Birds of Prey #10 Reviewed

As always, my review of Birds of Prey includes spoilers - if you don't want to know what happens in this issue then please stop reading now!

"The Gristle and the Ghostly", the concluding part in the four-part "The Death of Oracle" story-arc, opens with a fantastic, immediately recognisable, close-up of Helena Bertinelli - Huntress: needless to say she's angry, challenging Calculator to explain his actions after he orders Oracle's aircraft to be shot from the sky.

For once Calculator is a little lost for words, stammering somewhat as he tries to justify his actions. As his men look on Helena senses her captors vulnerability and looks to exploit the situation in her favour.

"You prattling little bean counter" she screams before lashing out, drawing blood as she catches Calculator across the face, again eliciting a less than assured response.

At that point Helena knows that she has her opponent 'on the ropes' and that his less-than-stoic responses are eroding his standing within his own organisation.

Desperate to recover his authority Calculator snatches a weapon from a nearby HIVE agent and directs it at Helena, Zinda Blake - Lady Blackhawk - and Dawn Grainger - Dove.

At this moment Helena realises that the situation can go one of two ways for the members of the Birds of Prey - and she's determined it's going to go in their favour. With only words as her weapon she taunts Calculator about the enormity of their circumstances: "You think killing Oracle ends her influence?" she spits out before elaborating about the support system that Oracle provides to any number of individuals and organisations - all of whom will now be incredibly ticked off by his actions.

Ordering his men that they must never speak of the evenings events Calculator orders his 'right hand man' Current to kill the women and dispose of their bodies. Feeling that their situation is getting way out of hand Dawn - Dove, Avatar of Peace - tells her two friends that when the firing starts they should run for safety while she shields them.

Helena isn't beaten yet however and she continues her verbal assault on Calculator - daring him that if he wants them dead he ought to be the one to pull the trigger - even turning her back to offer him an easier target. Illustrating just how his men were losing confidence in their leader Current says that he agrees with Huntress and, unable to take any more of this impertinence from the Birds or his own men, Calculator raises his weapon, covers the trigger and ... boom!

True to her word at that very moment Dove dives to protect her friends and takes the full force of the impact. Helena and Zinda don't run though as they are, of course, more concerned about their friends condition that their own safety. Relieved that the blast hadn't killed Dove, Helena realises that enough is enough - "... no more playing ...".

At that very moment Mortis grabs Calculators arm and raises herself to her feet. Still in something of a stupor she warns that the Canary - Black Canary - has escaped her enforced unconscious state and that they ought to run - but it's too late as, unnoticed, Black Canary - Dinah Lance – is stood behind them. Enraged by her own treatment and by that of her friends she knocks Calculator off his feet and to the ground.

Missing a tooth, and with blood splattered across his face, Calculator instructs his men to open fire on Black Canary, who at that very moment tumbles away and lets out a 'Canary cry' - "JLA-style". Moments later she's seized by another of Calculator's thugs - Mammoth - who almost immediately is introduced to Hawk - Hank Hall, Avatar of War - who sends out a verbal warning before striking Canary's captor to the ground.

As Calculator realises that the situation has gotten away from him he enlists Current's help in making his exit - only to find Mortis begging to be taken with them.

With the balance of power shifting towards the Birds of Prey Black Canary lets out another of her cries - breaking Helena's handcuffs. With Lady Blackhawk, Black Canary and Hawk slowly getting the better of the opponents Helena races after the van carrying Calculator and Current, grabbing onto the back doors as the vehicle speeds away.

Hawk, meanwhile, explains to Black Canary how he came to be at the scene - referring to his earlier conversation with Oracle - Barbara Gordon - he explains that he asked – convinced even - Babs to allow him to pilot her helicopter to make the plan to stage her own death appear all the more genuine.

Wondering where the assorted HIVE agents were the pair are surprised - and no doubt a little relieved - to discover them bound together: with a Bat-symbol calling-card on display.

"You know, I kinda missed that guy".

Returning to Helena - and with the rear doors of the van blown open a swift blow from the butt of a rifle to the side of Calculators head knocks him temporarily unconscious before she turns the weapon on Current, forcing him to stop the vehicle.

Confronting a now conscious Calculator Helena reminds him that while he may well have killed Oracle today "she has a thousand ghosts" and as the man who killed Oracle he will no doubt find himself the focus of those ghosts attention.

Next day, at locations worldwide, we observe Booster Gold in Moscow, Manhunter in Gotham City and Blue Beetle in El Paso battling with opponents and calling, via their comms units, for Oracle's assistance - calls that go unanswered. Turning to face her visitors - Batman Dick Grayson, Batman Bruce Wayne, Batgirl Stephanie Brown, Red Robin Tim Drake and Misfit Charlie Radcliffe-Gage - Barbara explains that if she wants the world to believe she is dead she can't, as much as she wants to, intervene.

While understanding her position Tim's main surprise is why Cassandra Cain hasn't been brought on board and made aware of what's happening. Babs explains - as only Babs can - that she feels Cassandra has more than enough on her plate at the moment and, in response to a concern from Stephanie, declares that she has faith that the people that previously relied on her support - including Booster Gold, Manhunter and Blue Beetle who we see on the monitor each coming out on top in their own battles - will manage without her.

Elsewhere, elsewhen - across Gotham City, high up on the roof of a city centre building Huntress and Black Canary are on patrol - and the city is, apparently, unusually quiet.
Before they've had time to consider why that might be they are joined by a third person - Catwoman, Selina Kyle - who explains that the city, or at least the criminal elements, are celebrating Oracle's death ... with Calculator the guest of honour.

Explaining that she'd come out to pay her own respects, and feeling that Oracle had been fair to her, Catwoman asks, somewhat mischiefly, whether Oracle is really dead. Keeping up the pretence Black Canary urges Catwoman to be careful with what she says before being reminded that she - Black Canary - is herself still wanted by the authorities and as such is in no position to make threats.

Turning her back, and preparing to take her leave, Catwoman asks if she may make a "small suggestion" to the two women.

"Become better liars".


There we have it - the concluding part in the Death of Oracle. An enjoyable tale for sure - a tale that, for me, never quite had the drama and suspense that the publisher suggested it would but then again I think that as a comic book reader for a while now I've grown used to seeing beyond the marketing, sound bites and hype and setting my own expectations.

Across these last four issues my expectations were most certainly met.

