Batgirl #3 preview & comments

[MTL76]

The preview is up:

Batgirl #3 (http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2009/10/12/continue-the-new-batgirls-first-adventure-with-batgirl-3/)

My least favorite of the Noto covers I've seen.

[ScottyQuick]

Yeah, it's really the coloring. I'm not sure if someone else was or he was really busy or something, but it's not up to Noto's standards.

[MTL76]

Yeah, it's really the coloring. I'm not sure if someone else was or he was really busy or something, but it's not up to Noto's standards.

Yup. Garbett's interiors are nice, though. I haven't seen any of his other stuff in the past.

[paulski]

Niiiiiice. Now that's what I've been waiting for. :smile:

Gotta say, I'm really growing to like Garbett's style on the book. I hadn't seen too much of his work prior to #1 but it's just a nice, quirky little style all of his own. And it suits the lead character right down to the ground!

[Captain Jim]

We are not going to see this thread hijacked by "It's no good because it's not Cassie" or "It's no good because it's not Barbara" posts. Been there, done that. You've all had your say. Any and all posts of this nature will be promptly deleted.

[Melfice]

Very nice preview, and I'm enjoying the book a lot more than I thought I would. It's on the lis of keepers for the time being

[Doug Side]

Is it me or does the scarecrow pop up in every other month in some bat-comic? I love the character, but its getting a little stale.

That said, the self monologe of "let's not go to the Black Mask place" kinda gave me a shudder. Looking forward to reading this.

[DetectiveDupin]

The art is great. I'm definitely picking this up. I do like that Babs is giving Steph a hard time.

[DetectiveDupin]

Is it me or does the scarecrow pop up in every other month in some bat-comic? I love the character, but its getting a little stale.

That said, the self monologe of "let's not go to the Black Mask place" kinda gave me a shudder. Looking forward to reading this.

It's nice to see a different villain other than the Joker get played up, though.

[Sean Walsh]

Yup. Garbett's interiors are nice, though. I haven't seen any of his other stuff in the past.

Garbett just got off of the OUTSIDERS book (he was really the only reason to buy it) and before that did the MIDNIGHTER series and (IIRC) the HIGHWAYMEN mini over at Wildstorm.

Oh yeah, Morrison's 2 post-BATMAN RIP Last Rites issues that crossed over with Final Crisis.

He's really a very very good artist.

[Cayman]

Does her costume not have eye holes, or are they just supposed to obscured by shadow?

[MTL76]

My only real gripe with the opening issues is I'd rather have Miller come up with a new villain unique to Steph, or at least one which isn't so well known, rather than reuse one of Batman's. I know he's trying to tie her to the rest of the Bat family, but she's confronting Batman and Robin in a few issues. She needs her own rogues gallery.

[Psavell2]

Is it me or does the scarecrow pop up in every other month in some bat-comic? I love the character, but its getting a little stale.

You know, I was just thinking this at the end of the last issue. He was in the Battle For the Cowl epilogue, then in Cry For Justice, now here. That's a lot of appearances pretty close together. Granted he's being featured more this time, but seriously, they seem to be having more trouble than usual keeping him locked up.

Mr. Freeze is getting around quite a bit too. He was also in Battle For the Cowl and Cry For Justice, and now he's appearing in Outsiders.(Looks like he's going to be around for their Blackest Night tie-in)

[Protoman]

I actually think the cover looks really nice...

[DetectiveDupin]

You know, I was just thinking this at the end of the last issue. He was in the Battle For the Cowl epilogue, then in Cry For Justice, now here. That's a lot of appearances pretty close together. Granted he's being featured more this time, but seriously, they seem to be having more trouble than usual keeping him locked up.

Mr. Freeze is getting around quite a bit too. He was also in Battle For the Cowl and Cry For Justice, and now he's appearing in Outsiders.(Looks like he's going to be around for their Blackest Night tie-in)

That only means good IMO. How many times did we the Joker last year?

[paulski]

I actually think the cover looks really nice...

I agree. I think Phil's been kicking ass so far on the book. :smile:

[Rollo_Tomasi]

I'm not too informed about the current Bat universe. Since when does Oracle operate out of the Batcave?

