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Review: Batgirl #18

By Philip Schweier
May 8, 2018 - 09:41

A special holiday story, as Batgirl is visited the most mischievous of elves, Harley Quinn, who’s got a grudge to settle. It seems a big bad industrialist has lost the meaning of Christmas, so Harley’s determined to teach it to him – or die trying (the industrialist, not Harley). Toward that end, she’s poisoned the modern day Scrooge and the rest of his holiday party. Solve the riddle of the true meaning of Christmas and they win the antidote.

What follows is Batgirl and her two besties touring the city in an effort to demonstrate to their hapless victim what the holiday is really all about – family, charity and faith. But this is Harley we’re talking about – the answer is never that easy, or blasé.

It’s a fun little done-in-one, a Christmas cookie of a story. It goes down sweet but not very satisfying. But the artwork has a polish I love, and sparkles like Christmas lights. I’m not familiar with the work of Sam Basri or Jessica Kholinne, but I look forward to seeing more in the future.

Now that I have several issues of Batgirl under my belt, I’m enjoying it, but it seems too heavily aimed for the teen girl audience. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it it has overtones that are kind of lost on me, and other members of the audience as well, I’m sure. Still, it’s an pleasant read, which is something to be treasured.

Rating: 8/10

Last Updated: January 17, 2025 - 08:20