One of the features of Gail Simone's storytelling that I've particularly enjoyed throughout this series is how the apparent central figure - the narrator if you will - changes from storyline to storyline. We've had a run where the story has been told from Oracle's point of view, then another told from Black Canary's perspective and I've appreciated hearing this most recent story largely from Huntress/Helena's perspective.

I think that in the past I've be guilty of underestimating Huntress - I've tended to categorise her as a 'fight now, don't think about it later' sort of character and I've learnt recently that there's more depth to her than that.

In this issue I loved how she slowly, quietly chipped away at Calculator's standing amongst his own men eventually helping them to cross that "line of respect" that ultimately undermined him. Similarly, I enjoyed how it was Huntress who, not once but twice, reminded Calculator that there would be consequences - negative consequences - for him as Oracle's killer - and by the same token I enjoyed his reactions to those reminders.

Throughout my reviews of this series I've commented a number of times that I've personally struggled a little with the fast and frequent 'scene cuts' - cut from location A to location B for a panel then back to A before returning to B ... - and I've noticed in this and the previous issue the trend has been for less of this: it's very much a personal thing but for me this has been a positive.

The closing pages of the issue, where we witnessed Oracle addressing assorted members of the Bat-family, were really well played out I thought. I enjoyed watching Oracle explain her reasons for backing away from helping Booster Gold, Manhunter and Blue Beetle - although I really wasn't comfortable that Babs would hold back and simply watch silently, via the monitors, while her people were struggling in the field.

The issue of Cassandra Cain - and her non-appearance - was very nicely handled I thought: the comment that being part of the 'inner circle' was as much a burden as a privilege did rather have the feel of 'with great power ...' but I also felt it was true and very well played out.

Whether our friend Noctis would agree is anther matter though!

There were several fantastic quotes: most notably "Pound that nail, Huntress", "Sometimes, you need a Huntress" and I did smile at the "I have a purpose" line from Hank Hall.

Really Hank?

With regards to Inaki Miranda's interior artwork I think I could just copy and paste my comments from issue number 9: in a series that has, in my opinion, suffered from a lack of consistency in its artwork, Miranda's is some of the most enjoyable I've seen.

Something I don't think I mentioned previously is just how much I appreciate the range of emotions that Miranda captures in his subjects faces: from the opening page where we see a raging Helena Bertinelli, anger spilling from her mouth and with her eyes on fire through to the subtle, disappointed look of 'what are we going to do now' from Black Canary as she and Huntress realise that, as well as their plan has gone, it hasn't gone well enough to fool Catwoman.

I don't know what's next from Miranda but I certainly look forward to following his work. With Pere Perez - a favourite from his work on Batgirl - scheduled for issue #11 Inaki Miranda has re-raised the Birds of Prey 'artwork bar' I'd say.

Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau provides yet another fantastic cover that works on a number of levels. With Mortis holding up - possibly even about to don the mask of Oracle - I found it immediately eye-catching and by the same token I've found myself idly admiring the detailed, cleverly contrived background featuring the other members of the Birds of Prey, both Batmen, Robin, Red Robin and Batgirl emerging from the distance.

Will this be the start of a new chapter for Barbara Gordon? I think I could very well be. I'm looking forward to seeing how others fill the 'Oracle void' and finding out what the future has in store for Barbara herself.

An enjoyable read – highly recommended.

Birds of Prey #10
Written by Gail Simone, art by Inaki Miranda, colours by Nei Ruffino, letters by Swands, cover by Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau
Published by DC Comics, May

Birds of Prey #9 Reviewed

My review includes spoilers - if you don't want to know what happens in this issue of Brids of Prey then stop reading now!

Birds of Prey #9

'The Death of Oracle' continues with the third instalment of this four-part story-arc. 'The Soul and the Sacrifice' opens with something of a surprise: Dinah 'Black Canary' Lance's late mother - Dinah Drake Lance - greeting her daughter from the headquarters of the JSA. When her mother asks why everything she loves dies and, as only a mother can, why she won't wear her hair differently, Dinah understandably becomes emotional.

Moments later she finds herself in the company of her father - her late father - who questions whether his "kitten" is eating properly. As father fades before her eyes mother reappears, reminding Dinah that her father had died a painful death and that she was nowhere to be found.

At this point tears are cascading down Dinah's cheeks.

Through appearances of Red Arrow Roy Harper and Green Arrow Oliver Queen, culminating in a vision of her 'daughter' Sin who, matter of fact, tells Dinah how very lonely she is we see that Dinah can take no more pain and we witness her curled up in a ball - her memories and thoughts finally having got the better of her.

Out of Dinah's mind and back into reality Batman - "The" Batman, Bruce Wayne - crouches over her while speaking with Oracle - Barbara Gordon - over the comms unit. Understanding the seriousness of the situation Barbara reminds Bruce that her friend is presently wanted for murder so taking her to somewhere as public as a hospital might not be such a good idea. Instructing him to bring her back to base - Kord Tower - Babs explains that any physical injuries Dinah may be suffering from are likely to be the least of their problems.

Enquiring about the rest of her team - Dawn Grainger, Dove; Helena Bertinelli, Huntress and Zinda Blake, Lady Blackhawk - Babs learns that they have all been captured by Calculator. Not exactly as planned ... but, by the same token, not a million miles away from it we suspect.

As Batman gathers-up Black Canary into his arms and takes flight back to Kord Tower the story cuts to a school bus hastily travelling through the otherwise deserted city streets. On board the bus Dawn, Helena and Zinda appear unharmed but have their hands bound. Looking on, one of their 'hosts' reminds the women that with an automatic weapon trained on them any aggressive moves would not be recommended.

Responding to Helena's jibes he reveals his name to be Current, one time partner "in the special effects business" of Bolt. As Zinda joins in with the understandably bad-natured conversation Current, aware that all three women will be carrying tracking devices, instructs one of his charges to search the women - "make it ... thorough" he says.

Taking this as her cue to lash out Zinda 'knees' the guard, only to be struck herself by the now-charged Charge. With blood dripping from the corner of her mouth Zinda warns her attacker of the consequences of striking her again. Her words seem to connect as Charge turns his back, walks away and instructs another of his crew that they are nearly at their destination - and if there's any more trouble from "the blonde" to let him know and he'll deal with her.

Back at Kord Tower Barbara has a surprise visitor: Hank Hall, Hawk - Avatar of War. His appearance is a surprise because, as Babs points out, he'd been untraceable for fully fifteen minutes earlier, and that *shouldn't* be possible. Hiding the fact that he'd paid a private visit to The Penguin's club Hawk asks for Dove's whereabouts.