[RonnieThunderbolts]

I'm not too informed about the current Bat universe. Since when does Oracle operate out of the Batcave?

Last issue of this series.

[Doug Side]

She also did a lot of detective work out of the cave in the backup to the batman annual last week.

My only real gripe with the opening issues is I'd rather have Miller come up with a new villain unique to Steph, or at least one which isn't so well known, rather than reuse one of Batman's. I know he's trying to tie her to the rest of the Bat family, but she's confronting Batman and Robin in a few issues. She needs her own rogues gallery.

This is what I was thinking! Hopefully once all the 'readjustments' are done we will see this happen.

[MTL76]

I agree. I think Phil's been kicking ass so far on the book. :smile:

You ever read his "Beautiful Killer" mini?

[catsmeow]

Steph's new costume looks great! It makes so much more sense to be totally purple. Love it.

I also like the idea of Steph tangling with Batman's established Rogues...let's face it, with the exception of Hush, there hasn't been a really good new Bat villain since Bane.

Still hoping Cluemaster shows up! (Are you reading this, Miller???)

[MTL76]

This was the strongest issue yet of the series, IMHO. No more backstory-explaining flashbacks, everyone's caught up. This intro arc could have dragged on, but Miller kept it short and sweet. As expected, the art was great. And I hope it ends the debate that Barbara is being presented like a curmudgeon.

As far as the dynamic to the Babs-Steph team mentioned by lovefloor, Barbara is the voice of experience, and Steph is the wide-eyed newcomer (who isn't so new, but whatever.) The Old Pro from Dover and the Hothead Rookie. That's a pretty workable relationship in terms of story.

Second that request for Cluemaster to make an appearance.

[ffaristocrat]

Looks like this might turn into Bird of Prey 2.0...

[Freakzeek]

Art was fantastic, Costume looked better, but the whole issue just felt "off" . Like she spends half of the issue getting beat up & suddenly she's BATGIRL !!!, the chesmistry between steph & oracle felt wierd. It just feels so surreal to have this spazatastic humorous character as a direct member of the batfamily. I mean didn't we already experice this whole newbie thing when Babs came into the mix? This was like Batman Beyond with down-syndrome.....I'll give it one more issue to keep me reading if it doesn't get better I'll unfortunelty have to drop it. I really wanted this issue to blow me away. cause I love Steph, I love Cass, & I love Babs & this just isn't doing it for me

[Doug Side]

Art was fantastic, Costume looked better, but the whole issue just felt "off" . Like she spends half of the issue getting beat up & suddenly she's BATGIRL !!!, the chesmistry between steph & oracle felt wierd. It just feels so surreal to have this spazatastic humorous character as a direct member of the batfamily. I mean didn't we already experice this whole newbie thing when Babs came into the mix? This was like Batman Beyond with down-syndrome.....I'll give it one more issue to keep me reading if it doesn't get better I'll unfortunelty have to drop it. I really wanted this issue to blow me away. cause I love Steph, I love Cass, & I love Babs & this just isn't doing it for me

I kind of felt the same way. The issue was ambitious and had a lot of potential to be awesome, but the pacing was off and it made it come off as a little cheesy. The good news is the opening arc is done and the characters are already established for miller to start writing some more interesting stories...

[Captain Jim]

Haven't had a chance to read it yet, but from flipping through the pages, I really liked the way Scarecrow was drawn.

[paulski]

You ever read his "Beautiful Killer" mini?

Yep. I think he's doing even better work these days.

Can't wait to pick up the World's Finest mini-series when it's collected some time next year.

[Desaad]

I thought this was a really strong issue, writing-wise. I find this new Batgirl (who I have very little experience with) to be a compelling, interesting, and driven character. I thought that the internal monologue this issue was powerful and emotional and it really hit the right notes for me.

All in all, a pretty great issue. Much stronger than both "Batman" and "Red Robin" this week for me.

[Godlike13]

This one really caught me by surprise. It was good, pretty damn good. Much better than the first two, and it honestly impressed me. Maybe there is actually hope for this book, now they just have to keep it up.

[Lovefloor]

Honestly, i did not like it.

