Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Babs Tarr, batgirl, Brenden Fletcher, cameron stewart, Comics, dc comics, entertainment

Drinking The Batgirl Of Burnside Kool-Aid In #38

Okay, I'm finally drinking the "Batgirl of Burnside" Kool-Aid. From DC Comics, Batgirl #38, written by Brenden Fletcher and Cameron Stewart, with art by Babs Tarr is a great issue. I knew that I would eventually reach a point of acceptance, and I really think it was just a matter of adjusting to this New Era of Batgirl. The previous issues of Fletcher/Stewart and Tarr's run left me feeling irked. Something was definitely missing, and I usually got hung up on small details. I didn't feel that way when reading Issue #38. My attention was captured from the first page to the last, and a feeling of connectivity to Barbara Gordon washed over me.

Her confrontation with Dinah at the beginning of the issue really got me thinking. Dinah expresses how Barbara is putting everyone in danger, displaying her victories on social media. She insists that Batman wouldn't be okay with it. Barbara stands up for herself and expresses how she finally feels like she has a real life outside of Batgirl and she deserves that after everything she's been through. Now, I know I've had my issues with the way social media is being used in the comic, but after reading that scene, I started to understand Barbara's inner feelings a bit more. As a reader, I feel sympathetic for her character. She has been through a lot in the past, and she does deserve to go out and have fun with her friends. Sorry Dinah, but I'm on Gordon's side.

The plot in this issue is what hooked me overall. Barbara is dating a cop named Liam, who essentially can't stand Batgirl. This of course causes conflict, but hilariously enough doesn't prevent Barbara from leaping into a kiss at the end of their date. The "villain" in this issue is a Justin Bieber looking reality TV star, who has the bad habit of drinking, and having drunk driving races. Liam vents about his frustration with the celebrity, and Batgirl takes it upon herself to try and fix the situation. I won't spoil how things end up, but there are some very intense moments that had my heart racing.

Issue #38 displays all of the complicated layers of Barbara's life, from dating, to her thesis at school, to broken friendships, and of course her life as Batgirl. Fletcher and Stewart's plot is well written, complex, with a dash of comedy thrown in for good measure. They continue to lay down the bricks for moments that will surely be climactic in future issues. Tarr's art continues to dazzle me. It's playful, emotional, and edgy. Clearly she's a fan of the manga/anime style. I managed to spot a big red bow, seen in the picture above, reminiscent of Kiki's Delivery Service, or perhaps even Sailor Moon. Overall, I finally feel like I'm taking a deep breath of refreshing air in Burnside. I'm very much looking forward to next month's issue, and can't wait to see what happens to Batgirl next!

Christine Marie is a Staff Writer at Bleeding Cool, and bibliomaniac with a love for all things creative. She hopes to one day be a Superhero/Disney Princess/Novelist. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @AWritersWay or on her blog writerchristinemarie.wordpress.com.

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