"That's complicated" he's told.

As Barbara discovers she's now lost track of her three friends Batman arrives with Black Canary in his arms. Summoning Savant, his medical skills may be required, Barbara once again reminds herself that physically Dinah's fine, it's the effects of her very brief encounter with Mortis that's causing the problem.

Becoming ever more agitated with events Hawk starts hitting out at those around him - initially verbally to Barbara before turning and striking out at Bruce. Evading his initial blows Bruce doesn't appear to want to fight and before things can get too out of hand Barbara brings Hawk to the ground with a well placed strike of her baton before declaring that they will rescue Dove - along with Huntress and Lady Blackhawk - and then they'll talk about his attitude.

But first, she needs to be somewhere else.

As Barbara makes her exit the story returns to the turmoil inside Dinah's mind as Mortis, Goddess of the Forgotten Dead, once again plays wicked games with her memories. Taunted that her friends have abandoned her - again - Dinah appears at breaking point, rivers of tears streaming from her eyes. Despite appearances though Dinah is far from down and out as, summoning all of her mental strength, she rises to Mortis's challenges and declares that she won't be beaten.

Elsewhere in Gotham, Calculator, Mammoth, Current and their team of HIVE agents look on bemused as Mortis herself appears to be suffering from some sort of seizure. Realising that such involuntary actions likely mean that her "prey" must have found a way to set herself free he immediately returns his attention to his prisoners - Dawn, Helena and Zinda.

Explaining that he's only really interested in Oracle he turns his weapon on Zinda - she's no use to him. Before he can pull the trigger Dawn breaks free of her shackles and with a mighty 'Dove' cry disarms Calculator, evades an attack from Current and knocks Mammoth from his feet.

Turning her attention back to Calculator Dove momentarily discovers that he once again appears to hold the upper hand - Zinda Blake is again at his mercy. In a instance though the stakes are raised as an armoured helicopter rises into the air, sends a verbal warning before opening fire. As Calculator and his team take cover - and decide that the aircraft is being pilotted by Oracle - the Birds likewise make their way towards temporary safety.

Realising that this could be an opportunity, possibly his only opportunity, to rid himself of Oracle, Calculator instructs Current to take down the helicopter - by using, interestingly, just half of his usual power: presumably he doesn't want the aircraft and its pilot totally destroyed.

Moments later, with the Birds once again in the hands of their pursuers and the aircraft in flames, Calculator announces, with a broad, satisfied smile, that finally his pain "is completely gone".


I really enjoyed this book - and after nine issues of this series I'm very happy to be able to say that. After Birds of Prey burst back onto our pull-lists I've felt I've struggled at times to avoid using words like 'decent', 'solid', 'serviceable' (I hear that word used quite often to describe comics and I'm not really sure what it means!) - words that to me mean 'okay', 'good' even but certainly someway short of excellent.

This was an excellent issue.

I immediately warmed to Inaki Miranda's interior artwork - I thought it was among some of the best we've seen so far in the series. Likewise Gail Simone's writing was fantastic - and again I've not always felt able to say that about Birds of Prey this past year.

The cover art from Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau is stunning - in fact I think my biggest worry with Artgerm's covers is that my expectations are so high that inevitably I'm going to be disappointed: and yet issue after issue he delivers the goods!

When I saw a digital preview of the cover I wasn't, to be honest, particularly taken with it. Only now that I can hold the issue in my hands have I been able to truly appreciate it for all its beauty. Despite having much of her face covered the sense of shock and anguish that Huntress feels is clearly evident. Holding onto her friend Dinah, Black Canary, for strength it's Huntress, rather than anyone or anything else featured that's the focus of this cover for me. If I have just one criticism, it's that facially Black Canary and Lady Blackhawk look just a little too similar.

Gathered around an overturned, crumpled wheelchair we really get a feel for the individual strengths - and weaknesses - of the Birds.

In terms of the story I thought the strongest, stand out scenes were the dream - or more appropriately nightmare - sequences. Opening with Dinah coming face to face with her mother, her father, loved ones, and closing with her battle of mental strength with Mortis, I thought the story was perfectly framed. I found the opening pages really quite touching as Dinah came face to face with those ghosts from her past and I really did feel her pain as she found herself at the sharp end of some pretty blunt comments.

Credit equally to Inaki Miranda for adding to Dinah's vulnerabilities by portraying her, it occurred to me as a younger, less physically-confident woman than I'm used to seeing.

The 'war of minds' towards the very end of the book was similarly powerful I felt, as we witnessed Dinah teeter on the brink of a complete mental breakdown and, just as it looked like she was 'down and out', draw upon her inner strengths and fight back against her opponent.

As well as being the focus of the cover, for me Huntress's portrayal was a stand out feature of the book - particularly through her beautifully written inner monologue. As those around her were in danger of losing their heads Huntress - who I've often felt was very much a 'punch-now-ask-questions-later' character - was able to remain calm, mindful of the broader picture.

The scenes set a Kord Tower and featuring Oracle, Hawk and Batman were at the same time enjoyable to read and yet disappointing to look at. I enjoyed reading as Hank took out his frustration on those around him, and the respective responses from Oracle and Batman and yet at times the art on these few pages left me a little disappointed. I felt there were some inconsistencies in Barbara Gordon's appearance and at times Hank Hall's body shape didn't quite look right to me.

Those comments aside I reiterate that I thought the art was among some of the best we've seen so far - the beautiful 'pin-up' splash page that opened the issue, the look of absolute horror in Dinah's eyes throughout the opening pages, the depth and warmth that I sensed in pretty much every panel and some eye-catching, thought-provoking, imaginative page layouts.

I believe Inaki Miranda is solicited as the artist of the next issue of Birds of Prey and I'm looking forward to enjoying his work on this title and elsewhere.

In closing, this was a top-quality issue I thought - a pleasure to read from cover to cover - and I'm anxious to see how the story-arc concludes next month.

Birds of Prey #9
Written by Gail Simone, art by Inaki Miranda, colours by Nei Ruffino, letters by Dave Sharpe, cover by Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau
Published by DC Comics, April 2011

Birds of Prey #8 Reviewed

As always, my review includes spoilers - if you don't want to know what happens in this issue of Birds of Prey then stop reading now!

