DC Comics
Batgirl #12
By Paul Mason
July 1, 2017 - 11:44

DC Comics
Writer(s): Hope Larsen
Penciller(s): Eleanora Carlini
Inker(s): Eleanora Carlini
Colourist(s): Cris Peter
Letterer(s): Deron Bennett
Cover Artist(s): Dan Mora



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I am more than capable of eating crow, when the occasion calls for it. My first issue of Batgirl I critiqued the art more harshly than the comic overall. Well as I stated in my Batgirl and Birds of Prey review, the style the  DC artists have chosen to draw Batgirl is really growing on me. It’s a weird mash-up of anime, cartoonist and more stylized comic art, yet it works. As soon as I opened this issue the art jumped out at me. OK Paul enough of you repeating your unofficial retraction in your reviews and tell us about the story, you tell me, oh fair reader of this review.

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This is a standalone issue, but doesn’t seem like a “filler”. In fact this comic feels like a cross between the classic Scooby-Doo cartoons and the X-files, with Barbara playing Scilly and a vlogger who specializes in ghosts portraying Milder.
The comic opens with Batgirl at the Burnside Y, at the same time said Vlogger is recording. It seems there have been mysterious apparitions in the pool scaring the clientele off, and causing the Y to close the pool. Batgirl is convinced there is a scientific explanation, so takes some samples of the pool water to the university to be studied.

This leads to Barbara discovering a scientific professor's student has gone missing. Ah, a mystery within a mystery. Watch out Batman it looks like Larsen is writing Batgirl to be the world's greatest detective. I stated that with tongue in cheek but there is a nice parallel of protegees in this issue.
The fact is this comic is written and drawn almost to appeal to a teen girl market. So obviously I am way outside that demographic. However I am finding this a very enjoyable comic to read.

Rating: 7.5/10

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