Batgirl #50

Overall, this is the kind of "finale" that Barbara deserved"while also injecting fans with a lot of hope about what the future holds for her. Read Full Review

Now to the heroine with the red hair and the feisty attitude; keep kicking butt, keep being everything Gotham needs and everything you want, and never stop standing up for what's right. Be the Batgirl we know and love. We'll see you soon. Read Full Review

This is a solid issue. I like anthologies and I'm always happy when they happen. I enjoyed the second and third stories quite a bit. The first story disappointed me; I don't think it has the room to properly breathe and develop. And as the finale, it didn't really give me any satisfaction. Overall, it's an enjoyable read but not the best goodbye. Read Full Review

It is sad that this series is ending with this issue. But what a way to go. Well done. Read Full Review

All of the artists bring something unique and intersting to the table. Lupacchino has a flair for character and movement. Sauvage delivers great action and interpersonal moments. Aneke utilizes great camera angles to emphasize skill and strength. Read Full Review

Batgirl #50 is the perfect goodbye to Bab's series, it's bittersweet, empowering, and emotional all in one. Supported by bold art styles, this issue embodies many of the themes and messages of this iconic character. Read Full Review

When all is said and done, Batgirl #50delivers a strong, socially conscious story. It melds Gothams struggles with the fictional realities of the super heroic, with many of the problems facing real world society. And through this format asks, how can we, like Batgirl, make things better. Even if the visuals dont land as well as the narrative this book remains a strong wrap up to a comic series. Read Full Review

The character has an enduring appeal. Theres no question that shell be back for a sixth series. Too bad Cecil Castellucci isnt able to spend more time with her right now, though. Castellucci had a compelling connection with the character that found her able to twist and turn with the editorial demands of all the godawful crossover events shes had to slog through. With any luck, Castellucci or someone else similarly in-tune with Babs and her personality is able to pick-up the character whenever she inevitably appears in the first issue of her sixth series. And with any luck at all, thats not going to be too long from now.  Read Full Review

If you have to go, go out on top. This book certainly does that. Read Full Review

Batgirl #50 is not an ending that nicely wraps things up. Instead this final issue focuses on showing what Gotham City post-Joker War looks like. In the process Cecil Castellucci explores how Barbara Gordon will be able to do different things to help shape the future of Gotham City in and out of her Batgirl adventures. The back-ups included in this oversized issue help make Batgirl #50 a satisfying conclusion to this volume of the series. Read Full Review

Overall, Batgirl #50 is a loving celebration of the character, even if it does feel like Babs (and the creative team) has been shortchanged. Read Full Review

It's the last issue of Cecil Castellucci's run, and potentially the end of Barbara Gordon's time as Batgirl if rumors are to be believed. So for the finale, we get an extra-sized issue that tries to do a lot but is bogged down by many of the problems of the run as a whole. Read Full Review

There has been a Batgirl book on the shelves since before Flashpoint, with Babs taking the spotlight from New 52 onwards. Since Gail Simone was writing Babs' adventures, I fear that Batgirl has lost her way; possibly never a top tier book, she has dropped down in peoples attention due a myriad of writers, change in tones and at times some god awful art. Despite all this issues flaws, Batgirl is going with a kind of high. I am looking forward to the next incarnation of a Batgirl book, if DC can find the correct tone. Otherwise, there is no real point to continuing with this character. Read Full Review

Batgirl takes the stand to face damning evidence that her legacy is held in contempt. Read Full Review

Cecil Castellucci's run on this title is not one I'd recommend to people looking to read Batgirl, but it's also indicative of the core problem with the “Babsgirl” topic to begin with. The main story was full-speed ahead in either having Barbara retire from the role or reveal herself to Jim and Jason, yet she does neither. James Jr. is forgotten about after the first scene, and nothing is fundamentally different, aside from his death. The illusion of change, like the use of real-world social issues, is a time-honored tradition in comic books, but the transparency of that illusion is demeaning to everyone involved. Like with Simone and Maigrhead Scott before her, one wonders how much editorial influenced this run to its detriment. Nevertheless, it is symbolic of how aggressively this final issue tries to punctuate the need for Barbara and Batgirl, and it results in the complete failure in relaying that need. Read Full Review

Cecil Castellucci uses this Batgirl finale as a personal soapbox, and I hated it.  It's not the message but the execution, and even after a dismal run on Batgirl, this is hard to swallow.  Leave your politics for your Twitter feed and give Batgirl fans an ending they deserve or at least would like! Read Full Review

After reading these three stories, all I can hope for is that the new BATWOMAN television series sparks some interest in this issue on eBay, so I can flip it quick -- and flip it off, giving it the same F-you that Castellucci has given Batgirl fans the world over. Read Full Review

daspidaboy

Jul 01, 2021

While the issue is bad, the series is decent for me.

Swift Planet

Nov 18, 2020

The first story was alright, aside from some characterization inconsistencies. The second story is not believable because I don't see why the JLA would be requesting Batgirl so much. The third was just page filler.

Arsenal29

Oct 27, 2020

While the issue has decent artists working on it, the story suffers from Castelluci’s desire to write about what’s going on in the real world now. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it makes the comic feel more like a PSA than a finale to this characters series. This ultimately drags the issue down and made it unenjoyable for me. 4/10

Watchtower022

Nov 01, 2020

Castelucci struggles to get her point to land here. Clunky dialogue, poor characterization certainly are the big issues here. The art is very good though.