"The Death of Oracle" continues with the second part of this four-part story-arc entitled "The Gauntlets and the Guillotine". Having smashed their way into the nightclub where the Birds of Prey were enjoying a girls night out, Mortis - the self-proclaimed "Goddess of the Forgotten Dead" - accompanied by Mammoth and the "newbie" villain known as Current confronts the Birds demanding, for the final time they are told, to know which of them is Oracle.

Zinda Blake - Lady Blackhawk - steps forward to tackle Mortis and is immediately warned off by her opponent with the suggestion that with just a single touch of her hand others have been driven to suicide - and she could easily be next.

Not one to take kindly to being threatened Helena Bertinelli - Huntress - steps across her friends and into Mortis's line of sight ... "Try it" dares Helena as Mortis turns her attentions to Dinah - Black Canary.

Elsewhere, events in the club are being monitored by Calculator who's delighted that the information he paid Savant for looks like being accurate - and he reminds himself that he must, in turn, kill his one-time informant.

Across the city at Barbara Gordon's new high-tech, highly-secret base of operations in Kord Tower, Babs and Bruce Wayne - Oracle and Batman of course - are likewise following events. Babs reveals that while she's aware of Mammoth both Mortis and Current are new to her ... and as such causing her to be more than a little concerned.

Appreciating the scale of the situation Bruce offers a solution - he can intervene - which Babs immediately dismisses: the Birds of Prey are her team, her responsibility. Besides, Barbara reasons, her team, including as it does Black Canary and Huntress, can handle the situation can't they.

Can't they?

Returning to the nightclub and Mortis offers Dinah one last opportunity to cooperate before Dove - Dawn Grainger - steps in and, to my surprise, identifies herself as the ellusive Oracle. As events at the club unfold we cut across town where the aforementioned Calculator is now writhing in pain on the floor of his office - on the verge of a breakdown it seems: with no secret powers or costume to rely upon Calculator has always relied upon and prided himself on his intelligence, his brain - and now, thanks to Oracle he believes, his mind is failing him.

At Penguins Iceberg Lounge, which remains closed for repairs, we discover Oswald Cobblepot 'auditioning' new waiting staff and very quickly losing his patience with his new employees. As he takes his frustration out on one young woman he becomes aware that they have been joined by Hawk - the Avatar of War Hank Hall, who we learn has somehow managed to switch off his comms link connecting him to Oracle - demanding an audience with Penguin.

Apparently having something of a change of heart from their earlier conversation Barbara Gordon appears willing to enlist Batman's help but she has a feeling that her friend isn't going to like her idea - for the first time Batman will have to take a dive. This isn't the time, Babs reveals, to explain to Bruce what she has done to The Calculator ... she was vulnerable, Calculator knew her identity, so she took their fight into his mind and altered his memories.

As Calculator uses recognition software for details of Dove's background - the results of which I assume have been tampered with by Barbara to give false information - we return to the nightclub where, with the public apparently clear of the club, Babs finally gives the word for the Birds to engage their opponents - much to Dinah's relief and pleasure. With a single blow she knocks Mortis off her feet warning the others to be careful of her touch. With Mortis down, but certainly not out, the Birds turn their attention to both Current and Mammoth ... and their army of 'foot soldiers'.

Amidst all this violence Helena realises that the premises aren't, after all, free of members of the public as she discovers two women crouching under a table desperately trying to avoid getting caught up in the madness.

As Black Canary, now delighted to have been joined by Batman, does her best to keep the onslaught at bay Helena, with the help of Lady Blackhawk, usher the women towards safety.

With Mortis grounded, and Batman now part of his opposition, Current reveals to Calculator that he wants out - but Calculator is having none of it as he threatens his 'employee' that if he doesn't do as he's instructed he may just have to ask Mammoth to pay a visit to his girlfriend.

Reaching the outer ruined walls of the club Helena and Lady Blackhawk are relieved that they've managed to get the civilians to safety ... only to find themselves held captive at gunpoint.

Distracted by the events unfolding before her Black Canary fails to notice Mortis approaching from behind - as she removes her glove just one touch of her hand sends Dinah into a trance-like state: Barbara's words of warning to the group coming just too late.

With her friend and team-mate under threat and vulnerable Dove backs down and allows herself to be taken. As Mortis, Mammoth, Current and their men seize Dove and make their exit the "Goddess of the Forgotten Dead" reveals that once in a trance none of her victims ever come out of it ...

What can the future hold for the Birds of Prey, and particularly Black Canary?


This was another galloping Birds of Prey adventure from writer Gail Simone - pretty much every scene, except perhaps for those set at Kord Tower between Barbara and Bruce, had a sense of chaos and confusion about them as the story jumped around Gotham city at a rapid pace, but without ever feeling particularly rushed, rarely stopping anywhere for more than what seemed like a few minutes.

What at first appeared to me to be a fairly shallow story grew, with a second and third read, into something much more complex. Having finished reading the issue I find myself asking many questions that I'm now genuinely keen to answer.

The overarching question is, of course, just what is Barbara's plan? Through Savant she's set this confrontation up - I'm surprised she's chosen such a public venue - but to what end? Why is Dove passing herself off as Oracle? Of all the team members who amongst us would have chosen Dove for such a crucial and dangerous 'mission'? Batman's involvement may - just may! - have been initially unplanned but what part does he now play in Barbara's scheme and why ask him to take such a very public fall?

On a minor, fairly trivial point, I've appreciated the 'name tags' that have appreared throughout this series: identifying the character - Oracle aka Barbara Gordon for instance - and including a thumbnail description of them - Formerly Batgirl, now the world's premier infojock and data specialist supreme. I smiled, therefore, when Batman was introduced simply as "Batman aka Bruce Wayne". Less is most definitely more.

For sure there were one or two elements to the story that, for me initially at least, felt somewhat unnecessary and drawn out - the scenes where the two ladies were discovered in the club and had to be escorted to safety come to mind as did the couple of pages where we witnessed Penguin auditioning his staff in the finer points of waiting tables.

That said, I appreciate that such scenes can give the reader a chance to catch one's breath in what was, as I say, an extremely 'hectic' issue. The Penguin scenes also produced one of my favourite panels of artwork in the entire issue from Guillem March - the moment he almost exploded with rage when he felt that his waitress wasn't listening to him was absolutely fantastic: unrecognisable and yet unmistakeably Penguin.

