Writer: Gail Simone
Artists: Ed Benes & Daniel Sampere
I have really started to love this series, and am happy I picked it up during the Death of the Family crossover. I hope that this series will stay as good as it's been during this crossover, as I've really enjoyed it, so much that I've decided to continue getting the series.
Plot
This issue sees Batgirl, and Joker's wedding take place but it doesn't quite to Joker's plans, especially once James Gordon Jr. gets involved.
Review
This was a great issue, but a bit of a disappointing ending to the Batgirl part of the Death of the Family crossover. Don't get me wrong it's still a terrific issue, and Gail Simone has once again done an excellent job, but I felt that it was a little rushed. Although this issue wasn't as good as the previous two the series itself is still the second best entry in the Death of the Family crossover, coming behind the main part in Batman, which was always going to be the case, and the crossover wouldn't be right otherwise. Although most of this issue happens in one massive sequence I did like how Simone handled it, and although it felt a bit rushed, I liked how she introduced certain characters, or a change in their personalities at the right time, especially the introduction of James Gordon Jr. into the issue.
Like issue 14 this issue had both Ed Benes, and Daniel Sampere doing the artwork, with Benes doing the first 10 pages, and Samprere doing the last 10 pages. I still much prefer Sampere's art, as although both are great, his is a lot smoother, and looks a nicer. They both do an excellent job of drawing the characters, and although I prefer Sampere's art, I still like Benes' rough style. I think that this rough style suits Joker better than Sampere's smooth style, but they both draw him excellently, and much better than some of the other artist on the other series in the Death of the Family crossover. Although as I've said in the past I don't like two artists working on the same issue, or even story, I did however not mind it as much in this issue, as each artist's tone's suited the section of the issue they respectfully drew, as Benes draws the emotion and drama perfectly, whilst Sampere makes the action sequences look phenomenal.
I really liked how this issue started, and how it showed Barbara in a wheelchair having a therapy section, which deals with a recurring dream of her killing the Joker. I think this was a brilliant way to start the issue, as it makes it a bit more easier for newer readers to join on, without totally confusing them. I also loved the sequence itself, as the history between Batgirl, and Joker, and especially her getting shot by him in Batman: The Killing Joke is the main reason I was looking forward to this part of the Death of the Family crossover. I also loved that the sequence itself wasn't too graphic, as it may have been too much for people who have been reading the series so far, but at the same time loved that it was obvious that Barbara really wanted to kill Joker, and to be honest you can't blame her.
The thing that made this issue a bit slow was that Batgirl was going along with Joker's plan for longer than necessary, and although I liked most of the way the transition between her playing along, and attacking Joker was set-up, I still felt that it took up too much of the issue, leaving little room for the rest of the story. I did however like how we saw the sinister side of Joker during this, and that although his plan seemed silly that he's actually thought everything through, and for a change was serious.
The thing I liked most about this issue was James Gordon Jr. Having not read all the issues in the series I don't know exactly how big a role he's played in the issues prior to the Death of the Family crossover, but I have really enjoyed his involvement during the crossover, and especially in this issue. I always thought that James might have had a bigger plan than was shown during this story, but it turns out that he was only manipulating certain situations when it benefited him, and that there was no bigger plan (or at least none that was apparent). I did however like him in this issue, as he was someone that could talk the talk with Joker, and wasn't intimidated of him. I also liked that he actually manipulated Joker, and although Joker could have stopped him easily, it was nice to see. It also set up the fight between Batgirl, and Joker, and his goons perfectly.
The fight between Batgirl and Joker was brilliant, and although most of the fight focused on Batgirl taking down Joker's goons it was still very exciting, and allowed Batgirl to take out her frustrations. I also liked that Joker acted like his usual self during this fight, and that he didn't care about the consequences, just wanting to put his plan back on course. It was also nice that James didn't get involved in this fight, as he's always been a manipulator, and not a fighter.
The ending was both good and bad. I won't spoil the ending, but will explain why I think it was both good and bad. The ending itself (like the ending of Batman and Robin #16, and what I expect the ending of the other Death of the Family series will be) sets up Batman #17, which is the finally of the Death of the Family crossover. This was nice as the ending of Batman #16 was brilliant, and looked like it would involve the rest of the Bat-Family in the finally, but at the same time it leaves this part of the crossover ending unfinished, which may not suit the few people who have been reading Batgirl, but not Batman.
Final Verdict
This was a terrific issue,and although not as good as the other issues in the Batgirl part of Death of the Family, it was still very good. Although it was really good I'd only recommend it to people who already have the rest of the Batgirl part of Death of the Family, as it's not a brilliant jumping on point. I would however recommend it to anyone considering getting the other issues, as it has been a brilliant story.
