Batgirl [Review]

Batgirl #20 opens with chilling two page origin story that's a testament to writer Gail Simone and artists Daniel Sampere and Carlos Rodriguez's combined ability to pack a powerful story into a small space without sacrificing substance. In two pages, we get a glimpse into the troubled mind of the Ventriloquist, Barbara Gordon's latest adversary and it's a psyche rife with narrative potential.
We then jump to the present with a devastated Barbara Gordon reeling from the aftermath of her actions in Batgirl #19. As far as villains go, James Gordon Jr. was a tough act to follow since his relationship to the Gordon family added a deeper dimension to the story than a straightforward cold blooded psychopath would have. Simone fills those big shoes with an even more bone-chilling baddie with the Ventriloquist, a modern homage to the classic Bat-villain of the same name, but much, much creepier. The art shines in the scenes with the Ventriloquist and Sampere and Rodriguez's pencils add a creepy vibe while Jonathan Glapion's inks and colors bring a dark creepiness to those panels.
The story gets a bit convoluted by the involvement of former foe Knightfall and the appearance of Ricky, the still inexplicable budding love interest, and could have benefitted from some streamlining. The Ventriloquist is a good enough villain that she really deserves room to breathe. The issue's closer assures us that the Gordon family drama is far from over and Babs might have a bigger problem on her hands than a nightmare dummy.

by Melissa Grey

May 15, 2013