Batgirl may ostensibly be a solo superhero comic, but this latest issue reinforces the idea that the book’s supporting cast is as vital as Barbara Gordon herself. The series is thriving thanks to this more ensemble-minded approach. Combine that with a fun conflict involving killer, elevator-riding tigers and the now trademark whimsically dynamic art, and there’s plenty to love regarding the direction of the series.
This issue builds on a number of recurring plot threads as Babs works furiously to help Alysia plan her wedding, mend fences with Frankie, deal with her own academic and superhero responsibilities, and maybe find a little time to make googly eyes at Luke Fox on the side. These many small conflicts emphasize just how overworked and overtaxed Barbara is these days. It’s similar to the approach Harley Quinn has taken lately, though somewhat more effective.
Of the increasingly large supporting cast, Frankie stands out the most in her efforts to prove herself a capable ally to Batgirl’s crusade. Frankie features in a really memorable scene as she teams up with Qadir and takes a more proactive approach to protecting Burnside.
The series’ visual style has evolved somewhat since Cameron Stewart stopped handling breakdowns and Babs Tarr has more full taken the reins. Tarr teams with artist Michael Lacombe for the breakdowns in this issue, but the end result is still something that very much evokes Tarr’s storytelling sensibilities. In place of Stewart’s clean, orderly layouts there are more varied pages that make use of smaller panels and generally emphasize a more free-flowing, kinetic style of presentation. At times the panels can be a little too small and cramped, however. Tarr toys with her style frequently, opting for a slightly more realistic approach on some pages but then cutting loose and delivering more stylized figures and others. That, combined with the juxtaposition of warm and cool tones in many scenes, gives this issue a nice sense of variety.
