Art By: Daniel Sampere, Jonathan Glapion
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 11, 2013
Wanted No More!
So this review is coming out quite a bit late, and I just want to apologize for it. Time just got away from me, and then I got the flu, so I'm trying to get all the old reviews out, so hopefully this weekend will be chock full of lateness. But let's get to why you're here, Batgirl: Wanted. Last issue Barbara's boyfriend Ricky was shot by Commission Gordon, and Knightfall sent a hit squad to the Commissioner's house to take him out. Not for shooting Ricky, that would be ridiculous, but luckily the shooting of Ricky is what brought Barbara her father's home. So who knows, we might just make it out of here after all. Plus in this last issue Barbara's back in the cowl for the first time in months, and we looked upon that cowl, and it was good. Let's go check this out.
Explain It!:
I usually don't mention the cover artist, and it's not because I have anything against covers, I just don't mention them. But I have to start this summary by saying that the covers of Alex Garner have been such a highlight of reading comics over the last couple of months. Batgirl: Wanted has been sort of a let down for me, but every month I start off with a smile because of these beautiful covers. God I love them, gonna have to buy some of his work, just so I can walk around my house smiling more. But yeah check out the artwork of Alex Garner, and covet the awesomeness he exudes. Okay moving on to the story now.
So we start out with a bunch of baddies with silly names like Gretel, Grotesque, Bone Breaker, and Mirror. Pretty much all the villains that Batgirl has faced since the beginning of the New 52, so if you've been reading you'll recognize them, and if you haven't well it doesn't really matter. I really find these characters forgettable and they don't really impress me to the point where I won't be bringing them up again, so we'll simply refer to them as baddies, or the gang. So the gang is in Gordon's home wrecking his face up a bit, when our heroine makes her dramatic entrance. Batcycle through the window, is that dramatic enough for ya? Batgirl gets the Commissioner free, and they retreat into the basement. But Gordon is still pretty pissed at Batgirl for killing his son, so this closed quarters thing is a bit awkward.
So the bad guys aren't leaving upstairs, and it's a bit awkward downstairs, so it's time for Batgirl to go on the offensive, and does she ever. We're seeing a darker, but more confident Batgirl in this issue, and it seems that she's finally comfortable in her own bat skin. These villains that gave her trouble one on one before seem to be very confused about this new Batgirl that is kicking their asses very handedly.
In the end Knightfall realizes that her team isn't going to win the fight, and she orders them to retreat. Batgirl wants to go after them but Commissioner Gordon tells her not to press her luck. Batgirl is about to leave, when Gordon pulls a gun on her, and tells her he's going to arrest her for the murder of his son. Batgirl explains why she had to do it, and even tries to show Gordon who she is, but he won't look. After reminding Gordon about how he shot Ricky, and that being a bad call, Gordon could kind of relate to the bad call Batgirl made, and then asks her to leave, and not come back. Batgirl leaves, and receives a call that Ricky has woken up from his coma, and for the first time since this story arc started Batgirl feels hope for the future. So it seems we may finally be out of all the doom, and gloom. If that's the case I can't wait for next issue.
Bits and Pieces:
I have really not liked this Batgirl: Wanted story arc, but this final issue has certainly caught my attention, and like Batgirl at the end, I finally feel hope again. The real star of these books for me has been Alex Garner the cover artist. Who has given me a new understanding in how good a comic can look. So go out, and get this last issue of Batgirl: Wanted, which took forever to get to because of Villain's Month, and Zero Year, to complete your Batgirl experience. But mostly just get it to remind yourself that new things are on the way, and we'll never have to see Batgirl going around dressed as a ninja again.
7/10
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