Hey guys, Kruker, here’s a return to another issue of DC’s Batgirl starring Cassandra Cain, where Tate Blombar wrote Art and Art. This is problem #11 and is shy about just a year’s worth of comics. It’s a pretty impressive continuation that continues for a long time, but there are clearly many stories left. Shall we dig deeper?
Honestly, some of the past issues are felt in a mixed way, but this is firmly “pretty good.” It enters the territory I thought I would enter, but there may have been far less “vitality” than I really wanted. Cass’s rushing out is more focused, and the intention here is that the Tigers’ bronze and Jade bring her back to a reasonable level, especially giving her permission to the sadness she was looking for. I like it, but I think I wanted it more in the last question to really fully explore and delve into it, rather than playing B-Plot on the secret brother’s one.
DC
I would say how you handle the material. Jade Tiger has some possibilities, so far he still loves himself and has yet to commit a real victory on the level of the story. He’s a lovely kid and I think there’s plenty of room to give Cass more of her own supporting cast, but I think the best approach here is to wait and see. Whether Jade Tiger lives to see continued use beyond the story Blombar wants to tell will entirely depend on whether future issues bring something a little more characterisation and narrative to the table.
DC
Miyazaki’s art is as good as it is, and this is a very action-dense problem, so there is a powerful use of many of his fight scene chops. There are still a few anime magic-type books that I continue to feel in the Batman side, but they are still well rendered, and the actual choreography is fun, easy to flow, and leads to a satisfying reading experience. Cass’ weapons work oddly reminds me of the action sequences of Ninja Turtles 2003, but I don’t think it’s intentional. But it’s a show that does good behaviour, so I mean it as a heavy compliment. As I said in many past reviews, visual storytelling is not only good for Cass’ story, but also a difficult requirement. He tells more stories through the battle. It’s still a particularly good thing in that regard.
Batgirl #11 is the last step up, but I think we need to go back to 100% approval. It’s not a book that’s not much built on a technical level, but there’s a sense of fuss and how well the opening six issues are, with the various things that leave these last two miniature arcs about Shiva’s backstory and its outcomes. The stories feel like they are a matter of knockouts one after another, and so far these stories have felt like a promise to go back to what is cool and strongly characterized. I can get the intentions, but I hope this doesn’t get too pressured and locked into a fierce, emotional beat. Honestly, Brombal feels deliberately restrained. Proving that this book is out of the gate, I can’t imagine why. The next few issues can again capture the fire that was shown in the first arc.
Batgirl #11
It’s still well put together, but it feels like decompression is intentionally trying to keep everything out when the story is delivered optimally.
Cass’s idea of exploring complex sadness is good
The art is as fun and dynamic as usual
I like new characters
Exseding of current ideas is greatly harmed by focusing on what feels like a false element and making the story feel unnecessarily decompressed overall.
Jade Tiger feels like he still couldn’t get the stripe as a supporting character
