The
Saga of the Red Queen continues, as the story alternates between NOW and THEN.
NOW is when Nightwing and Batgirl are on the trail of the Red Queen,a drug
dealer with ties to Batgirl’s past. And then is when Batgirl and then-Robin
attempted to help Ainsley Wells, a new friend of Barbara Gordon’s. Ainsley had been
sucked into the Mad Hatter’s drug combine, combining mind-control drugs with
nanite technology.
But
Ainsley’s story is not so different from thousands of other people
– people trying to dig their way out of addiction. However their own
perception of what kind of help they need, or can get, or where it will come
from sometimes hinders their best efforts. Unfortunately, those of us in the
real world are not blessed with super-heroes to come rescue us from whatever
dangers we may face.
It’s
a poignant story, while at the same time introducing a potential new
villainess
in the form of the Red Queen. Although, as a somewhat ancillary version of the
Mad Hatter, I fear she may be redundant in DC’s underworld.
The
art team of Wildgoose, Jose Marzan and Owens offer a quasi-cartoon, quasi-real
world look to Batgirl’s world. I appreciate artwork that straddles that line.
It can be dodgy, but when done effectively – as it is here – it can bring a
magical style that appeals to broader audiences.
Rating:
8/10