Some minor details:
1) Cass uniform is indeed perfect at the end >.<.
2) The eyes at the cover... not good =/
3) There is a panel after she fall the stairs...she is lying on her back. Well the guy on the colors got it wrong. The background there, behind her back is supposed to be black >.< it is her cape. The line that crosses it is just a little "cliff".
4) I did not really understood that part where she mentions her professor and the school thing... (Honestly... anyone?)
5) Scarecrow use Fear gas on that two guys... and they start to fight? It is hallucinogen... but it use to induce fear... not aggressive behavior. Really did not understand that.
6) That scene before the wax drop about babs... i really did not understood what was that. What babs was doing there and etc(honestly... anyone? help)

I think they rushed the story.

Well those are just minor details, nothing really really important.

Now the things that I really think was wrong, and that are linked to my main critic on the book:

1) That entire dialog of steph about "Why Stay?" thing. Well that was set up... it really seems artificial. They could had, at least, put that on the “thoughts box” instead of voicing that. And reminds me of some bad TV series around. (And since when anyone were talking about "stay" or "go"... what was that? …i mean that was artificial/forced).
2) That ending thoughts of babs, talking about do things right. That was artificial too... reminds me when a movie end, the main character say his philosophical conclusion before the credits start to roll.
3) It is a dual narration. Both Babs and Steph are the narrator of the story. And actually the "ending thoughts" went to babs. The more they emphasis on babs the more steph lose meaning there. Is it a Batgirl title... or a Oracle babysitting title?
4) They are really going for that teenager-in-love-for-a-mature-man thing. Oh TV series cliches =/.
5) Babs almost send steph to death, and in the second after she call her for the vow. Oh, and the uniform was already done!! They rushed things a bit there(i really think they merged 2 books into 1). Also, it is too similar to that Batman Beyond.

Well these second list of problems seems more complicated to me.
Lead me to think, again, that the writer is not good. Really. (For me, this Miller simply sucks. sorry. )
Also, it show that the title is going for a too infantile/bright mood. There is nothing about bat-universe there... it is a “Smallville with pointed ears”. Bright, infantile, teen-oriented with high school, debut parties, romances and etc.

This last comment, lead me to a problem on the interaction of Batgirl and Bat-universe.
For example, it was Ok for a title like Birds of Prey to be funny, sometimes bright and exploring the feminine universe. Because it was detached. It got nothing to do with Batman. So it was great... and interesting. It was a completely different and interesting concept. It was another universe. Birds of Prey universe.

But, it is not ok for a Batgirl title to be bright, infantile, teenager with their problems, Smallville oriented. Because it is not detached! Batgirl is supposed to be with batman interacting with bat-universe and villains(poor scarecrow... first victim of miller). As Batman was always along with Babs batgirl and Cass batgirl. And so, i see a big incoherence there... i just can not see this Batgirl(Smallville) title and the bat-universe together.
It seems more like another universe(Kansas). Birds universe was far more mature and interesting than that( so this title is not even a BOP 2.0) and it was detached, so there was no problem to be different.
But this Batgirl is supposed to be in bat-universe... interacting with Batman and his villain =/ .
It is not working... at least, for me.



The only good thing i have to say is that... thankfully Babs is not bitter, frustrated, angst etc. She is still ooc, but now the ooc is a bit better than before. That was a good thing.
Also, Garbett is very good.

[CocktailXYZ]

Scarecrow use Fear gas on that two guys... and they start to fight? It is hallucinogen... but it use to induce fear... not aggressive behavior. Really did not understand that.

It was made very clear that Scarecrow was working with a modified version of his fear gas tilted towards aggression, the same drug that led Steph to his trail.

[Choppa]

Some minor details:
1) Cass uniform is indeed perfect at the end >.<.


I personally hate it. I wish she would use Cass's with the mouth sealed up. That new costume makes no sense.


4) I did not really understood that part where she mentions her professor and the school thing... (Honestly... anyone?)



I don't remember exactly but weren't the kids in her class or something?


5) Scarecrow use Fear gas on that two guys... and they start to fight? It is hallucinogen... but it use to induce fear... not aggressive behavior. Really did not understand that.


He said Thrill takes away your ability to make choices. He injected them and told them to fight. So I guess they had no will power to fight back against his suggestion.