Speaking of the interior art I was surprised to turn the front cover and discover another 'new' artist on this title after last months début from Ardian Syaf. Thankfully, for me anyway, I'm a huge of admirer of Guillem March's style and I enjoyed his work throughout this book - I always feel there a great deal of depth to his art as his figures almost stand-out from the page and this issue was no different. Likewise, I've always appreciated that the artist manages to include so much detail in his panels - on first read through the detail can be almost be incidental sometimes only fully appreciated with a second or third read.

The overall quality of the Birds of Prey series has, in my opinion, suffered as a result of so many changes to the books principle artist although the impact has thankfully been lessened by the quality of the artists involved. That said, I look forward to a time when one artist is able to commit to the series for an extended period of time.

Turning to the books cover, and in many ways I can echo my previous comments regarding the cover of Batgirl #17: the illustration, on this occasion from Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau, is simply fantastic: I love the composition of the montage of Birds of Prey team members - although it's somewhat undermined by Barbara's framing which gives me the impression somewhat that Mr Lau didn't quite know how to include her - but I just can't fully appreciate these very stylized special covers what we're seeing across the Bat-family books this month.

In closing, I thought the final page of this issue - both the sentiment it conveyed and the quality of the illustration - was fantastic and almost worth the cover price alone. All in all, another solid read that's left me puzzling about the story and leaves me wanting more. Highly recommended.

Birds of Prey #8
Written by Gail Simone, art by Guillem March, colours by Nei Ruffino, letters by Travis Lanham, cover art by Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau
Published by DC Comics, March 2011

Birds of Prey #7 Reviewed

Happy New Year one and all! While I didn't get as much reading done as I'd hoped over my Christmas and New Year break I did find time to read, and review, the latest issue of Birds of Prey - delivery of which had been delayed by a week or so because of the wintery weather we'd been experiencing here in Britain.

One of the things I enjoy about undertaking these in-depth reviews of Birds of Prey, and likewise for Batgirl, is that it gives me the opportunity, you might even say it forces me, to really think about so many different aspects of the book that I wouldn't perhaps otherwise consider. With this issue of Birds of Prey I found that the more I thought about it the more I found to appreciate.


Birds of Prey #7

'The Cape and the Cadaver' - first of the four part 'Death of Oracle' story-arc - opens at the window of a fairly anonymous looking Gotham City high-rise. At the window stands a man - The Calculator - surveying the city before him, wondering aloud just why Gotham's villains choose to make the city their home, the scene of their crimes.

Interrupted by one of his associates, Calculator is introduced to a visitor: Brian Durlin aka Savant. Comfortable that Savant isn't carrying a weapon Calculator welcomes his visitor with open arms. Refusing the hospitality that's offered to him Savant reminds his host that he's there for one reason and one reason only – cash, in exchange for Oracle's precise location ...

Elsewhen we witness Barbara Gordon - Oracle - on patrol in the alleyways surrounding the Gotham City docks: one of the city's worst neighbourhoods we're reminded. Rounding a corner Babs comes face to face with one of the gangs of 'tweakers and bangers and pimps' that call this neighbourhood their home.

As the gang advance and confront her, Babs muses over the irony that since the local drug lord was 'convinced' to leave the docks violent crime has risen - and she's about to experience that violence first hand.

Using a dustbin lid as a missile Barbara hits out first then follows up with blow after blow from her billy sticks. In no time at all three of the gang are grounded and unconscious. Moments later a forth man - the apparent leader of the gang - charges at Barbara with a knife but he is also swiftly dealt with: to her embarrassment landing head first in her lap.

Spurred on by a young female the last gang-member standing draws his gun and places his finger on the trigger. As her assailant approaches Barbara realises that, thankfully, she's not alone as Batman - Bruce Wayne Batman - swoops down into the alley and effortlessly overcomes the gunman. Turning immediately Bruce disarms the young girl, tells her to get along to Dr Lesley Thompkins clinic where help is at hand ... and threatens her never to come back to the docks unless she's 'clean'.

Having been relieved of her earlier embarrassment Barbara braces herself for a ticking-off from Bruce - patrolling around the entrance to her safehouse is one thing, but doing it alone is another. Much to her surprise Bruce ignores her admission that she's probably been a little irresponsible as he surprisingly suggests ... a hug.

Across the city the other members of the Birds of Prey are out celebrating the birthday of Dove - Dawn Grainger - at a nightclub. The focus of their attention are The Conga Cowboys - erotic dancers - and it's fair to say that the occasion is just a little much for Dawn. Alongside her team-mates Helena, Zinda and Dinah - respectively Huntress, Lady Blackhawk and Black Canary - are having a fine time until Dinah wonders aloud where Hank Hall - Hawk - is on this evening of celebration.

Realising that Dinah's comments are more than just idle chatter Dawn defends her friend - as the scene cuts to outside the club where we see Hank stop, toss aside a beautifully-wrapped gift addressed to Dawn, turn-around and walk away.

Elsewhere, in a roof-top garden, Calculator and his associate have met with a mysteriously veiled young woman who introduces herself as 'Mortis, Goddess of the Forgotten Dead'. Challenged by Calculator to prove that her so called gift is real Mortis gently takes the hand of his associate - and in an instant the man breaks into tears, an uncontrollable sweat and charges through a glass window falling, we assume, to his death.

Returning to Barbara and her safehouse Bruce has been handed a list - 13 names excluding her own - of those people that have been entrusted with the location of and access to the safehouse. Barbara goes on to explain that her base can be accessed from four different entrances throughout the city linked to a largely pre-existing network of tunnels. Furthermore, her base - inside Kord Tower - has been constructed by numerous contractors meaning that no one person knows everything.

Arriving at the elevator entrance Bruce is met by a familiar adversary - Aleksandr Creote - who Babs introduces as her personal assistant. Entering the observation platform Barbara and Bruce look out across the city - their city. Bruce reveals that things in their world are going to change and that he's looking for support from all of his 'family' ... and particularly from Oracle.

Without looking up and catching Bruce's eye Barbara explains that it's probably better if he doesn't refer to her as that - Oracle - '... because tonight Oracle dies. Once and for all'.

At that moment the two friends are joined by Savant who Barbara introduces as her 'IT guy' before asking how things went, whether 'they' believed him. Explaining more to Bruce, Babs asks that he trust her, if no-one else, as she's of the belief that too many people know about Oracle - and that puts every one of those people in danger.

