Batgirl #26
Recap
Batgirl chases after Grotesque, who just committed murder and stole art in the last issue. They go on a motorcycle chase through very packed traffic. Her cape and jacket get torn after almost crashing into a truck. She eventually catches up to him at a swanky apartment building. Before she goes in, she alerts the GCPD for backup.
The combat begins. Batgirl gets in several good hits. However, Grotesque hits her back with his electric baton. This short circuits the chip in her spine that lets her walk. The shock also causes her to hallucinate. When she comes back to reality she finds herself being thrown out of a window and she barely saves herself with a bat grapple. Her chip resets and she can move again. She realizes that the shock has messed with her eidetic memory. She doesn’t remember the confrontation in as much detail as she ordinarily would. She goes back to the apartment and finds that it is burning to the ground. Grotesque has made good his escape. She wonders why the police never showed up.
The next day she visits the police department under the premise of seeing her dad. When she is alone, she uses a computer to download what they have on Grotesque. Barbara is interrupted by Detective Evan Kennedy, who is investigating the case. She distracts him with technobabble and mentioning her dad. This throws him off enough for him not to realize that she was hacking the department. Commissioner Gordon shows up, but before the two can go to dinner Barbara starts getting a headache and becomes dizzy. She then collapses in front of the two men.
Review
Mairghread Scott’s writing in this issue is excellent. She gets Batgirl’s voice just right. She has also brought a more serious tone to the book than it has had in several years. The last few years of issues have been a lot more lighthearted. Scott has really upped the ante with this confrontation between Batgirl and Grotesque. The art is beautiful in this issue. I am big fan of Paul Pelletier and am very excited that he is the new artist on the book. He draws a very nice Batgirl and Barbara Gordon. The variant cover by Joshua Middleton is gorgeous as usual.
Final Thoughts
This is the best issue of Batgirl I have read in a long time. The new creative team is on point.
Batgirl #26 : Shocked
- Writing - 10/1010/10
- Storyline - 10/1010/10
- Art - 10/1010/10
- Color - 10/1010/10
- Cover Art - 10/1010/10