6) That scene before the wax drop about babs... i really did not understood what was that. What babs was doing there and etc(honestly... anyone? help)



In another recent book (I think one of the first issues of Batman where Dick is Batman) Dick comes across wax in the cave and there's a flashback to a scene where Bruce did the same thing with Dick when he started out.

Never mind the fact that the cave was destroyed and rebuilt so it shouldn't really be there any more...

[Lovefloor]

It was made very clear that Scarecrow was working with a modified version of his fear gas tilted towards aggression, the same drug that led Steph to his trail.

Oh, sorry then... if it is like you say... then i just did not remember that part.
But are you talking about the "thrill"?
(I hope not, because i thought thrill was a kind of pill... not a gas... anyway)

About this thrill thing i would just like to add(about that love reference) that it is a obvious reference to ecstasy... what reinforce the teenager oriented content i mentioned before.

[Doc Goblin]

I thought this was a really strong conclusion to the new Batgirl's opening arc. I'm sold. I'm cool with Stephanie as Batgirl now and look forward to seeing more of her in the role. I'm especially looking forward to seeing reaction from Tim.

[CocktailXYZ]

But are you talking about the "thrill"?
(I hope not, because i thought thrill was a kind of pill... not a gas... anyway)

Yes, I was. Oracle's analysis results showed Scarecrow's fear gas was the main component of "Thrill".

Scarecrow rants about it on page 4. Notice how his modified gas is the same color and not his traditional green (and the bottles of the stuff in the background).

Later when he's kicking Steph around - "I have to thank you! I didn't think it was possible to have this much fun without my new drug!"

[numberONE]

Story: I wasn't sure about this series, but after reading this one, I'm sold. Best issue, so far, by far.

Art: Definitely the highlight of the book, thus far. Art's even better in this one. The Scarecrow is this issue is probably the best looking I've seen. The colorist's doing a great job, too. Too bad, Steph will have a new costume next issue.

Rating: 4/5

[rpriske]

I like the comic...yet I was disappointed for the second straight issue about the costume.

After the cover to #2 I started looking forward to Steph adopting the traditional constume.

It didn't happen.

Then, in #3, the second to last page had me happy, assumin gshe was getting the traditional costume from the cover of #2.


Nope.


Too bad.

[neverman]

I like the comic...yet I was disappointed for the second straight issue about the costume.

After the cover to #2 I started looking forward to Steph adopting the traditional constume.

It didn't happen.

Then, in #3, the second to last page had me happy, assumin gshe was getting the traditional costume from the cover of #2.


Nope.


Too bad.

Speaking of the covers, why was the Barbara Batgirl on the cover of issue 2? That's obviously not supposed to be Steph, since she's not gonna wear that costume. I think maybe it was a leftover cover from what would have been 'Batgirl' #1 starring barbara before DC decided not to bring her back, especially with all the emphasis on her legs (that they're working). Any ideas ?

[catsmeow]

Speaking of the covers, why was the Barbara Batgirl on the cover of issue 2? That's obviously not supposed to be Steph, since she's not gonna wear that costume. I think maybe it was a leftover cover from what would have been 'Batgirl' #1 starring barbara before DC decided not to bring her back, especially with all the emphasis on her legs (that they're working). Any ideas ?

I think it was just to tease Barbara fans.

But DiDio was close to bringing Babs back as Batgirl, so maybe it originally was supposed to be her.

[BatmanBeatsAll]

it almost looks like there is fear in her eyes, but with strong confidence. Does that make sense!?

[Captain Jim]

Speaking of the covers, why was the Barbara Batgirl on the cover of issue 2? That's obviously not supposed to be Steph, since she's not gonna wear that costume. I think maybe it was a leftover cover from what would have been 'Batgirl' #1 starring barbara before DC decided not to bring her back, especially with all the emphasis on her legs (that they're working). Any ideas ?

I think it was just to tease Barbara fans.

But DiDio was close to bringing Babs back as Batgirl, so maybe it originally was supposed to be her.

I really don't think it was a leftover. I suspect catsmeow is right about it being a tease. The first three covers were all shown before the first issue was released, so they couldn't be too revealing. It's very possible that they had at one point intended Steph to briefly don Barbara's costume in #2.

