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Post by IncredibleD on Oct 12, 2014 10:44:32 GMT -5
I can't say the book is good or bad. I only read the first few pages on comixology. Barbara is awoken by a text message from her roomate, who is in the next room. She comes out in her underwear and runs into a shirtless guy she doesn't recognize. Apparently she got so drunk the night before she made out with a complete stranger and blacked out the whole thing. If you like this book, good, keep supporting it, but this is not the Batgirl I know. If you were upset with this book I suggest reading Batgirl year one. I finished reading Batgirl Year One yesterday, and i can also recommend it. That book is Batgirl AND Barbara Gordon written right, in my opinion.And has beautiful art by Marcos Martin.
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Post by battyfordc on Oct 13, 2014 2:00:15 GMT -5
I downloaded this to my ipad today. I love Batgirl i'm a massive fan of Gail Simone's run. But i only got halfway through this before closing it. Definitely not for me.
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Post by pacino on Oct 14, 2014 7:06:56 GMT -5
I thought the art was terrific, but I didnt like the dialogue at all. It felt forced to me. Oh well, I'll have Gail's run.
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Post by hermanthegerman on Oct 14, 2014 12:15:08 GMT -5
I can understand that. I think the tone of the book and the new characters are on a thin line. You can easily get the feeling, those characters act like hipster etc.
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Post by BatFonz on Oct 15, 2014 7:30:41 GMT -5
Going to give this a few issues and see how things pan out... didn't love it, didn't hate it.
The art is great, I like the look of the book and the layouts - in fact the storytelling side of the artwork I thought flowed really well.
I've not been a Batgirl follower so this change has at least given them a few new readers and its really in the writers hands to get us newbs engaged and invested in this book. I did find some of the language a bit clanky and if there is a reason Babs is getting wasted and partying so hard then that will be interesting but if this is a 'well she's 21' and that's it, just doesn't fit with my [limited] exposure to Babs character.
Hell maybe she is dealing with something, who hasn't got wasted and woke up naked, limbs interlocked with a bevy of supermodels after a night of frenzied orgy'ness'ness... ...I mean we've all been there right?!?
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Post by pacino on Oct 15, 2014 9:38:07 GMT -5
I don't care about the blackout drunk thing. Plenty of people have done that, no reason she couldn't drink too much, either.
I do find it jarring to put in WAYYY too much social media. This could end up being very 'of its time' in the wya that mentions of Windows 95 and such are in older comics. I don't think that's an invalid criticism at all.
It's certainly appealing to a different crop of people, which is good. I guess I'm just not one of them. I much preferred Gotham Academy, so I'll be buying those up until it's done!
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Post by caircoke on Oct 15, 2014 11:55:06 GMT -5
If you look back over Barbara Gordon's history since 1967, it is the darkness of the last few years that is the anomaly. That's not to denigrate the most recent Batgirl run, but the character's resolve in the current issue to have less darkness in her life, and the narrative focus on her intelligence and her detective skills are more of a restoration of how the character has most often been portrayed. I can see why the shift in tone would be jarring to some readers, but I applaud DC's willingness (finally) to diversify their new 52 books.
I love Gail Simone's work. And I also love this new Batgirl team and what they've done here.
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Post by Bob Reyer on Oct 16, 2014 0:24:37 GMT -5
So as not to run through what I said on this week's show (either to spoil or bore those who haven't or had heard it!) let me say that even though I had some quibbles about the book, I found it a wholly satisfying experience, and a welcome change from the usual DC fare. As someone who bought Batgirl's debut story in Detective Comics #359 with his own allowance money back in 1967, I'd agree with Carolyn in saying that excepting the last 34 issues in the New 52, the tone and tenor of the bulk of the stories containing Barbara Gordon have been positive, and even the great mis-deed done to her by the pen of Alan Moore in "The Killing Joke" was over-turned through the work of John Ostrander, Chuck Dixon, and of course, Gail Simone who gave us Oracle and the Birds of Prey.
As Sly & the Family Stone said long ago, "different strokes for different folks", so while I understand how those who loved the "grim'n'gritty" Batgirl could feel off-put by this new iteration, I'm thrilled that Bat-editor Mark Doyle is willing to throw open the dark curtains of the DCU to bring some sunlight into his corner of it.
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Post by Joe Tramonte on Oct 16, 2014 7:46:01 GMT -5
For the most simple of reasons I've decided why I love this book so much.
I believe it was Batgirl #23 when Barbara and her roommate go to the mall and you get this little glimmer of enjoyment and then the never ending doom sucked them back in. When I read that my first thought was "Man I would just like to see Babs have a good day and smile a little bit for once"
This run looks like that is exactly what I'm going to get. I'm stoked at the new direction I'm in.