Back across the city the Birds of Prey are continuing to enjoy their 'girls night out' until ... a huge explosion admits some unwelcome guests to the club. Dinah orders her friend Helena to get away: an order that Helena refuses to follow of course. As Zinda gets back on her feet - having been knocked to the ground by the earlier explosion - Helena does her best to revive Dove who, it appears, is sleeping off her evening of excesses!

Believing that the Birds are no physical match for the aforementioned unwelcome guests, who include 'Mammoth' Baran Flinders in their ranks, Dinah realises that the only weapon available to them - her Canary Cry - is just too dangerous to use in the crowded club.

With Dove now awake and aware Zinda urges her to target 'the big one' – Mammoth of course. This she does but with little or no success as he returns her assault and knocks Dove off her feet and across the room.

Seemingly at a loss as to how they can overcome their aggressors the Birds fear the worse as the violence pauses ... and Mortis enters the club demanding to know which of the women is Oracle.

To be continued ...


First things first, I thought on the whole this issue was quite a satisfying read - a nicely-told, well-paced story accompanied by some very nice cover and interior artwork.

For me the Birds of Prey series has suffered, beyond the first couple of issues, as a result of some jarring inconsistencies in the interior art - I'm referring to changes within an issue rather than issue-to-issue. Therefore, I appreciated reading a whole issue illustrated by one penciller - Ardian Syaf - and one inker - Vicente Cifuentes. As a result the story felt a lot more 'fluid' than in recent months and, therefore, a more enjoyable read.

Not being particularly familiar with Mr Syaf's work I must say I was quite taken with the level of detail he was able to include in pretty much every panel - from the complex facial expressions on 'secondary' characters to location backgrounds including a highly effective use of shadows.

Equal credit should also be extended, I believe, to regular series colourist Nei Ruffino, who's work perfectly captured the tone of this issue - naturally dark yet clear and crisp, some most striking use of colour - blue, auburn, green - set against often sombre backgrounds represented by alleyway brickwork and the sometimes cold, clear, Gotham sky.

In terms of writing, as I previously intimated, I felt this was a solid enjoyable story that proved to be a good set-up for this new story-arc. After recent troubles - well documented through the series so far - I can totally see that Barbara would be looking for a less high-profile Oracle, for a while at least, although just how far writer Gail Simone can take this theme only time will tell of course.

While I'm sure that 'the death of Oracle' doesn't - couldn't - mean the death of Barbara Gordon, by the same token with Oracle one of the cornerstones of this particularly large chunk of the DCU, can Oracle truly die 'once and for all'?

Those, and other questions, are some of the reasons why we'll continue to follow along of course.

The central appearance in this issue of the Calculator was a surprise, a puzzle and, to be honest, a little of a disappointment. If I remember correctly it was just a few short months ago, in the pages of the Batgirl title, that we saw Calculator carried away by the authorities with his daughter Wendy's words that he 'won't be bothering anyone for a very long time' echoing around the room and yet here he is, apparently back on his feet with his 'empire' in place around him.

Maybe Calculator's recovery, his renaissance, is covered in another title that I'm either not currently reading or have fallen behind with and that'd explain my sense of puzzlement but my disappointment ...? I believe I understand his complicated history with Oracle but, having been a central character in Bat-family history over the past year or so I felt we'd moved on to other adversaries, for the moment at least.

Changing focus, the Hawk and Dove 'relationship' hasn't landed with me as yet: each contributes their own unique qualities - Dove with her really quite endearing naïveté and Hawk with his brusque and surly demeanour - and I'll be interested to see if their importance to the team grows as time passes.

The appearance - albeit fleeting - of Mortis, the 'Goddess of the forgotten dead' likewise intrigues me. I like the concept of the villain that, with a single, brief, touch of her hand can compel a grown man to leap to his death from a rooftop and I hope we see much more of her over forthcoming issues.

Finally, the cover from Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau. If you've read any of the other reviews of books that Mr Lau has contributed to you'll know that I'm a big fan of his work and this image - Bruce Wayne's Batman solemnly standing over Oracle's gravestone - is absolutely fabulous.

As simple and stark as it at first appeared the artist has expertly captured a tremendous sense of sorrow, regret, maybe even guilt. I'm not, however, entirely sure it was the right subject for this particular issue - aside from the fact that Oracle isn't, as yet, dead, I'd have liked this cover of Birds of Prey to feature ... one or more of the Birds of Prey team.

Accepting, and very much appreciating, that the Bat-family books feed off of one another this cover felt, to me, like it was being used to promote the title as part of 'Batman, Incorporated' rather than on its own merits. All of that said, I did very much enjoy Bruce's appearances within the pages of the book - from their initial encounter in the alleyway, through the somewhat awkward 'reintroductions' to Bruce's validation that now, perhaps more than ever, he'll be relying on Barbara and her team.

Birds of Prey #7, The Death of Oracle, Part 1: thought provoking, puzzling, pleasurable, most definitely gratifying ... well worth reading.

Birds of Prey #7
Written by Gail Simone, pencils by Ardian Syaf, inks by Vicente Cifuentes, colours by Nei Ruffino, letters by Travis Lanham, cover by Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau
Published by DC Comics, February 2011

Batgirl #12 Reviewed

This issue of Batgirl has very much a 'coming of age' feel about it as we witnessed the concluding part of the 'Batgirl Rising: The Flood' story-arc and with it the end of Stephanie Brown's first year in the role of Batgirl.

Having leapt from an aircraft piloted by Wendy Harris at the close of issue #10 this issue opens with Stephanie plunging towards Calculator's compound in deep in Slaughter Swamp. In the compound, she knows, is Oracle - Barbara Gordon - who's being held captive.

As Steph's parachute opens she reminds herself of the magnitude of the task in hand and her responsibilities to her friend Barbara - the one person who's ever really cared about her - and just as importantly to herself, as she reminds us who she is ... Batgirl!

Inside the compound, and more precisely inside Calculator's mind, we see a young Noah Kuttler imprisoned in a cage. As Babs - or a least Kuttler's impression of Babs - approaches the small child she's violently attacked from behind and sent tumbling to the floor.

Elsewhere, Stephanie has entered the compound only to be faced with some elaborate - and life threatening - security measures. Wendy meanwhile, is in communication with Steph from high above the compound. Bemoaning that she isn't able to help more Wendy wistfully recalls the motivation for her and her brother to run away from home and join the Teen Titans: to protect the world from men like her father, the Calculator.

