Batgirl #24
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Pere Perez and Guy Major
Endings tend to be bittersweet in comics, and by that, I mean true endings. Ones where the book isn’t being relaunched or repackaged under a new title or status quo. I mean the ones where the characters future is unclear; endings like Kyle Rayner’s Green Lantern volume, Wally West’s Flash volume, hell, Secret Six ended like this last week. When the last issue strikes and you never if or when you’ll see these characters again, and as a loyal reader that bothers you. Batgirl, unfortunately, seemed destined to join the ranks of these books, because as anyone who frequents this site know, it is far and away my favorite comic out of the big two, hell, it’s my favorite comic book period. I love this book and everything about it, and consider it to be one of the true gems of the industry right now.
Of course, with the DC Comics Relaunch in September, there will be a Batgirl, but her name will be Barbara Gordon. Stephanie has been casually mentioned, and it’s believed she might revert to her Spoiler identity much the way Dick Grayson is once again Nightwing, but that’s actually not the biggest issue. I know, funny way to lead off a review, but it needs to be said. To me, the costume and identity are second to the most important detail of any great story. The strength of the creative team and the character (or characters) they are writing, thus, the true tragedy of this book coming to an end is that that we won’t get to see Bryan take Stephanie on the next stage of her journey, whatever it may be.
Last issue Stephanie discovered that the mastermind behind all of her recent troubles was her father, whom she believed to be dead. Arthur Brown had been pulling the strings from Blackgate Prison, holed up after his time as Aaron Black as a way of avoiding the prison planet of the Salvation Run mini. They argue, and the similarities between father and daughter run deeper than their hair color. Despite his villainous nature, or the fact that his time as Cluemaster is what created the Spoiler in the first place, he has his own twisted way of wanting to make Stephanie better at being Batgirl. When he returned as Aaron Black to turn Gotham against Batman, it was in response to Steph’s apparent death, and with her returned he wanted the best for her. Like I said, twisted, but he made sure she had threats to face, that she would have to become stronger and smarter. If the fact that people died isn’t enough to register it as insane, I’d almost say it’s thoughtful. The character is handled great, and the resolution is perfect given the tone of the title.
A plot device brought in to bridge the issue from parent to the other, and while I’ll get back to it in just a moment, any writer using the Black Mercy puts themselves in tricky territory. Steph’s relationship with her mother has been an interesting one as she lives at home and attempts to hide her double life from a parent who is fully aware of her past double life. One of the senses of normalcy Steph was allowed in her life, along with her college life, and something you don’t see in any other Bat character save for maybe Babs. The scene with her mom is perfectly done, and while it’s a bit short, I don’t feel like it was rushed into the issue just due to it ending. I mean, it very well could have been, but it doesn’t feel shoehorned. It’s a very Batgirl moment, as is the one with the little girl that follows it, which also features a Bat cameo of someone showing her respect in a well done nod to a previous issue (one of my favorite stand alones, number seventeen).
Now, back to the Black Mercy. Best known for its use in the classic Alan Moore Superman story “For The Man Who Has Everything”, it also was used by Peter Tomasi in Green Lantern Corps a few years ago when he showed the origin of the plant, well, the planet of origin. I’m not completely surprised to see it pop up in a Bat title, but the way it shows up here is one of the few head scratchers in this issue, and at the same time, one I can forgive based on how Bryan used it. Stephanie fought off a hallucination from the Black Mercy and won, and when asked what it was like we are treated to a series of beautifully done images showing her various fantasy views of her life. Everything from herself and her fellow teenage female hero friends in a fantasy world, to a Blackest Night page that may very well be my moment of the week, Steph imagines her entire career as Batgirl as only she could. There aren’t any words, but seeing her story told through these spreads is just amazing. The way she imagines her career going, it’s almost like a what could have been series of pages.
Since I’m already talking about the art I might as well just say that Pere Perez is one of the most underrated talents in the industry, and that his work on this book has gotten better every issue. This book has been fantastic to look at from the first issue, and I’m always happy to see that go unchanged. The series of splash pages to show Steph’s Black Mercy hallucinations are where he gets arguably the best chance to showcase his abilities yet, as his art stands without dialogue. I’ve already mentioned a few of them that looked great, and the more I think about it, the more the Black Lantern one seems like a lock for my top five. There is one with the Blackhawks in 1944 that just made me smile, it’s simple and elegant, a black and white photo of the Blackhawks with Steph, Babs, and Cassandra. All three in their respective Batgirl uniforms…and Skeets floating in the corner. It’s like a mix of my two favorite DC titles, a little bit of Booster Gold mixed into my Batgirl. Completely made my day. Also, not to forget, but I love the purple skies at the end of the issue.
The thing that separates Batgirl in the end is that, unlike so many other titles coming to an end in a similar manner, it escapes that bittersweet taste. It’s the last issue, yes, and Stephanie’s future in undecided, but Bryan takes that up in character and allows Steph herself address the issue. Not a break of the fourth wall, but her words will speak directly to the reader, and it makes for the perfect ending. With so many ways it could have happened, so many things he could have done, this book ends in the same manner through which it thrived. All the way until the last page Stephanie maintains the charm that made this book so special.
Will I miss my favorite book? Of course I will, but at least I can rest well knowing that I had two years to enjoy it. And hey, like the girl said.
“It’s only the end if you want it to be.”
Overall?
10/10
