A review by fandom4ever
Batgirl: Year One by Chuck Dixon, Álvaro López, Marcos Martín, Scott Beatty

adventurous lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Batgirl: Year One takes place after Robin: Year One and is Barbara Gordon’s introduction as Batgirl. I’m not sure why but I found myself hazarding a guess that this takes place around two years after Robin: Year One? It’s never directly said but based on context clues (like the fact that Robin has grown taller and Barbara is in college) I feel like that’s accurate. I never really knew how Barbara got her start except for mentions here and there in other stories, so it was cool to see the full arc. 

I have no idea why they chose Killer Moth to be Batgirl’s first villain. I suppose because she’s operating on her own and needs to get her feet wet? But the guy is such a bumbling dope half the time I was having a hard time taking him seriously. I mean they had just made fun of him in Robin: Year One too! 

Sadly, many of Barbara’s inner thoughts were rather whiny; expecting permission from other heroes to be a vigilante as though everyone had received it but her. I found her thoughts on what she presumes others to be thinking of her or actions that they are taking are surely because they don't think much of her own abilities to be rather annoying, especially since they were usually unfounded. A prime example was with her whole inner battle with Batman and how she thought he was treating her, which turned out to be the complete opposite of what he was really doing. 

Overall though, I would recommend this as a pretty good origin story for Barbara Gordon/Batgirl. I really enjoyed all the nudges to her future and her first meeting and working with Black Canary. The art was well done. Even though I’ve always thought Barbara’s character is better served to do the most good to those around her when she’s Oracle, for it’s a spot that no one else can fill, it was nice to see where she began.