Rating: 4/5
Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: Daniel Sampere
I haven't read a lot of this Batgirl series until Death of the Family, but since I have gotten the first story arc. What I've read of this series I've enjoyed, and not only the Death of the Family stuff. Gail Simone has done an excellent job on this series, and her removal from this series will be disappointing.
Plot
This issue sees Batgirl placed with an ultimatum of marrying the Joker to save her mother. Also in this issue Alysia Yeoh phones Barbara's brother James Gordon Jr. (who set her up to face the Joker in the first place) and tells him about Barbara being attacked.
Review
This was another brilliant Batgirl issue, and although not quite as good as the previous still very enjoyable. Simone has done a brilliant job in the writing of this series, and besides Scott Snyder on the main Death of the Family story, in Batman, has done the best job writing wise during this crossover. The only thing I didn't like about this issue was how it jumped back and forward between Batgirl, James Gordon Jr., and the Joker set-up story, which didn't make a lot of sense till the end of the issue. Besides that Simone has done an excellent job of showing how Batgirl handles Joker now that he's threatening another member of her family. I also like that despite it being noticeable that Batgirl holds a grudge towards Joker for paralysing her during Batman: The Killing Joke, she still thinks of others (in this case her mother) first.
The art in this issue was very good, and I enjoyed Daniel Sampere's art a lot more in this issue than the last. This is probably because I prefer one artist on a comic, and can't enjoy the individual artist if someone's sharing the work load. With him being the only artist on this issue I was able to enjoy and appreciate it more. The way he draws fight sequences is amazing and I love the expressions on the receiving end of a punch, as well as the expressions in Barbara or Joker throughout the issue. The way Sampere's draws people who are panicking, or upset is also very good, and I love that despite Barbara's mother not having much to do in this issue, that you can still see the discomfort, and fear on her face. I also liked how Sampere's drew Joker in the present and the past, and felt that this issue showed the differences between the two better than any other I've seen, and how his mask looks a lot more tattered in his artwork.
The continuation of Joker's proposal in this issue was very interesting and I liked the way it was handled. It was a big surprise at the end of the last issue when Joker asked Batgirl to marry him, and if it wasn't for the unpredictable nature of the Joker I wouldn't believe he did it. The whole notion of Joker marrying Batgirl seems strange to me, but in a good way. I would never in my wildest dreams imagine Joker marrying Batgirl, and was happy when it was revealed that there was a reason behind it. I also liked how Batgirl reacted to this initially playing along, as she doesn't want her mother to die. The desperation on Batgirl's face whenever she's reminded that her mother may die is also brilliant and very well done.
I liked how we saw a very different side to Batgirl in this issue and how she was sick and tired of letting Joker have it easy. It was also interesting seeing Batgirl almost break her vow not to kill anyone, and after what Joker has done to her I'm not surprised, and don't blame her. It was nice seeing Batgirl not holding back for a change, and the action that came with it was excellent. I also liked that despite the fact Joker didn't anticipate Batgirl's attack just before it happened that he still had a plan in case she did attack him.
James Gordon Jr.'s appearance in this issue was also very interesting, and after him setting up his sister to face the Joker I was even more interested to see him take a interest in her well being. It was also interesting to see Alysia phoning James to ask for his help, and especially how she referred to Barbara as her room mate, which implies she doesn't know that Barbara and James are related. I haven't read every issue of Batgirl but I assume that Alysia and James also met at some point, and that he didn't divulge that he had a sister. I've also liked whilst reading this series on and off that James has played a big part in the last couple of stories, and am interested to see what Batgirl will do to him after Death of the Family.
There was a recurring sequence throughout this issue, which shows Joker in a therapy session at Arkham Asylum, quite a while before the events of Death of the Family. For most of the issue I was questioning the relativity of this sequence, and felt that it was taking up space that could have been used for the main story. The end of this sequence explains why this sequence was necessary, and although it made it worth reading I would have still preferred more time spent on the main story. I did however like how the Joker was written in this sequence and liked how it was very easy for him to upset Dr. Yi, and he easily got under her skin. The sequence itself also had a Silence of the Lambs feel about it with the sinister villain telling his story.
Final Verdict
This was brilliant issue, and although not as good as the previous still an exceptionally good issue. I would highly recommend this issue, and the previous issue also. I am also looking forward to how this part of the story finishes in the next issue, and will be upset to see Simone leave the series after issue 17.
