DC Comics
Batgirl #4
By Avi Weinryb
November 2, 2016 - 23:39

DC Comics
Writer(s): Hope Larson
Penciller(s): Rafael Albuquerque
Inker(s): Rafael Albuquerque
Colourist(s): Dave McCaig
Letterer(s): Deron Bennett
Cover Artist(s): Rafael Albuquerque; Variant by Francis Manapul



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As someone who hadn’t read an issue of Batgirl in years, I was pleased to see a return to form, with Barbara Gordon at the helm. Apparently the new continuity undoes Alan Moore’s decision to make her a paraplegic via The Killing Joke, and she is back to her crime-fighting ways. This was seen by some as a blow to diversity since it removed a physically disabled person from a mainstream comic. Folks with disabilities are often invisible in comics and nearly non-existent in other forms of media, so this was indeed a loss. In order to rectify this, the current Batgirl series, including this issue, features a woman in a wheelchair, providing the same informational backup support a disabled Barbara Gordon used to provide to heroes. This strikes me as somewhat cynical and cheap. Unimaginative at the least. Why not introduce other forms of physical diversity to the DC Universe? A member of the Green Lantern Corps with cerebral palsy, perhaps. Dragging another wheelchair-bound desk-jockey into the same title seems a tad trite.

Hope Larson weaves a fun tale here, with Batgirl navigating through Asia as she attempts to solve a mystery and perhaps save the lives of many students, many of whom are addicted to a drug that gives them smarts but threatens to kill them in the process. The title has some well-defined characters and serviceable dialogue. Readers are led to feel as if they are traveling side-by-side with Barbara as she travels in search of answers to an unusual mystery. The focus on her is tight and she reveals herself to be a somewhat intriguing detective.

Rafael Albuquerque’s art is a great fit for this title. Batgirl’s poses, combined with the retro costume, make me think back to the Adam West television series -- yet this is a heroine who can ably kick butt and solve crimes like the best of them. No BAM! or POWS! here.

A delicious splash page shows Barbara in a very Batgirl-like pose, swinging from a rooftop. As she passes by a hospital window, two kids can be seen pressed against the glass, delighting in her presence. It’s very representative of the fun Albuquerque is having with this title and I hope he keeps it up.

Batgirl is in good form here, bringing together the best of what makes the character great. Readers should look forward to more from Hope Larson as she continues to play in this sandbox. The series has a lot of promise.