Batgirl #9 Preview/Discussion SPOILERS

[Ed Sizzers]

I'd really like for the books detractors to submit to us their fanfic to show us once and for all just how much better this book can supposedly be.

Why? I don't see many people here claiming that they could do better.

It would just be nice if Gail started to. Or another writer came on board that could.

[paulski]

Pretty much.

Like many others here, I thought it was a pretty poor issue and I would have thought I was perfectly entitled to have that opinion. I'd say more but I don't think it would be wise.

[Sunbird]

I guess our difference in taste makes sense as I prefer the teen / lighthearted take on Babs. My favorite interpretations are Batman: The Animated Series, the 60s show, and All-Star Batman & Robin.

It took a while to adjust to a Babs that well between the light hearted Babs of Year One or The Batman and the more mature Babs of Oracle. I'm enjoying it, but would have preferred one or the other, not this version.

As for the issue.... it was better on the second reading. In fact it was generally quite good. But there are lots of little confusing niggles that bug me. That said, it's a crossover book and they usually are pretty awful, so I can overlook that.

[Fate's Faith]

I liked it but wasn't blown away by it. One problem I had was the backstory of the Talon who I thought was the little Japanese girl then realized it was the girl from Oregon but then thought maybe I was wrong when they used the balloons from the little Japanese girl. It just doesn't make sense that the backstory of the Talon, who I'm almost positive is the girl from Oregon, was just given over to the little Japanese girl just to say she was from Nagasaki before the bombing. To me, this is something akin to wanting to write about the Talon but decided midways I'd rather write about the girl in Japan. Like I said, needlessly confusing to me. But perhaps I am easily confused.

Another is this thing with Gordon. I can guarantee that signal would have been lit that night regardless of needing to trick the man into doing it. That makes the Court seem to believe their own press a little too much. Haha, we made you do exactly what you would do! Besides, Gordon's on the list. If he has any meeting with the Court it should have only been his assassin not some lackey who apparently doesn't even know what he's talking about. Blah to that whole setup. This area of the story would have been better served with more of the fight between Barbara and the Talon to save Jim's life. He was one of their targets after all.

And perhaps my biggest gripe is the fact the Talon is female. I hate hate this notion that female heroes must have female opponents. No reason a female Talon can't exist but solely for Batgirl? Seriously, its weak female empowerment. And just plays into the idea that women can't hang with the big boys. Want a female Talon, have her face off against Red Hood or Robin. Not the only solo female character. Sorry, it just bugs me. And its beginning to look like a trend. Barbara is great but she's written her weakest against female opponents. She cut loose on Mirror. Even her fight with Nightwing was more intense and driven. She seems to lose that intensity when battling female opponents. I don't get why. I would think the writer would be much better with her female opponents than I've seen.

That's not to say I disliked the issue though. Just a few issues that overshadowed the good. Barbara's character I really liked. She's smart enough to know what's she doing at the conclusion and feels the guilt of it before she does it. She's also smart enough to figure out the connection with the year written in Japanese although I think the dots weren't connected as well as they should be. She may know about the balloon bombs but I don't think her immediantly making that connection made sense. But there was enough information for someone who remembers everything to see that writing and know what had happened. But not that was happening now. All in all, a nice issue but some problems that need sorted out. I'm beginning to think maybe a new writer would be better here. Simone seems to understand Barbara and has a good grasp of her but doesn't seem to write to that understanding. Its very much like reading something in which the writer thinks the reader feels the same as she does... Batgirl is awesome. So since everyone agrees, she doesn't bother to show that. She's cheating us and Barbara by doing that.

[Samy]

I think I'm about ready to drop this book. It's not bad at all, it's just very bog standard middle of the road stuff, and I'm annoyed that we had to lose such a unique character as Oracle for this. I miss adult confident mastermind Barbara.