SenpaifenixJäger

Oct 28, 2020

Can someone explain to me what that was? That was like Sandra Bullock on Two Weeks Notice. I don't know why it is but there is an exaggerated presence of African-American people, I confess I am not from the USA, I do not understand if they wanted to convey a message like look at DC or Batgirl is not racist, or there is something in the background that is not a socio-political situation. Anyway, something strange and forced was seen. Well really this whole number was kind of forced. Now let's talk about the new Barbara who is not the first time that she has been made to look like a self-centered woman, judging everyone in her path. I clarify at all I love Nightwing, he is a character that is not interesting to me, but Barbara judging him that way when the poor man lost his memory and still has problems recovering, What is wrong with you Barbara? It was like an attempt not to make her look as pathetic as Barbara always is, drooling over Dick, that was fine but the way, the situation just made her look like a poisonous woman. Another thing it seems that Barbara can not stop bossing Bruce in one way or another as if she was so perfect. It is Bruce's money, not yours Barbara, it is requested not to be demanded. Thank you that this series ended, it has not been a great loss. more

Psycamorean

Oct 27, 2020

Woof, this issue is not good. The main story is trying its best to be meaningful and to say something important, but like with Female Furies, the message is tarnished and lost by Cecil Castellucci's lack of ability. I don't disagree with a lot of what is being said in regards to social strife, but Babs is an asshole at points for no good reason and Jason Bard continues to get away with what he did. For a refresher, he staged a legitimate bomb threat during a public event. That is the type of thing that leads to riots. There's actual evidence to suggest that in many of the George Floyd riots, the inciting incident was caused by the cops, and also that cops have participated in those riots themselves as a form of disinformation. So when you h ave a character constantly talking about how bad and dangerous the protests are, when they have that history, and instead of actually making a point with it, use the character to perpetuate a trite romance that I don't think a single person likes, you kinda suck. And then, everything gets wrapped up so easy as though Babs is the voice of God and all it took was enough pleading. Give me a break. And what about those backups? Well the first one doesn't understand how computers work, but that's par for the course in this run. And the second backup is just boring. This issue was a slog to get through and I'm really upset with myself for deciding to read the Joker War tie-ins. And btw, this issue has basically fuck all to do with Joker War. more

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• Crimson Knight
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TheHyruleElf - Oct 27, 2020

Well said.

sebastianorellana95 - Oct 28, 2020

I disagree with you around Jason, and about romance in this book. The guy throughout this comic has changed, done good deeds to redeem himself and be a good person. Even at the end he realizes the positive value of the protests and he thanks Barbara for changing his view on this. Besides, there are DC characters who have done much worse things, but who have been able to redeem themselves (Harley type, Deadshot and others). So why not give it a try...

sebastianorellana95 - Oct 28, 2020

Also, the book is not based only on romance, rather much of it is based on Barbara and how she makes important decisions about her life, such as her professional career, her role as Batgirl, her role as Bird of Prey, her friends, family, and a part of it is her love relationship with Jason, which is not everything.

Psycamorean - Oct 28, 2020

I feel like in order for the character to have redemption for his actions, he actually has to face their consequences. Instead here, Babs is treated like a hormonal teenager who falls for Jason despite herself. And that lets Jason get away from the aforementioned consequences. I also have a problem with how quickly everyone got on Babs' side regarding the protests. That's idyllic, but also really unlikely. It's not as though Babs actually pulled out any stats or evidence.

Psycamorean - Oct 28, 2020

It was the equivalent of saying, "Yeah, but nuh-uh." There are plenty of reasons why Babs is right and they are wrong, but it seems like the writer didn't care to truly elucidate those reasons, but rather just push the narrative they wanted because they've heard it's the right one to push. I brought up Female Furies because that had similar leftist messaging, and that comic was also lacking in critical thought.

Psycamorean - Nov 2, 2020

It wasn't! I think most readers agree that Babs has been written out of character for a while now. Cecil Castellucci is just not that great at writing, unfortunately.

sebastianorellana95 - Nov 3, 2020

Yes, jiwl. That's something I don't like in the 50# issue. Dick don't deserve that treatment, he lost his memories, he was a victim. They thow to the trash all the build that other writers made with Barbara and Dick before he was shot. Dick deserve more,

Yam09

Oct 27, 2020

I was nuetral about Batgirl before. Now, I do NOT like her at all. Not a tiny iny bit.

mike531

Oct 28, 2020

The problem for me isn't the character, it's the writing. She's a damn good character. The real problem is, Cecil Castellucci. She's a bad writer. A comic book character is only as good as their writer. She doesn't understand Barbara and hasn't been able to find her voice. Which is probably why the character's actions and words have been so OOC. You can compare the way, Castellucci writes Bab's to the way others who understand the character do. At the end of the day, I'm not sad this volume of Batgirl is ending because at least that means Castellucci will no longer be writing Babs. She writes a very poor version of the character. The irony of all of this is they had a good writer, they treated her badly and this writer is the replace ment. more

KFuqua

Oct 29, 2020

What garbage!