl #1 earns a 5/5!