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Post by Nick on Oct 16, 2014 20:38:30 GMT -5
Batgirl #35 was incredibly hyped within the comics community and I feel the first issue delivered on that hype. It gave us a 180 degree vision of Batgirl and Barbara Gordon in the New 52. It gave the comics community a new tool to attract new people to our club. Batgirl #35, hopefully, has opened doors for a new set of readers. I just hope DC plans to stick with this book through its growing pains. I bet Batgirl #50 is going to be very different from #35. Back in July, Entertainment Weekly said, "this fall is shaping up to be a good time for unique Batman comics geared toward a variety of audiences." Which means, to me, that DC is probably looking at the larger picture -- their future. Right now, Batman is their biggest property and they have to be planning ways to not only maintain his appeal but to broaden and expand it. Gotham Academy, Batgirl, and Arkham Manor all have a part to play in the expansion of the Batman universe and the expansion of the fan base. Will I be buying Batgirl monthly? Yes, I will. Not because it's my style of comic, but because I love that DC is trying something "experimental" and exciting. Again, I just hope DC will nurture the book as it grows and becomes what it will. Oh yeah, I also think this new Batgirl would make a great animated series!
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matt
Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Posts: 75
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Post by matt on Oct 21, 2014 22:40:15 GMT -5
I would say this issue is pretty good. The art alone was worth the cover price but the writing was a little weird at times, talking in hashtags.... come on. Some one on talking comics (i forget who) the other week brought up how this might be what 21 year olds act like and think is cool. I'm 19, so I'm not there yet but i don't act like this. The thing they got right was the thing that pissed everyone off, i can say that i have gone to parties and woke up with no idea what happened the night prior. Barbra is 21 and people shouldn't be giving her crap for just being a kid.
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Post by battyfordc on Oct 22, 2014 6:08:25 GMT -5
Well second try and I finished it. It wasn't so horrible second time through I think I can see a little light and parts that may interest me i've been reading Barbara for so long I really don't want to give her up so i'm trying to find things i liked that silver lining. I liked the parts of her using her photographic memory that was interesting and could be enough for me to stick with it for a while, but they really need to knock off the # talking maybe i'm too old but that was really annoying and if someone did that to me in real life I think i'd go off at them. One thing that confused me. If she has a photographic memory why does it matter that her laptop has been erased surely she can just recreate whatever was on it from memory...just a thought. The art this second time through was less shocking for me too my first read of it the art really bothered me this time not so much. I may give issue #36 a go still not sure but it's closer to a yes then it was when this issue was released. Rereading does help at times especially when theres been a massive change in a series.
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Post by rgsc on Oct 23, 2014 14:41:54 GMT -5
Well second try and I finished it. It wasn't so horrible second time through I think I can see a little light and parts that may interest me i've been reading Barbara for so long I really don't want to give her up so i'm trying to find things i liked that silver lining. I liked the parts of her using her photographic memory that was interesting and could be enough for me to stick with it for a while, but they really need to knock off the # talking maybe i'm too old but that was really annoying and if someone did that to me in real life I think i'd go off at them. One thing that confused me. If she has a photographic memory why does it matter that her laptop has been erased surely she can just recreate whatever was on it from memory...just a thought. The art this second time through was less shocking for me too my first read of it the art really bothered me this time not so much. I may give issue #36 a go still not sure but it's closer to a yes then it was when this issue was released. Rereading does help at times especially when theres been a massive change in a series. I'm happy that you gave it a second chance and came away with a better impression. While the photographic memory would help her recreate the data lost, I think there may have been a timeline issue with having to present her research to her supervisor but I definitely take your point here (I criticized the inconsistency of her eidetic memory from the example on pg1). To your point about the "# talking" which you and others had problems with - the only character who talks in hashtags is the villain, Riot Black. He is clearly a caricature of all the worst aspects of internet culture including sending unrequested dickpics, stealing and posting intimate information, and - his greatest crime of all - talking like a complete d-bag, referring to himself as "#god" etc. Given that Babs dispatched him at the end of the issue, I have the feeling that this be the last we see of such silliness.
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Post by sailormarvel on Oct 24, 2014 11:20:49 GMT -5
Just adding my two cents here, as rgsc said above, the guy talking in hashtags was the villain who embodies all that is awful about the internet. Whilst I completely understand people saying that this book is not their thing, I think it is misleading to say that 'this book is not aimed at me'. Batgirl is aimed at everyone, and the lighter tone and art reflects a change in the mood of the story, not the audience. So I guess what I am trying to say is that something can be not your cup of tea, but still aimed at you.
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Post by Tony on Oct 24, 2014 15:12:19 GMT -5
Just adding my two cents here, as rgsc said above, the guy talking in hashtags was the villain who embodies all that is awful about the internet. Whilst I completely understand people saying that this book is not their thing, I think it is misleading to say that 'this book is not aimed at me'. Batgirl is aimed at everyone, and the lighter tone and art reflects a change in the mood of the story, not the audience. So I guess what I am trying to say is that something can be not your cup of tea, but still aimed at you. Respectfully, nope, it really, really isn't. Like, big-time isn't.
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