A
new story arc begins as Barbara Gordon wades into the political arena – without
rehashing her Bronze Age stint as a congresswoman. No, another congressional
wannabe, Luciana Alejo, is pushing for a complete overhaul of the GCPD, holding
Commissioner Gordon and his people as scapegoats for everything wrong in
Gotham. And Barbara has a unique response – joining Alejo’s camp.
In the
course of it all, Batgirl knows one thing: someone’s out to disrupt Alejo’s
campaign, possibly to turn the tide to the opposition. And the name she keeps
coming across is that of private investigator Jason Bard (another Bronze Age
reference; look him up).
My one big
complaint in the story is in a moment of confrontation between Batgirl and
Commissioner Gordon. With differing ideologies, Gordon actually DRAWS HIS
WEAPON on her. As if any cop should ever draw his weapon on an unarmed person.
As if any masked vigilante couldn’t easily take the weapon from him. But
Barbara’s reaction, that her own father doesn’t recognize her behind the
mask – REALLY? Masks only work with people who don’t know you. Certainly
Jim Gordon has thought, “Batgirl kinda looks like my Barbara in a mask,” or
“Babs kinda looks like Batgirl without the mask.” Certainly the voice and the
hair should be big clues to this professional police officer.
Pelletier
and Rapmund continue their stellar work at the drawing board, while writer
Mairghread Scott skates dangerously close to advocating a political position. I
don’t mind anyone’s politics, as long as they don’t run to either extreme. And
I don’t mind politics in comics, so long as they don’t get preachy. It’s an
easy landmine to step on, but thankfully Scott avoids it, and rather
gracefully, I might add.
Rating:
7/10