[Fatguy]

I was pretty disappointed in #2, so I was really glad to enjoy #3....up until the cheese started to flow so mightily. Some of the stuff in the second half of this issue would have dedicated Lifetime Channel watchers rolling their eyes.

Still....The art was great, and it was better than #2, so I'm still hanging around. Plus it ended with a high note, I love the new uniform. Garbett rocks it.

[Spiffy]

Story: I wasn't sure about this series, but after reading this one, I'm sold. Best issue, so far, by far.

Art: Definitely the highlight of the book, thus far. Art's even better in this one. The Scarecrow is this issue is probably the best looking I've seen. The colorist's doing a great job, too. Too bad, Steph will have a new costume next issue.

Rating: 4/5

I don't know about "sold" in my case, but I do agree it was MUCH better than the first two. It seems to be ending the lame-ass "angry Babs" thing too.

[DonC]

Dude, the mod did a preemptive censor warning...
... before anyone say anything.

That was kind of absurd.

Seriously....


"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana

Now, on topic: This wasn't the greatest comic in the world, but it was still enjoyable. Yeah, the whole "I AM BATGIRL" bit was kind of cheesy, but you knew it was going to happen eventually. Getting it out of the way in issue 3 paves the way for a confident, more comfortable Steph to get out there and kick some butt.

The book is off to a good start, now let's see if it can improve to greatness.

[MTL76]

I don't agree with the sentiment that every Bat related books need to be dark and morbid. Hell, I don't think every issue of Batman has to be that way. In fact, that's one of the less infrequent complaints I hear about the franchise, and about Frank Miller's unintended long-term influence on the character. (For the record, I love DKR, but not the endless attempts to channel it done by other writers over the years.)

So a "lighter" Batgirl who shows a sense of humor doesn't bother me. I put that in quotes because taken as a whole, the first three issues could hardly be described as overabundantly cheerful. There were plenty of dark moments, too. I think a nice balance was struck.

[Freakzeek]

http://i731.photobucket.com/albums/ww318/Freakzeek_2009/batgirl3-newcostume.jpg


This ^^^^ Just looks akward, god i wish they would have made a different costume, looks like a 90's costume at it's best ..... Idk about this book, I want to like it, but it feels so........detached from the Gotham universe, I like happy blue skies too, but it just doesn't fit with the current state of Batman franchise, bruce dead etc. I'll reserve my book buying judgment for the next two issues

[Fatguy]

I don't agree with the sentiment that every Bat related books need to be dark and morbid. Hell, I don't think every issue of Batman has to be that way. In fact, that's one of the less infrequent complaints I hear about the franchise, and about Frank Miller's unintended long-term influence on the character. (For the record, I love DKR, but not the endless attempts to channel it done by other writers over the years.)

So a "lighter" Batgirl who shows a sense of humor doesn't bother me. I put that in quotes because taken as a whole, the first three issues could hardly be described as overabundantly cheerful. There were plenty of dark moments, too. I think a nice balance was struck.

Yeah, a light hearted tone is what's keeping me interested.

[beetlebum]

I don't agree with the sentiment that every Bat related books need to be dark and morbid. Hell, I don't think every issue of Batman has to be that way. In fact, that's one of the less infrequent complaints I hear about the franchise, and about Frank Miller's unintended long-term influence on the character. (For the record, I love DKR, but not the endless attempts to channel it done by other writers over the years.)

So a "lighter" Batgirl who shows a sense of humor doesn't bother me. I put that in quotes because taken as a whole, the first three issues could hardly be described as overabundantly cheerful. There were plenty of dark moments, too. I think a nice balance was struck.

THANK YOU.

Bravissimo to this post.

[catsmeow]

This ^^^^ Just looks akward, god i wish they would have made a different costume, looks like a 90's costume at it's best ..... Idk about this book, I want to like it, but it feels so........detached from the Gotham universe, I like happy blue skies too, but it just doesn't fit with the current state of Batman franchise, bruce dead etc. I'll reserve my book buying judgment for the next two issues

What you don't like about it is exactly what I like about it. I'm purposely not following the main Batbooks (I hate Dick and Damian), so it's nice to have books like Batgirl and Sirens that offer something a little different. I'm more interested in what's going on at the fringe of the Batverse than the core.