As Steph skillfully evades the first of the deadly security measures she stumbles - literally - upon the lifeless body of Marvin, Wendy's brother. No doubt sensing the emotion in Wendy's voice Steph questions whether she ought to have said anything to Wendy at that time. Wendy meanwhile, with tears running down her cheeks, comes to a decision - she feels she can't help Steph while she's piloting the aircraft - and warns Steph not to touch anything for fear that her father has planned further deterrents.

Too late!

Elsewhere in the compound, and still in Kuttler's mind, he and Babs tumble through an apartment door - 'You stole my daughter from me' he accuses Babs, 'I saved her from you' she retorts. Moments later the physical and verbal tussle is interrupted by a crying baby - or more to the point two crying babies. Immediately realising what this 'vision' represents Kuttler discovers the bloodied body of his wife who had taken her own life. With her attacker momentarily distracted Babs seizes the opportunity to distance herself and begins the search for a way to separate her thoughts from those of the Calculator.

However, with their thoughts immediately rejoined Babs witnesses Calculator beating up on a bound and bloodied Kid Eternity, while moments later he's seated and calmly explaining that he can, and will, end their mental ordeal - and that he has no intention that either of them will survive the evening.

'Back in the real world' and Stephanie has discovered the device that will, in a matter of seconds, terminate Calculator's army of drones ... and in turn potentially destroy Gotham City. Unable to reach Wendy on the comms unit Stephanie takes aim with her grappling gun, fires into the device and yanks its core away.

Catastrophe averted? Sort of. With the device disabled Steph faces a second, altogether more challenging opponent - a giant 'creature' formed from power or data cables. As the creature targets Steph she's aware of tremendous crashing noise as Wendy plunges her aircraft into the compound, taking out the creature at the same time.

With nothing now to stop them Stephanie and Wendy set out to find Barbara and rescue her from the Calculator. Having done so Wendy - once again with streams of tears on her face - makes sure that her father 'won't be bothering anyone for a very long time'.

Later on, outside Gotham City University, Babs and Stephanie talk about their ordeal - Kuttler is in New Arkham, everyone who had been infected no longer remembers and Steph acknowledges that without Babs to lean on for support she was grateful for Wendy's backup. As Nick Gage arrives to meet Babs Steph excuses herself and joins Wendy who, while looking over a family photograph album, talks of needing a fresh start in life. Steph, clearly understanding where Wendy is coming from, offers her support.

Time passes and we find ourselves with Steph - again as Batgirl - in Devil's Square where she encounters a somewhat comedic villain named Blimp Master. Relaying this information back to their 'Firewall' base Babs reveals that Wendy - appropriately enough code-named Proxy - will stand in to help Steph on those occasions that she - Oracle - is unavailable.

Batgirl Rising concludes with a scene in a cell at Gotham Central Lockup where the occupant - Johnny C, last seen I believe in issue #9 - chillingly declares that he's looking forward to seeing Batgirl again because 'she's gonna need all the help she can get' ...


As I say, this certainly felt like a 'landmark' issue, in the same way that a 50th or 100th issue of a book feels different to a 51st or 99th, and as such I've found this a difficult issue to review in isolation and therefore found myself looking at it in the context of such a landmark.

Over the past year we've followed Stephanie and Barbara on what has been a challenging and, at times, uncomfortable journey. A year ago Steph and Babs set out without apparently knowing where they wanted to go - or even sure of their motivation for making the journey - and along the way there have been harsh words, any number of 'I'm out of my depth' situations, lots of bickering, plenty of laughter - to the point that through the pages of this particular issue it's clear that both women now have a clearer picture of what the future holds for them.

We've seen Steph's confidence in herself and her abilities grow and at the same time we've witnessed Barbara's willingness to trust and believe in the new Batgirl.

The inclusion of Calculator as the central villain in this story-arc felt to me, at first, just a little predictable but as the story unfolded I came to appreciate the opportunities his inclusion permitted - Barbara's complicated past, Wendy ultimately breaking out from under her father's shadow, Steph appreciating the parallels with her own father ...

Speaking of Wendy! With her initial, albeit at times brief, appearances in the series it became apparent that she was destined to play a more significant role in Steph and Bab's lives and sure enough, as predicted, she's set to become Batgirl's new 'handler' on those occasions when Barbara is 'unavailable'. I most definitely welcome her inclusion in the Batgirl team and I'm looking forward to seeing her character develop.

I can't say that I've particularly warmed to Wendy's personality so far but then I think it's fair to say that Wendy herself hasn't been particularly fond of herself. Through the pages of this issue I believe we've seen a change in Wendy's outlook on life and as she again learns to like herself the reader will have the chance to do likewise.

From the very first issue the books creative team - on this issue Bryan Q. Miller, Lee Garbett, Pere Perez and Waldon Wong - have consistently found the right tone: fun, funny, purposeful without ever taking itself too seriously and this issue maintains that tradition. I enjoy Mr Miller's writing technique of using of a few words of dialogue as scene transitions and, not for the first time, the 'I'm Batgirl' declaration at the start of the book gives us an insight into Steph's mindset. This time I felt the words were spoken with steel and determination whereas earlier in the series Steph appeared to use them as much to remind herself as inform the reader.

As with the previous issue I appreciated the 'thought' sequences - they may not have made for an easy read at times but they were in themselves quite thought provoking and I found them all the more powerful on second or third read.

I'm not too sure about the idea of Wendy crashing her jet into the compound to aid Stephanie - any more than I was sure about Barbara remotely crashing an ambulance in an earlier issue - but if these instances are the closest the book comes to 'silly' moments then I'm prepared to go with it.

The artwork throughout this issue is, as expected, magnificent: Lee Garbett, inked by Waldon Wong, and Pere Perez make a great team and I think we're lucky to have such talented artists working on the book. I particularly enjoyed the 'I'm Batgirl' splash page early in the book - I love the expression of determination on Batgirl's face - and I found the scenes with Wendy and Steph sitting under a tree getting to know one another really quite touching.

Continuing the theme, Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau provided another superb cover showing Batgirl bloodied, customer torn and yet with a smile that speaks to me of her determination and satisfaction. [Note to DC: this would make a fabulous poster!]

Once again we have been treated to a really great read from what has become a really great series. If there is a better, more enjoyable series being published at the moment then I've not seen it.

It's been a good year to be a Batgirl fan - here's to the coming 12 months.

