Batgirl #23

It's arguably the most profound that this solo series has gotten within the Rebirth launch, and a pretty great emotional foundation for the stories that are to come. Read Full Review

This is a great issue. The story is fun and interesting with a lot of creativity and solid character work for Babs. The art is energetic and expressive. I recommend reading this along with the previous issue for a really cool Batgirl story. Read Full Review

Batgirl #23 is the final issue in Larson's run. While the story is about Batgirl struggling to find balance, it equally feels like a story about Larson saying goodbye. I didn't touch on the art in my review, it's (as always) wonderful. Minkyu Jung feels right at home in the world of Batgirl.Hope Larson leaves this title at the top of her game and while both her new path, and Batgirl's, is an unknown… anything is possible. Read Full Review

Batgirl goes full Inception in the newest issue and the second part of Strange Loop. As you'll recall from the last issue, Barbara was trapped in a dream-state. She learns the dream she's in is giving her everything she ever wanted, and in order to break out of the cycle, she needs to choose a different path. Read Full Review

We all go through times in our lives where we have to decide what we want in life, especially now with graduation time right around the corner for students. This issue will hopefully serve as a reminder and a comfort to those that it can be done. Batgirl shows that no one might have it down, but it's possible to find yourself in the struggle. Read Full Review

The artwork is yet again sublime in this issue. Minkyu Jung and Jose Marzan Jr do a brilliant job bringing Batgirl and her mind to life. Read Full Review

Ultimately, "Strange Loop" is Batgirl's rendition of Justice League Unlimited's "For the Man Who Has Everything" when Superman was trapped in a utopian world of his own making, an adaptation itself of Alan Moore and David Gibbons' story. Like Superman, Batgirl has to willingly turn away from comfort to return back to reality, and in doing so, learns more about herself and finds a renewed lease on life. And for a sucker like me, that's enough to feel like this series has new life too. Read Full Review

It's a compelling, if somewhat slight final arc, in a run with a lot of interesting elements but without a real central plot. Read Full Review

This closing story from Larson revisits elements from her opening on her Batgirl run, but the echoes are merely that: echoes. So you may not get the depth of answers you are hoping for here, nor the connections that could tie it perfectly all together, but there are subtle satisfying suggestions throughout: that Batgirl's priorities have not been in order, that she needs to focus on what actually matters, and that she's determined to make a fresh start. Read Full Review

A well thought out issue of Batgirl trying to overcome a mind control weapon. She uses different tactics and plays against type to break free of her mental prison. Read Full Review

Batgirlmay be one of DCs most under-appreciated titles. Not because of the strengthof its starring character (which is considerable), but because its Hope Larsonseems to have a simple strategy: tell good stories. Not great stories, not epicstories, but good, solid tales, and she seem to do it consistently. Many comicbook series have ups and downs, but Batgirlhas a consistent quality other titles should envy. Read Full Review

At least the artwork was pretty consistent with the quality one would expect for Batgirl. It was probably difficult to figure out a way to represent the trap being breached in a literal sense, but they did a pretty decent job, all things considered. Having it be fuzzy and soft at first, and then shown as glass breaking was a really interesting choice, but in the end it was probably the strongest part of the issue. Read Full Review

A slightly neat story idea plays out as expected, with a bit too many thought bubbles for my tastes. They really cram them in there. Read Full Review

Batgirl #23 ends Hope Larson's run on this series with a story that felt more like a filler arc than a strong bookmark to end a creative team run. The characterization of Batgirl, as has been the case throughout her run, was solid by Larson. Unfortunately having the story in Batgirl #23 filled with "villain of the week" style bad guys that fans have zero knowledge or connection to made this ending feel less meaningful than it should have been. If your a Batgirl fan Larson's run is still one I recommend checking out even though how it ended left a lot to be desired. Read Full Review

The tale begun last issue continues into this one, and it's way sillier and will make you more incredulous than before. Ultimately, Batgirl is saved by a trite bit of misogyny, which would be unlike the character except as written by Hope Larson. I think the hallmark of this run on the character is that she makes bad decisions where dudes are concerned. Read Full Review

It's hard to write effective endings in superhero comic books, and that's plenty evident in Batgirl #23. Read Full Review

Br'er Lapin AKA 20-Ish Ceiln

May 23, 2018

I am more mixed because of the direction Batgirl's solo is staying on rather than the quality of the story. For this run, it is one of the better issues, but am I wrong in thinking Batgirl should go back to her Gail Simone self? I don't much care for the overly positive and bright coloured Batgirl adventures of the current run.