[dreyga2000]

This ^^^^ Just looks akward, god i wish they would have made a different costume, looks like a 90's costume at it's best ..... Idk about this book, I want to like it, but it feels so........detached from the Gotham universe, I like happy blue skies too, but it just doesn't fit with the current state of Batman franchise, bruce dead etc. I'll reserve my book buying judgment for the next two issues

IDK I feel like that just a bad shot.... The costume acuualy looks pretty goood here..

http://i.livescience.com/images/batgirl_cv6.jpg

[Freakzeek]

BG3 was a mix of the generic and the impenetrable tied up in schoolyard psychoanalysis, though to be fair, this is a failing of 99 percent of Scarecrow stories where he’s used as an excuse for purple prose and hallucinatory sequences to pad out stories that should probably start and end when someone shows up, punches him in the balls and ties him to a streetlamp for the cops. I’ve never been that fond of him as a villain, and even the Batman Begins boost can’t make him less sucky as both a strategist and a physical threat to the Bat-family beyond his overused ‘fear’ gimmick (which Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle made much better use of with that scrawny serial-killing psychic who ate hearts but whose name escapes me).

Batgirl isn’t aggressively bad or anything, it’s just unremarkable and coasting on fondness for the character – I’d have preferred something objectively good.

[invisiboy]

http://i731.photobucket.com/albums/ww318/Freakzeek_2009/batgirl3-newcostume.jpg


This ^^^^ Just looks akward, god i wish they would have made a different costume, looks like a 90's costume at it's best ..... Idk about this book, I want to like it, but it feels so........detached from the Gotham universe, I like happy blue skies too, but it just doesn't fit with the current state of Batman franchise, bruce dead etc. I'll reserve my book buying judgment for the next two issues

I think the costume looks better than the one Helena and Cassandra wore. But to me this new one looks like a Huntress suit, just with a bat-cowl and bat-symbol. I mean, if you take those away, you have a Huntress suit. I wish DC could have come up with something more original.

[Anxy]

I'm trying really hard to get into this book, because I'm a big fan of old skool Batgirl (more the iconography, costume design, etc. than anything) and I'd love to see someone who "gets" the allure of Batgirl take the reigns and totally kick butt with a new series. I feel so far like this series keeps getting really close to the bulls-eye, but not quite. It's got a hold on me much more than the Cassandra Cain incarnation, though I'm still pretty luke-warm so far (except for the covers, which have been great).

I hate to say it, but the new costume reminds me of Alicia Silverstone. I'm HAPPY to say that the relationship between Batgirl and Oracle is one of the main selling points that has kept me coming back.

For those who want Babs to have use of her legs again, get over it. Even though I'd love her to magically get better and put on her smokin' hot costume from the 60s, that ship has sailed and her character has become just as interesting because of her disability, not in spite of it. Her role as a mentor "fits" in the present group of Bat-books, and just her presence gives the new Batgirl title a much-needed depth.

[Captain Jim]

Now, where were we? Oh yes. What did you think of Batgirl #3?

(with apologies for any collateral damage).

[Lovefloor]

Now, where were we? Oh yes. What did you think of Batgirl #3?

(with apologies for any collateral damage).

Why?

Why did you do that? My posts were related to the book, Jim. Seriously I wrote 2 big posts about the book, you just delete, and went here with a cynic comment like that??
Do you have the logs?
Can you send me the logs? Please.
Just so I can have back the data I wrote. Please.
(And, by the way... people were talking about Barbara... that is also a protagonist of this Batgirl book)


Just to talk about something related to not have this post deleted too.

After she falls from the stairs, she is in the floor. If you notice that panel/image you will see that the guy on the colors made a grotesque mistake.
The guy with the colors interpreted things wrong. She is actually lying on the floor with her cape behind her. The background there is supposed to be black because of her uniform/cape in her back.
(there is a crossing line there, but it is just a cliff.)

[numberONE]

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/7237/batgirlcostumeredesign.png

I would have liked her costume to look like this. Basically it's the same as the Batman costume, except instead of blue highlights it has purple.

[Lovefloor]

By the way... since no one mentioned before, here is the link with the sale numbers on the book for September:

http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/16022.html


[ Plz don´t delete this either!(I know it is the sale on #2, but in statistic we consider the previews results). It is important too. And, also it is useful for the others people at this board, since show the numbers on Batman titles too.]

