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.

Harley Quinn: Welcome to Metropolis

 

Harley Quinn: Welcome to Metropolis

Kesel, Karl(Author), Dodson, Terry (Illustrations) and Badeaux, Brandon (Illustrations)
Paperback, 288 pages, ISBN13: 9781401245955
Published March 2014 by DC Comics

This flirty jaunt is the collection of HarleyQuinn (2000 series) #14-#25 where Harley (the Joker's former girlfriend) decides she has had enough of Gotham City and that it is time to spend a little quality time with the good citizens of Metropolis. With her best girl pal Poison Ivy in tow, the girls set out to wreak some havoc on the city the Man of Steel (Superman) calls home.

There is never a boring point in this action packed tale as you follow these two super villainesses in their mission to put down roots somewhere new. Fast paced action sequences showing off the superhuman powers of Ivy and amazing acrobatics of Harley paired with witty, snapping dialogue and hilarious one liners.

Dodson’s art is colourful and cute with a great amount of serious action vs kooky comic book funny moments. Badeaux art is more traditional western comic styles but suits the more intense tone of the landscapes in his section.

This book has a wacky assortment of adventure ingredients contained, from crazy love capers and fights with other flora based super women, to a trip down to hell and subsequent return as a ghost.

Harley and Ivy are sassy, confidant ladies who just can’t seem to stay out of trouble (possible as they are super villians) creating varied and often hilarious (sometimes sad/scary) adventures which are all set to the seemingly casual backdrop of ‘girls on an out of town adventure’ that their back and forth banter implies.