Batgirl #45: Made of Tougher Stuff

Well, with the epic fantasy story spilling out into reality behind Batgirl, it seems it’s back to business with another rising criminal in Gotham. The tension with Jason remains, but this new arc feels a bit lackluster compared to what we’ve seen in past issues.

Batgirl #45 is a book that just feels like it is a bit too by the numbers. There are some interesting elements such as the introduction of a new villain wielding a new type of metal with some unique characteristics, ongoing drama between Babs and Jason and even Batgirl’s struggle to juggle such a chaotic life. But there just isn’t enough there right now to really get me excited about the next issue.

Even some of the elements that made previous stories really strong just feel off in this issue. Babs’ interactions with Jason feel forced and uncaring, and the artwork delves into obscure territory with visuals that are sometimes difficult to follow. Combine this with a dialogue heavy narrative, forcing the letters to get jumbled, and the result is a book that just misses the mark.

There are redeeming values in Batgirl #45, mainly surrounding this new villain Dasha Berlova. Everything from her twisted motives to her simply incredible fashion sense make her a character that I’m immediately interested in. The final few pages of this issue give me hope that the best is yet to come though. The appearances of Batwoman and KGBeast are always welcome, but in all honesty, I still don’t know if I believe KG can take on both Batwoman and Batgirl like that.

Fans who are sticking with this series, here’s to hoping next issue comes together a little better.