A review by viera
Batgirl: Year One by Scott Beatty

3.0

Starts off slow but picks up in both art and pacing toward the end. It changes some details of Batgirl’s origin, making her older when she takes up the title, as well as bitter, impulsive and reckless. It reads kind of like Kick Ass but less ultra-violent. One relief is that it doesn’t dumb down the supporting characters to make her seem smarter, like Batgirl of Burnside does. But the character herself is difficult to like. Aside from a one-off team up with Black Canary (who is already in the Justice League post-watchtower construction), Batgirl is surrounded by men and constantly seeks their validation, while mentally belittling them to puff herself up.

All in all, the poses and composition and incredible fight scenes are worth studying, especially toward the end, and the writing is at times clever, but one read-through is enough.