Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Batgirl annual #1

By Paul Mason
March 30, 2017 - 23:01

Annuals are usually a little something extra, more pages, and special one off storylines. This annual fits the formula as it is two stories in one comic. And the first story in the annual guest stars Supergirl, and fittingly is titled World's Finest. A nice homage and call out to the classic Batman/Superman team up series by that name.

The storyline is somewhat straightforward, Supergirl receives a psychic plea for help from a young woman named Gayle who is a prisoner of Cadmus. This seems like a timely plot as Cadmus plays a major role in the television girl Supergirl. Anyway gifted as Supergirl is even she needs help sometimes and so she recruits Batgirl to help her.

The action and dialogue in this first story is fun with a lot of good banter between the heroines. The story is well done overall and there is good chemistry between Supergirl and Batgirl. In fact my main critique is the artistic style. I understand why such art would be apt for batgirl but it's not to my taste, for one thing IMO it looks like she fights crime in pyjamas.

The second story has Barbara Gordon facing a dilemma of fighting a cybernetically enhanced criminal Riot Black  while protecting her secret identity from her best friend.
The duality and problem of secret identities is, of course a well known trope in superhero comics but it is handled fairly well here with some fun and humour.
Overall rating 7.5/10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12