Reviewer: Mathan Erhardt
Story Title: Ashes and Blood
Written by: Scott Beatty & Chuck Dixon
Penciled by: Marcos Martin
Inked by: Alvaro Lopez
Colored by: Javier Rodriguez
Lettered by: Willie Schubert
Editor: Matt Idelson
This is it. This is the issue the series has been building to. This issue Batgirl saves the day, alone.
The issue opens with Gotham Police Headquarters aflame. Killer Moth and Fire Fly, the main antagonists of the series, are responsible. Batman and Robin show up, but they decide to see if Barbara has what it takes to handle the situation. She does. And she leaves Batman and Robin to pick up the scraps. She briefly ponders early retirement, but ends up getting inducted into the Bat family. She even manages to keep her night job from her father, and help Jason Bard set up his P.I. office.
Dixon and Beatty have told a superb story. This title has easily been on the best written books of the year. I really enjoyed their subtle acknowledging of her Pre-Crisis history, and their foreshadowing of Barbara’s future. They managed to make Fire Fly a legitimate threat. I honestly was never interested in Batgirl, but each issue of this book quickly found it’s way to the back of my read list (which is reserved for the books that I know I am going to enjoy, that way if I do read any crap I can cleanse my palate with great read.) Dixon is great. It’s almost enough to get to start reading Crossgen. Almost.
Martin and company are fantastic. This could be one of my favorite art team, ever. Everything looks so crisp and grand. They manage to keep the dark feel of the other Year One series, yet infuse it with the bright optimism inherent in Batgirl. This is a pulse pounding issue, and the art reflects every minute. When Babs is running along the side of a building its thrilling. And her freefall drop into the unknown on pages #9 and 10 looks beautiful. The colors one the flames are vibrant, and Gotham has never looked better. Why DC hasn’t signed this team to an exclusive deal is perhaps one of the universes greatest mysteries.
This miniseries has been one of 2003’s brightest stars. It will be collected in a trade paperback, but you should buy the issues now. Don’t wait for the trade because you would be denying yourself of the latest example that comics can be great.
