Review: Batgirl #40
[Editor’s note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Cecil Castellucci
Artist: Carmine DiGiandomenico
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: AndWorld Design
Reviewed by: Sean Blumenshine
Summary
Oracle makes her move to confront the creator who abandoned her… Batgirl! But first she must get our hero’s attention, and she’s got her sights set on Burnside. With the help of her new minions, the Terrible Trio, Oracle’s plans for revenge could mean the end for this hip Gotham neighborhood!
Positives
The cover by Carmine DiGiandomenico and Ivan Plascencia is cool. It’s a little weird but I like it. A bunch of bats flying out of the boot is an interesting image. I would be lying if I said I understood it but there might not be anything to understand. It looks cool; I suppose that’s what matters.
The interior art is solid. There are a lot of nice colors. Burnside on fire adds a nice image to the book and I like the eerie green that accompanies Oracle and the weird symbol in the sky. The characters are well drawn; the book looks good.
The conflict between Batgirl and Oracle is interesting. Oracle is basically an abandoned child; Babs didn’t know Oracle could be sentient so she’s not necessarily at fault. But Oracle doesn’t see it that way. It’s also unclear what Lex did to Oracle to make her sentient which adds another cool dimension to the story.
I’m interested in what Cecil Castellucci will do with Babs’ political friends who are planning to use these events as a platform against Batgirl and other vigilantes. They obviously should be blaming Lex Luthor, the actual person responsible, but then Babs’ life would be too easy. There could be a really cool conflict as Babs has to work for and with people that are actively undermining everything she does and believes in.
Negatives
There are no negatives worth mentioning.
Verdict
This is a great issue. Oracle is a really cool villain for Batgirl; there’s an interesting motivation behind her and a lot of menace. Burnside is burning to the ground around them; the stakes are obviously high and personal. The art is good as well. I really enjoyed this issue.
