Batgirl #1 Discussion SPOILERS

[Pedrocas]

So, it was magic, noone's got to explain it? Babs got shot, Babs spent 3 years in a wheelchair and then, suddenly, a miracle happened and she started jumping from rooftops and knocking bad guys again?

[Chrysame]

It's not explained in the first issue. It will probably be explored later on in the run.

[BigTopTony]

So, it was magic, noone's got to explain it? Babs got shot, Babs spent 3 years in a wheelchair and then, suddenly, a miracle happened and she started jumping from rooftops and knocking bad guys again?

why not?

i mean, the whole thing, like the reboot is just a gimmick to set the table how they want... its why flashpoint was moronic... it was just an 'event' that was sold to us so they could reboot/launch the dcu... they should have just said, look, we're changing a buncha things, and here's what they are... instead, fans are left with no clue as to what happened, who's where, what continuity is still intact, etc... basically a mess, and then we're just supposed to smile, take it and say how great it is... don't think so, dc... i mean, for the love of god, why can't they tell us what happened to the batgirls? people want to know so they have some frame of reference for the story youre not only telling, but telling us is a FIRST issue...

bottomline is, i feel you dude

[Gail Simone]

Man, Gail. Totally relate to Babs being paralyzed with fear when the Mirror pulls that gun on her. Whew, that did something to me. I actually stopped breathing while reading that part. I was in a really bad car accident that left me in a full body cast for months; I had to relearn how to walk and went through extensive physical therapy and a few years later, I just narrowly avoided another accident. In that moment, I swear I could feel the ache of every piece of me that was hurt in the first accident. My body spasmed, locked up on me and the only thing I could think of was, "oh my god, it's happening again, this time I'm going to die." I couldn't even yell or freak out because I was straight up paralyzed, vocal chords and all.

Forget how terrifying the villain is, fear is a MONSTER in and of itself. Boy. Good job Gail, AS EXPECTED.

Thank you, I'm glad you liked it!

Fear is a killer...we talk a lot about it in comics, I think the flipside is courage, and it's interesting how the bravest man on the battlefield may fall to a quaking mess when asked to do public speaking, or ride a roller coaster.

We're not going to shy away from this stuff. We're going to deal head on with what Barbara has lived through. It's sometimes dark and sometimes very hopeful, but I think that that's really the only way to do it considering who her character is.

[Godlike13]

wow, I'm not normally a big simone fan, but this was a really fantastic issue

I lol'd at babs wishing she had a creepy boyfriend

Ya, that got a laugh out of me too

[Gail Simone]

I'm with you. If was going good, but Gail seems determined to have a discussion about the other characters. And the second go round was just randomingly thrown out there. No one had even been talking about these characters. Then everyone has to respond to her and it takes another life of its own. Take it to your own board if it's that important. Other than that, respect that Jim has outlined the rules here. It's disrespectful to act as if anyone is above the rules. People don't like them, they can bounce.

On topic. I'm not really feeling Babs having a roomate. I get that she can't afford her own place, but it seems cliche to have to avoid the roomate finding out what she's up to. Also, I'm really dieing to know what up with Babs and Dinah. Why couldn't they be roomates :)

I honest to god didn't really even think about it. I'm talking with people on multiple threads on multiple boards. My apologies to Jim and to everyone for the drift, if I caused it!

[FHIZ]

We're not going to shy away from this stuff. We're going to deal head on with what Barbara has lived through. It's sometimes dark and sometimes very hopeful, but I think that that's really the only way to do it considering who her character is.

Good. It makes it way more believable instead of tip toeing around it, or completely ignoring it all together. I have to admit, I would be very disappointed if she just dawned the cowl again like nothing had ever happened. The fact that she's hesitant, has a bit to dust to shake off, and so on makes her much more of a human/relatable character, which gives her room to grow, which many people were concerned about thinking Batgirl was a step backwards.

[Colossus]

This was fantastic.

Loving the internal dialog in this issue and I hope it continues. It made me care about Barbra right away and I found myself rooting for her to succeed. I am down with this Batgirl for the long haul.

[drakeon]

Good. It makes it way more believable instead of tip toeing around it, or completely ignoring it all together. I have to admit, I would be very disappointed if she just dawned the cowl again like nothing had ever happened. The fact that she's hesitant, has a bit to dust to shake off, and so on makes her much more of a human/relatable character, which gives her room to grow, which many people were concerned about thinking Batgirl was a step backwards.

I agree, I just wish there was more explanation about what has happened during those three years and what led her to don the mask again. Just because amiracle fixed her legs doesnt mean she would just stand up and go:

"I can be Batgril again!"

There should be more to it I think. The descion also would change depending on her past experiences. As in: was there a Birds of Prey? In what capacity was she Oracle? Was there other Batgirls proceeding her? If so, where are they? All of this is very important backstory given that she heavily refrences another past that gives her a history more than most of the new 52 even has...

[The_Ronin]

Thank you, i got her now. They hid her good in this.

Yeah they got sneaky in this one, I looked and looked and couldn't find Ms. Waldo.


I picked up Batgirl #1, I liked it, seems fun, with lots of depth and room to explore Barbara's personality and feelings about her new status quo.

I can't really say the characters or situations spoke to me personally, in that I was never traumatized, or left in a wheel chair, or been a batgirl before. (but I can see how they would to a lot of people) but It was certainly well wrote and the art was nice, I will probably pick up the next issue as well.

[The_Ronin]

Can someone just explain how Barbara can walk again to me. I read the issue, and I'm guessing it just went over my head.

It was essentially a miracle and her injury heal naturally overtime? Is that the gist of how Babs can walk again?

To me it seemed to be implied that she spontaneously healed or corrected itself, its rare but it happens. But it was ambiguous enough that we will probably have to keep reading to find out exactly what happened, (or perhaps it was something else entirely)

Please don't let it be Mephisto.

Though it could lead to fun a crossover "Batgirl/Mary Jane: Just say no to the Devil."

Right now I just pictured Gail Simone reading this and going "Damn! How did he know?!?" and it amused me greatly.

[The_Ronin]

Double post, sorry about that!

[Chrysame]

I didn't take Barbara's calling it a miracle literally. It was the first issue and there was a lot to cover. There's plenty of time and issues (I hope!) to discover how she healed.

[BigTopTony]

welcome to this morning, chrysame

[shark]

Finally read it.

It was... ok, I guess. The dialogue seemed forced in some parts and the pacing was weird. And I agree with what other people said, the police lady was an idiot.

The art was good, but I don't like the coloring at all.

I do like the villain very much, though. This issue didn't impress me, but it has potential, so I'll pick number 2 to see how it continues.