Batgirl - Volume 1: The darkest reflection (New 52)

Batgirl -  Volume 1: The darkest reflection (The New 52)
Simone, Gail (Author), Syaf, Ardian (Illustrator) Cifuentes, Vicente (Illustrator), Hughes, Adam (Illustrator)
Paperback, 144 pages    ISBN13: 9781401234751    
Published 2012 by DC Comics

“... just as Superman stands for unimpeachable hope and Batman for rigid justice, Batgirl stands for girls doing what the hell they want. ...she was a librarian, she rode a motorcycle decorated with chiffon ruffles...”  - Comic Alliance. Yes that is right everyones favourite batgirl, Barbara Gordon is finally back in DC Comics acclaimed The New 52 series.  Fan-favorite female author Gail Simone has reimagined Batgirl as a compelling relatable very human character complete with the doubts, fears and mental imperfections that occur in real life. 

Great for a first time comic book reader as this stunning adventure focuses on the tough but vulnerable character of Barbara Gordon in her role as Batgirl in her current conflicts and struggles without the need to get lost in a convoluted back story.

In this new adventure Batgirl has been freed of the boundaries of her wheelchair (by the miracle of modern medicine) and is back on the frontline of fighting crime in Gotham city, but this miraculous recovery is not without its downside, although she is physically fine and fighting villains she is struggling the PTSD from the violent attack in her past that left her paralysed.

Art by Ardian Syaf is highly detailed and realistic and refreshingly features depiction of a woman with a reasonable figure not super crazy waif like comic book women of the past.

Red Hood and the Outlaws - Volume 1: REDemption (New 52)

Red Hood and the Outlaws - Volume 1 : REDemption
Lobdell, Scott(Author) and Rocafort, Kenneth(Illustrator)
Paperback , 160 pages, ISBN13: 9781401237127
Published November 2012 by DC Comics

Perhaps not the first graphic novel that would come to mind when thinking of strong female characters and not the most well known in pop culture is the Red Hood. Red Hood is the superhero persona chosen by Batman's former sidekick, Jason Todd and in this new adventure and new 52 reboot he is joined by failed hero Arsenal and the alien Starfire, who was a princess of Tamaraneans a prisoner of intergalactic war and is now on earth as her space ship has crashed here. Now these three ‘outlaws’ have decided to team up to save the world. The heroes are battling aliens, genetically modified monster, assassins and magic to try to stop an intergalactic war all while dealing with their own baggage and dealing with the of meshing these three strong personalities together.

Emotionally charged moments between Arsenal and Starfire, touching flashbacks between Jason Todd and Bruce Wayne, the way these are written and illustrated brings a new angle to these stories and fresh impact that connects these characters with the reader.

Kenneth Rocaforts art is colourful and dynamic, the story is moved along at a fast past with his sharp geometric patterning and flowing paneling. Even his use of colour and form in borders helps to give this compelling narrative momentum and depth.

Starfire is strong (powerful beyond belief alien princess!!) self confidant and seemingly 100% ok with herself emotionally, morally and physically. At times she seems cold and apathetic not associating emotional attachment with sexual activity (which results in her sleeping with some of the other characters) this puts her character firmly out of the field of ‘love struck team mate’ that so often occurs in comic books. 

A fast paced read with pulling the emotional punches without sacrificing the dynamic and extravagant fight scenes, crazy super powers included!

A NOTE ON STARFIRE

 In the new 52 reboot Starfire is drawn extremely sexy and with very liberal costumes. This has caused some controversy with readers saying that she is over sexualised and as far as calling her a ‘love bot’ or ‘real doll’ damaging female pride. I do not think this is the case and see the Starfire character as complex, powerful and compelling. One reviewer on Goodreads.com wrote -“..if you can't reconcile how it’s possible for a woman to be gorgeous, flaunt it, AND be a strongly compelling character with complexity then maybe the problem doesn't lie with how she's drawn...”