DC Comics Review: Batgirl #1

Rating: *

I collect about twelve titles each month - not including mini-series and one-shots.  I collect the stuff that really interests me and normally I’m not disappointed.  A lot of my reviews for comics are positive.  On the four star rating system, I normally give a comic I’ve read three to three and a half stars.  Since I began writing reviews for Comix 411, there have been a few comics that I’ve reviewed that have disappointed me.  Those comics have received two stars or two and a half.  I have never given a comic book, a one star - until today. 

Last year DC announced that they would be canceling Birds of Prey.  After it was revealed that Dick Grayson would be the new Batman, another announcement was made regarding the collection of Bat-Family books for DC Comics.  One of the books that would be debuting would be a new monthly Batgirl title.  Leaks began hitting the Internet that there would be a new girl under the mask.  Some began to think, with the cancellation of Birds of Prey, Barbara Gordon would be returning to the role of Batgirl in the new title.  So who is the new Batgirl?  Well it’s none other than Stephanie Brown aka The Spoiler, the former super-hero girlfriend of Timothy Drake Wayne aka Red Robin.

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DC Comics Review: Batman Confidential # 30

Rating: *** 1/2*

This month’s issue of “Batman Confidential” is a big improvement from last month’s issue. Last month we got part one of a two part story entitled “Bad Cop” by Andrew Kreisberg and Scott McDaniel. This was a sequel to Kreisberg’s story which appeared in “Batman Confidential” earlier in the year. As I said, part one was a disappointment to me, but this issue ups the ante with a tense stand off between Jim Gordon and Bad Cop with Gordon’s daughter Barbara caught in the middle.

Kreisberg is kind of creating his own separate Bat-Universe that I wouldn’t mind seeing continue. In his first story he brilliantly told the story of the first time Batman brought the Joker into Gotham PD for booking. I’d like to see some other “first” stories that he could write. Has there been a Jason Todd Year One yet? I think Kreisberg could do some great stuff with Jason.

In the last issue the former police officer Geoff Shancoe had escaped from Arkham and assumed the identity of the villain Bad Cop. He’s angry about the death of his wife at the hands of the Joker and takes it out on rookie cops at the Gotham Police Academy where Montoya is located. Both Batman and Shancoe’s former partner confront him. Bad Cop wants to die. He’s too distraught to want to live after everything that has happened and figured by committing a viscous crime he could get killed in the process. Neither Batman or Shancoe’s former partner oblige him of his wishes. So Bad Cop goes another route.

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