Batgirl #12
Written by Bryan Q. Miller, pencils by Lee Garbett and Pere Perez, inks by Walden Wong and Pere Perez, colours by Guy Major, letters by John J. Hill, cover by Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau
Published by DC Comics, 32 pages, $2.99


As always when I review Batgirl I'd like to point you in the direction of a couple of great sites that will appeal to anyone with an interest in the Batman family. In addition to carrying my reviews of Batgirl and Birds of Prey you'll find all sorts of Batman and Batgirl-related news, commentary and conversation over at The Batgirl to Oracle Podcast message board and The Batman Universe Editorials - part of The Batman Universe network.

Batgirl #11 Reviewed

After the dark, threatening close to Batgirl #10 this, the third of the four part 'The Flood' story-arc, opens with quite a different tone, and it's immediately clear not everything is as it at first seems ...

Barbara Gordon wakes from her nights sleep with a bit of a start and sits up in her bed as Dick Grayson enters the room, gives her a kiss and urges her to get up and dressed. As her extended family relax, Barbara is racing around the kitchen preparing what appears to be a Thanksgiving dinner, accompanied by the sound of a complaining young Damian Wayne and the loving words and embrace of her father.

Throughout these scenes of happy family life Babs questions to herself what she's seeing, what she's feeling and as happy as she is she knows something is wrong. Moments later she's reminded of her friend Stephanie Brown and there's a somewhat familiar visitor to her front door ...

Cutting to the Calculators compound, deep in Slaughter Swamp, we witness the motionless body of Barbara, laid out on an examination table, with the Calculator sat alongside her talking to the decomposing body of his late son Marvin.

Appreciating that Barbara may be the key to some of his unanswered questions, Calculator plugs himself into his own laboratory equipment that is in turn connected to Barbara with the intention of seeing or reading Babs thoughts.

Over at the Gotham Port Authority Stephanie Brown - Batgirl - has evaded capture by the massed ranks of Calculator's zombies and has been pursued by an equally 'possessed' Man-Bat. Out-running her assailant Steph takes a minute to catch her breath, only to find herself snagged by another familiar adversary - and this time it's Catwoman.

Acutely aware that her priority has to be to help Barbara and that time is not on their side, Steph draws on her inner strength, fights back and with a swift blow sends her opponent to the ground. As one 'zombie' danger is averted another appears - Huntress, or as Stephanie herself acknowledges '... questionable-morals-action-Huntress'!

As her next challenger steps forward Steph gets an unexpected incoming message over her comms unit - Wendy Harris, who we saw trapped at Firewall in the previous issue. While continuing to combat Huntress Steph and Wendy clumsily, awkwardly, introduce one-another before we get a possible glimpse of Wendy's future as the young woman activates the surveillance functionality of the Firewall's computer, attempts to guide Steph to safety and then in turn traces Calculator's location.

While Wendy considers what else, if anything, she can do to help rescue Oracle, Stephanie has more immediate problems on her hands - she's been tracked by Man-Bat ... surely she can't escape this time?

While Stephanie fights for her own safety we return to Barbara who is engaged in a fight of her own as she is confronted by the thoughts of Calculator. Set in a library housing Barbara's memories and experiences she fights to keep her intruder at a distance.

Returning to ... well, returning to reality and as the rain gets heavier and the sky is lit by lightning and the sound of thunder we see the silhouette of Batgirl and Man-Bat fighting high above Gotham Harbor. Realising that perhaps she's more than met her match on this occasion Stephanie looks for an escape when, again, the voice of Wendy Harris echos across the comms link.

As Steph looks down on an airfield runway she's taken aback to see The Ricochet - a vehicle she's more than familiar with of course - piloted by none other than Wendy herself.

Having freed herself from the clutches of Man-Bat, Steph jumps to the ground where she's met by Wendy - and with hoards of zombies closing in on them Stephanie realises they have only one option is they are to ensure their own safety and rescue Barbara ...


Despite limited appearances throughout this issue, for me Barbara was undoubtedly the star of Batgirl #11. A real highlight in this issue were the Barbara 'dream' or 'thought' sequences - I find them difficult to describe so fully appreciate Bryan Q. Miller's vision and imagination to conceive and write these - particularly the chapter of this tale where Babs and Calculator fight over her thoughts and memories which I thought was possibly some of the best writing we've seen in this series to date.

What's absolutely clear to me is that Miller 'gets' Barbara - or perhaps I should say the Barbara he writes rings true for me: her strengths, her weaknesses, her fears, her ambitions and her regrets - as I say, some of the best writing I feel we've seen so far.

Personally I found the 'Batgirl versus Catwoman versus Huntress versus Man-Bat' scenes just a little drawn out although I concede that this gave us an opportunity to see Wendy Harris come to the fore and possibly give us a taste of things to come. To this point she's felt somewhat redundant amongst the supporting cast and, on the basis that the character is likely to around for a while I welcomed seeing her particular role developed.

On artwork duties we've again been spoiled to have such a talented team on the book. As I feel we saw with an earlier issue of Batgirl, having more than one artist work on an issue doesn't necessarily work but the respective styles of Lee Garbett and Pere Perez are uniquely different (if I'm right in suggesting that Garbett drew the first half of the book up to the Babs 'thoughts' sequence) and yet at the same time complementary. If indeed Perez is taking on art duties when Garbett moves on then I believe the book, and it's readers, are in safe hands. Returning to the 'dream' sequences for a moment, again credit must go to the artists for their respective interpretations - I particularly enjoyed Perez's portrayal of Babs in the library scene.

Furthermore, an acknowledgement is due also to Walden Wong for his bold sharp inks throughout the first half of the book and likewise to Guy Major for his sensitive colouring - most definitely a feature of his time on Batgirl. With another eye-catching, if in places little busy, cover from Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau creation of this book is truly a team effort.

Another hugely enjoyable adventure from the Batgirl creative team - this issue felt a little like the calm before the storm (no pun intended) that I'm expecting with the final part of this story-arc.


Batgirl #11
Written by Bryan Q. Miller, pencils by Lee Garbett and Pere Perez, inks by Walden Wong and Pere Perez, colours by Guy Major, letters by Travis Lanham, cover by Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau
Published by DC Comics, 32 pages, $2.99


As always when I review Batgirl I'd like to point you in the direction of a couple of great sites that will appeal to anyone with an interest in the Batman family. In addition to carrying my reviews of Batgirl and Birds of Prey you'll find all sorts of Batman and Batgirl-related news, commentary and conversation over at The Batman Universe Editorials blog - part of The Batman Universe network, and at The Batgirl to Oracle Podcast message board.