Rating: 4.5/5
Writer: Gail Simone
Artists: Ed Benes & Daniel Sampere
I haven't been following this series and have only read the first couple of issues and the Night of the Owls tie in issue. All the issues I've read have been very good but none have made me like the series as much as these last two issues. These issues alone make me want to go back and fill in the gaps to see what Barbara Gordon's been doing for the past year.
Plot
This issue continues from last where Barbara get's a phone call from the Joker who has here mother (Barbara Kean-Gordon) hostage and gives her instructions before three goons come in to fight her. Eventually she gets told where to find Joker and her mother, and is told to come in her Batgirl uniform.
Review
This was a brilliant and easily the best Batgirl comic I have read from any of the series'. What Gail Simone has been doing over the issues I've read has been outstanding and she really understands all the characters, knows how to write a good plot, and knows how to fit it in with the overall crossover. I love how even though this is a stand alone series it's incorporating the overall story brilliantly so you can enjoy it whether reading just this series, or Batman along with it. the way she's brought Barbara's whole life tumbling down with the prospect of Joker knowing her secret is amazing and I liked how we see Barbara initially not giving a care about it.
Ed Benes' art throughout the last two issues, along with Daniel Sampere's this issue have been phenomenal, and truly make this comic not just a joy to read but a pleasure to just stop and admire. Although there are plenty of artists I prefer more, I can't find anything to fault about his art. I love how he draws all the characters, and especially love how you can see the resemblance between Barbara and her mother, as in some art family members don't look a like. I wasn't too sure what to make about his work on the Joker. It was brilliant but there is just something that doesn't feel quite right when I see him. It's maybe due to the lack of expression due to not having a proper face but he seemed more lively facial wise in the Batman series. Overlooking that, as it's hard to tell if the lack of expression is a good thing or a bad thing, I liked his art on the Joker very much and there were parts where you could see the malice in his eyes, and although he doesn't have any lips you could feel the grin emerging from time to time. The colours in this issue were also brilliant and both Ulises Arreola and Kyle Ritter have an excellent job on this issue.
In this issue whilst talking to Barbara over the phone Joker asks her to make a sandwich. No I'm serious, and I loved how this shows how Joker can get into your head psychologically by just asking a simply question of making a sandwich to save her mothers life. It was also nice to see that Barbara reacted the same way as most people reading this would be thinking, "is he serious?" and he was, deadly serious to be precise. The confusion, anger and discomfort on her face was brilliant during this scene and it was nice to see that even one who follows Batman, as well as someone as smart as Barbara is can still fall to Joker mind games.
I also liked how Barbara didn't care about her secret getting revealed in this issue as she thought Joker already knew anyway, she wanted to save her mother, plus all the rage from Joker shooting her and leaving her paralysed (Joker shot Barbara in Batman: The Killing Joke). Seeing the anger come back whilst remembering what Joker done to her was brilliant and the thing I've been looking most forward to in this part of the crossover. The shock on the goons faces when Barbara is beating them up was priceless and it was poetic justice what Barbara did to them.
The scene between Barbara and Alysia Yeoh that followed this fight was also brilliant and very emotional. The confusion Alysia was feeling at this point was easily noticeable, and with everything that's going on along with Barbara leaving her in the dark made me feel slightly sorry for Alysia, and I hope we get to see how this affects her.
I loved Jokers involvement in this issue and apart from the main story, and what will happen in the Red Hood and the Outlaws part in this crossover (due to Joker previously killing Jason Todd) this has been the encounter I've been most looking forward too. The sequence where Joker shot Barbara in The Killing Joke was one of the things that made it my favourite Batman stories and the sequence itself had huge consequences in the pre-New 52 universe. Joker having Barbara's mother hostage in this book was brilliant and it was hilarious seeing Joker going about in roller skates. The way Joker was written in this issue was brilliant in this issue. I liked how Joker was so unpredictable and how he was still always making jokes.
The mystery throughout this issue was also a nice addition, and the mystery about what Joker does and doesn't know through this entire crossover has been very interesting, and been one of the thing's that has made it as good as it's been. Although it appears that Joker knows Barbara's secret the issue latter shows that he might not and that this is all part of his plan.The issue reveals that someone else is also working behind the scenes and leaves the question if this person or any other person is working with or manipulating the Joker.
Final Verdict
This was an amazing issue and one of the best Batgirl comics I have ever read. It is also the best issue in this crossover apart from the two Batman issue. I would highly recommend this issue as well as this series part in the crossover and am looking forward to seeing how it continues.
Rating: 5/5