[DonC]

I would have liked her costume to look like this. Basically it's the same as the Batman costume, except instead of blue highlights it has purple.


I know it isn't real-world-practical, but I always liked the loose-hair look. I'm still not sold on the thigh belt, but other than that I like the new costume.

[invisiboy]

(deleted, sorry)

[Choppa]

The costume is terrible and hardly an improvement on Cassandra's.

The hair is too revealing and creates more risk that it will get caught in something or someone will just grab it. There are too many belts (didn't the thigh belt go out of fashion when Azbats retired??) and there's too much color on the symbol and belt. Plus revealing he face and hair show too much of herself underneath costume. How does that help give the image of a frightening bat-creature?

Cassandra's costume was perfect. It was sleek for easy movement, had very little color, and revealed practically nothing.

[paulski]

Now, where were we? Oh yes. What did you think of Batgirl #3?

(with apologies for any collateral damage).

No problems, Jim. Needed to be done.

[Tweedsuitcase]

i'm enjoying this book. perhaps more than i thought i would.
just for reference sake, i've barely read a comic book before battle for the cowl started. i enjoy the tone, unlike sirens, where i feel like there could be more depth with the characters they have to work with.

[Fatguy]

The costume is terrible and hardly an improvement on Cassandra's.

The hair is too revealing and creates more risk that it will get caught in something or someone will just grab it. There are too many belts (didn't the thigh belt go out of fashion when Azbats retired??) and there's too much color on the symbol and belt. Plus revealing he face and hair show too much of herself underneath costume. How does that help give the image of a frightening bat-creature?

Cassandra's costume was perfect. It was sleek for easy movement, had very little color, and revealed practically nothing.

I dont think she's going for "Frightening bat-creature". That's not the tone of the book. And I never got how people could get hung up on things like her hair being too revealing and a risk to be grabbed. These are superhero comics, not combat journals, I'll NEVER understand why we need practicality on the silly little things when there are so many HUGE things that are completely ridiculous and unbelievable yet universally accepted.

[Blight]

I enjoyed the issue. Steph was in full on snark mode and it worked. Her beatdown of Crane was awesome. Still too Batgirl Beyond for my tastes, but still good. Now the countdown begins for Misfit meeting Batgirl. If this doesn't happen given Babs being on this book I consider this a prime miss for a humorous team-up tale.

[Quirky]

Maybe it was the art, but the "build up" to her saying "I'm Batgirl" didn't do much for me.

That and the final page with her new costume looked awful, it wasn't the outfit, the artist just did a crap job there. I liked the previous sketches we saw of it before Issue #3 was released.

As an artist, I think the new costume design is great. It's not an "improvement" on Cassandra's because she's not Cassandra. The purple and black is quite contemporary and is an obvious choice for Steph as a secondary to black. The loose hair borrows elements from Barbara's outfit, which is important since she'll be playing a huge role behind Stephanie as the new Batgirl. Besides, why let the pretty blonde go to waste? ;p

[Captain Jim]

I'm still not sold on the thigh belt, but other than that I like the new costume.

the final page with her new costume looked awful, it wasn't the outfit, the artist just did a crap job there.

Agreed on the above.

[ScottyQuick]

Aw, really Jim? I dig the thigh belt, it looks neat, and the way it hangs off her hip is really attractive.

[Captain Jim]

Maybe it will grow on me. :wink:

[ScottyQuick]

Wait, did I say thigh belt?

ARGH I MEANT HIP BELT HIP BELT HIP BELT!
I love the HIP belt, and the way it sort of slings off, very nice looking.

Thigh belt I like for being a nice call back to Spoiler, though.

[Lovefloor]

the final page with her new costume looked awful, it wasn't the outfit, the artist just did a crap job there.

Agreed on the above.

You people sure you talking about the line-art?
What is bad for me there is the colours.

Even if I hate this book... i think Garbett is doing a good work.
The guy on the colors... in other hands... sucks.

[invisiboy]

You people sure you talking about the line-art?
What is bad for me there is the colours.

Even if I hate this book... i think Garbett is doing a good work.
The guy on the colors... in other hands... sucks.

