By Amanda
Today, MTV released an exclusive look at the new Batgirl team. Beginning with issue 35, Batgirl will have a new look, live in a new neighborhood, and flirt like other girls in grad school. Writers Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher and artist Babs Tarr will take over for the current creative team. Do these creators even know who Barbara Gordon even is?
Batgirl is one of my favorite comics right now. Gail Simone does an amazing job showing the girl within the bat suit. Babs is intelligent and caring, worried constantly about her father, but also tries to lead as normal a life as she can. Unlike many other heroes who live to outpunch the next villain, Batgirl calculates what hits she can take. She knows she’s vulnerable, and relies on speed and intellect to take down the bad guys. She has an eidetic memory and in past incarnations was a hacker as Oracle.
So does this sound like a girl who is worried about fashion and boys?
Batgirl is one of my favorite comics right now. Gail Simone does an amazing job showing the girl within the bat suit. Babs is intelligent and caring, worried constantly about her father, but also tries to lead as normal a life as she can. Unlike many other heroes who live to outpunch the next villain, Batgirl calculates what hits she can take. She knows she’s vulnerable, and relies on speed and intellect to take down the bad guys. She has an eidetic memory and in past incarnations was a hacker as Oracle.
So does this sound like a girl who is worried about fashion and boys?
First off, the new outfit drives me crazy. It is described as “something she’s able to make herself, shopping at the various boutique and vintage stores in Burnside.” That’s a lot of cheap material to be sourcing for someone who faces knives, fire, and action on a regular basis. Do vintage stores sell leather in bulk? One caveat: as someone with highly feminist leanings, Babs needed a less-sexualized costume. Tarr draws a refreshing, more realistic young girl, one that female comic readers will appreciate, but some common sense seems to have flown out the window with Batgirl’s old look. Shoelaces? Snap-on cape? Well, okay the last one makes more sense in our reality, but she’s going to lose a lot of those in the comic universe.
Second, it seems like Babs has a new case of split personality arising. Fletcher describes the new neighborhood of Gotham as a “part of the city known for expensive coffee, fixie bikes, vintage shops and breakout bands. Barbara allows herself to be immersed in youth culture for the first time, exploring the social side of life in Burnside.” It seems as if the new Batgirl will be written for a very different audience as she will reportedly be a mix of “the best elements of Veronica Mars and Girls, with a dash of Sherlock.” I would read Archie Comics if I wanted cutesy.
While superheroes need a break too, these elements seem as if they would clash with someone how has been paralyzed, who believes she killed her own brother. “Sassy” does not fit the character development of Barbara at all—and such a significant change should warrant a complete reboot, not a continuation of the same story.
Second, it seems like Babs has a new case of split personality arising. Fletcher describes the new neighborhood of Gotham as a “part of the city known for expensive coffee, fixie bikes, vintage shops and breakout bands. Barbara allows herself to be immersed in youth culture for the first time, exploring the social side of life in Burnside.” It seems as if the new Batgirl will be written for a very different audience as she will reportedly be a mix of “the best elements of Veronica Mars and Girls, with a dash of Sherlock.” I would read Archie Comics if I wanted cutesy.
While superheroes need a break too, these elements seem as if they would clash with someone how has been paralyzed, who believes she killed her own brother. “Sassy” does not fit the character development of Barbara at all—and such a significant change should warrant a complete reboot, not a continuation of the same story.
Sadly, I will not be continuing my subscription to Batgirl starting with the new team. I wish them well, and maybe this will draw in new comic readers who would have never previously done so. Perhaps this new Barbara will be a great entry point for young girls who otherwise have few superhero role models. But I feel that older fans will be turned away by the significant changes.
Batgirl fan? What are your thoughts? Excited? Disappointed? Leave a comment!
Batgirl fan? What are your thoughts? Excited? Disappointed? Leave a comment!