Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Batgirl #13 Review

By J. Skyler
October 10, 2012 - 23:29

I’ll admit it: I was one of a number of readers who let out a digital groan over the internet when it was announced that the “villain destined to become Barbara’s greatest and most dangerous foe” was codenamed Knightfall, a name which echoes the infamous storyline in which Bane broke Batman’s back. However, and as always, Gail Simone delivers a villain that readers can really wrap their heads around. Batgirl #13, “A Blade of Memory”, actually concludes the current storyline Batgirl: Knightfall Descends, but luckily, all it takes is a single issue to truly understand what makes Knightfall (known in her civilian identity as Cherise Carnes) tick. The issue also showcases something Batgirl fans have been waiting for since The New 52 relaunch: an all-out thrown down between her and an opponent of equal strength and skill, and with true grit after being stabbed no less.

To recap, Cherise Carnes, daughter of real estate mogul Kenneth Carnes, was wrongfully convicted of a crime she did not commit—the brutal and truly gruesome murder of her own family. Following her release from Arkham Asylum, and after taking on the masked persona of Knightfall, she is now committed to riding Gotham City if it’s criminal element through any means necessary; and she considers torture as well as lethal force to be of the utmost necessity. She is a much more sinister and calculating character than I expected her to be, a credit to Simone’s forte at writing super villains. Carnes reveals she did not take the stand in her own defense at trial because it was her intention to be locked away at Arkham. Only there could she learn everything she needed to know about becoming a criminal mastermind and unrelenting sociopath… and then some.

There is ample reason Knightfall may very well end up becoming Batgirl’s antithesis in the same way the Joker is to Batman or Alice is to Batwoman. Barbara Gordon and Cherise Carnes’s narratives parallel one another almost perfectly: both grew up idolizing their fathers, both are exceptional athletes and intellectuals, and both, now operating as masked vigilantes, exist on the opposite side of the law. There is a great deal of moral ambiguity to consider in that last statement alone. Knightfall and Batgirl each pursue their own ideal of justice, but is it ever justifiable to take the law into your own hands? Is the sacred commandment of “thou shalt not kill” among members of the Batman Family enough for Batgirl to remain confident she holds the moral high ground? It’s not specifically discussed in this issue, but it’s sure to be a point of contention between the two characters eventually.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: social and economic inequality breeds criminal activity, but while that statement usually reflects actions taken by the impoverished class of society, what is interesting about Cherise Carnes is that she represents how members of the 1%, if they gain their fortune through unethical practices, only compound the situation. Unlike James Gordon, Kenneth Carnes did not instill his daughter with any respect or concern for moral or ethical behavior, which is more than apparent in her attitude towards vigilantism. Social and economic inequalities are underlining themes in Knightfall Descends and are likely to continue in future storylines of Batgirl.

The last few pages of “A Blade of Memory” are the prologue to Death of the Family, the highly anticipated storyline featuring the return of the Joker. It is the first time we witness a reenactment of The Killing Joke and the third time that story has been referenced in the pages of Batgirl. While, that may seem redundant, you’ll have to read Batman #13 to understand just how grave Batgirl’s inevitable confrontation with the Joker is going to be and why he is so eager to make the Gordon’s memories of The Killing Joke as fresh as if it were happening for the first time. Writing aside, the issue is once again rendered beautifully by Ed Benes. I know a number of readers have been off-put by his depiction of female characters, but personally I’ve never seen his artwork as anything less than phenomenal, especially in conjunction with Simone’s literary voice. Enjoy!

Rating: 10 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12