You're talking about that splashpage that's posted here, right? I find that a bad page on its own (I have not bought the comic, and won't) and she looks like the Alicia Silverstone Batgirl in that one. And Steph dodging four nearby bullets while she essentially falls toward her opponents is ridiculous -- even for a comic.

[Lovefloor]

You people sure you talking about the line-art?
What is bad for me there is the colours.

Even if I hate this book... i think Garbett is doing a good work.
The guy on the colors... in other hands... sucks.

You're talking about that splashpage that's posted here, right? I find that a bad page on its own (I have not bought the comic, and won't) and she looks like the Alicia Silverstone Batgirl in that one. And Steph dodging four nearby bullets while she essentially falls toward her opponents is ridiculous -- even for a comic.

Not exactly. The problem on the colors is everywhere.

I think that image you mentioned is indeed problematic on the colors because of the purple-blue behind red... and nothing about that on her hair, for example. I agree with you that the bullet dodging scene seems cropped, like if she was not in that background.

But there are far worst about the color. Look at this one:
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/6600/batgirlomg.png

Where the guy on the color simply ignored her cape.
She is obviously lying with her cape on her back. The black outlines of the cape are evident(right side of the pic).

The guy simply ignored the cape and colored it with the colors of the floor.

Lee Garbett, that is excelent, draw something. And the guy at the colors made "something else".

My problems with the art, on this book are Noto´s covers(that i dont like), and this guy on the colors.

Garbett´s line art is actually very good. The guy on the colors is screwing up.

(btw, because of the colors, again, her breasts there look at the same time rounded, but flat. O.o. There is no color indication of "volume"... if this book was Black/White the art would be better)

[invisiboy]

I can't even tell where it's supposed to be colored on the righthand side -- is she on a table? If so, why can we see the tabletop if her cape's supposed to be there? That panel is bewildering to me.

[Lovefloor]

I can't even tell where it's supposed to be colored on the righthand side -- is she on a table? If so, why can we see the tabletop if her cape's supposed to be there? That panel is bewildering to me.

There she is lying on the floor.

The problem is that the guy ignored her cape is behind her back/butt etc. She is lying above her black cape.

But the guy coloured it all wrong. He used the floor colors, instead of coloring the cape.

It was supposed to be like this:

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/6476/supposedbatgirlomg.png


But, instead, the guy simply ignored her cape and Garbett´s line art.
(The line that cross her cape is actually a cliff on the floor)

(Sorry for the poor "paint" example)

[ScottyQuick]

Noto´s covers(that i dont like)

YOU MAD?

Alright, #3 wasn't that good. But #4-6 are amazing!

[MTL76]

There she is lying on the floor.

The problem is that the guy ignored her cape is behind her back/butt etc. She is lying above her black cape.

But the guy coloured it all wrong. He used the floor colors, instead of coloring the cape.

It was supposed to be like this:

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/6476/supposedbatgirlomg.png


But, instead, the guy simply ignored her cape and Garbett´s line art.
(The line that cross her cape is actually a cliff on the floor)

(Sorry for the poor "paint" example)

It's funny, I seem to remember these kinds of minor coloring snafus being much more common when I was a kid. They always amused me, like a pop version of George Bellows' "Dempsey and Firpo." Then again, this was before the advent of the Internet and comic book forums; hiccups like these weren't something you'd get fired up about to the extent that you'd write a letter. It kind of reminds me of how the twenty-four hour news cycle has led to the magnification of events that not too long ago would have faded into anonymity.

Any thoughts from older readers? Are editors/artists doing a better job finding these mistakes than they were ten to twenty years back?

[batGRRRl4ever]

I think the costume looks better than the one Helena and Cassandra wore. But to me this new one looks like a Huntress suit, just with a bat-cowl and bat-symbol. I mean, if you take those away, you have a Huntress suit. I wish DC could have come up with something more original.

Yah, costume definitely has more of a Spoiler meets Huntress vibe, except for the bat symbol of course. Ironic considering Steph is under Barbara's tutelage now & Charlie (the Babs/Batgirl groupie) is under Huntress. I'm willing to bet that Misfit will challenge Steph for the mantle of Batgirl in a future issue.