Batgirl #19 falls into classic Batgirl tropes while also pushing Cass into new territory. It’s a confusing issue because you feel like you’re retreading a pretty tired plot point 25 years into the character, but its execution is so enjoyable you forgive it just as quickly as you experience it. It picks up right where last month’s issue leaves off, and continues the overall trend of making the Batgirl universe feel bigger in the immediacy, and gives a hint at what’s to come in the future, with plenty of dramatic stakes, twists, betrayals, and epic human-on-spiritual-god action to keep you locked in for all 18 pages.
At its heart, Batgirl #19 is a pretty simple story of Cass trying to get rid of her blood curse while also protecting her family. Navigating the Spirit World, they reach the tower of the Midnight Eye, the deity that is responsible for the blood curse that’s affecting her. Cutting through the cannon fodder, they finally reach it. Things slow down, but the stakes don’t evaporate.
DC
What’s cool about this moment is that it ties into the greater DCU. Midnight Eye talks about an imbalance in the universe that’s because of an influx of Alpha Energy from the end of DC K.O.. That surplus created a loophole that allowed Batgirl to be cursed in the first place.
That feels like an appropriate level of tie-in for the character. Affected but not directly involved, and as cool as it is to see Batgirl connected so directly to the center of a big event, it doesn’t outlast its welcome. Shortly after she’s put in an awkward situation when a member of her party betrays her for personal gain, putting her other allies in danger because they were following her.
The guilt Batgirl feels about this is what really drives the issue. As exhausted as I am of rehashing the daughter of monsters storyline, it was nice to see a new moral predicament foisted upon her. It felt like it was giving her new drama to brood over instead of just revisiting the admittedly compelling but ultimately tired origin of Cassandra. Even better, they let her stew in it for a bit. She really copes with the idea that she damned to of her friends because she trusted a third.
DC
While I think Batgirl’s best books are the more silent issues that emphasize showing over telling, the monologue she delivers to Midnight Eye is a really powerful self-examination of someone torn between two worlds, someone made from darkness who serves the light. It’s beautifully written, and gives a lot of insight to the character, without relying on the exact same speech you’ve heard before. Tate Brombal deserves a lot of credit for giving a famously silent protagonist powerful words that feel in character.
I want to shout out the design of the Midnight Eye. The character just looks cool as hell, and makes the quieter, conversational panels look interesting even when Batgirl and her party are bound by spiritual blood. Each panel cracks with potential energy, you can feel the characters pushing against their restraints, doing everything they can to break free and help the other. Takeshi Miyazawa’s pencils and inks are complemented by Juan Castro’s inks and Mike Spicer’s colors to tell a beautifully vibrant story that’s as interesting when characters are fighting spirit warriors on the back of a giant snake as it is when people are simply bartering.
DC
Batgirl #19 retreads familiar ground in new and compelling ways, showing how Cass can move forward now that she’s returned to Gotham. The fight scenes are kinetic and heavy, and none of that is sacrificed in the more quiet or reflective moments of the book. The ending is what really makes it feel special and like a new vibe is set to come for Batgirl. Mysteries still linger after this short but sweet arc, and you should be strapped in for what’s to come, because I sure as hell am.
You must be logged in to post a comment.