Batgirl #8

Batgirl #8 is an easy to access, inclusive, diverse, smart, fun, witty comic by some talented professionals. In a market that features no shortage of dark stories, Batgirl is a shining beacon of how comics can be fun, accessible for all ages, and awesome without ever sacrificing a good story. This team has got some great things rolling and I cant wait to see where they go with this next. Read Full Review

Batgirl is a breath of fresh air as it adds a layer of realism that's hard to resist. The characters are fun, realistic, and the writing clever. Read Full Review

This is a really solid issue. Larson is writing great material for both Barbara and the supporting cast. The art is really strong as well with Burnside really coming to life. I wish there was more room to handle certain plot elements more but the issue still works well. Read Full Review

The budding love between Ethan Cobblepot and Barbara Gordon blossoms...into a stink rose...or some crummy metaphor like that. This was a well-paced, terrifically-drawn issue that clicked a few story lines forward one notch, which is always appreciated. More like this, please. Read Full Review

Overall, Batgirl #8 is more a plot foundation than a fun issue itself; a segue from the start of the arc towards the point it finds its groove. Here's hoping the stakes grow higher, and the conflict is something unexpected that utilizes all these cast members of whom we steal so many isolated glimpses. The potential is all still there. Read Full Review

Hope Larson throws us a curve by dipping back into the former team's aesthetic just a little too much this issue. Yes, Batgirl is back in Burnside, but I was really hoping for more clean-cutting from that previous world. While I appreciate that we can't just ret-con Frankie and Alysia and Babs' clean energy project out of existence, I really hoped Larson would steer clear of the foolish giggling girlfriend scenarios and drama that so plagued this series previously. I haven't given up hope though. The Ethan Cobblepot storyline still holds some intrigue if we can lose the bogus romance, and Magpie was a great adversary in this even if they locked her up perhaps too easily. The trail has jumped the rails a little, but it's not off the track, so hold on and cross your fingers, folks! Read Full Review

I was a little skeptical about this arc just because the last couple issues haven't really gotten me excited. With that said I really liked this issue. I like the star crossed lovers aspect of Cobblepot and Bab's relationship. Even though once she sees him for who he is any romantic feelings will probably dissipate. You can tell that the target audience are millennials, with not only the hipster vibe going on, but also the whole app causing trouble part. This particular issue did well in drawing out all the different qualities that Babs has. She's a girl who goes on dates despite her hectic extra curricular activities. She volunteers because she herself is a tech nerd. She fights crime and is a good friend. The woman that does it all, and the Hope Larson captured it perfectly. I'm excited to see how this story unfolds. Read Full Review

Though Batgirls work/life balance could use some work, Son of Penguin continues building a decent foundation for its story. Read Full Review