Batgirl #18

Title: Batgirl #18
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer(s): Bryan Q. Miller
Artist(s): Dustin Nguyen
Inker(s): Derek Fridolfs
Colorist(s): Guy Mayor
Letterer(s): John J. Hill
Cover Artist: Dustin Nguyen

Story/Concept: (6/10) I have never bee one for supernatural/mystical tales but this wasn’t a bad story. You get an odd couple tale where Batgirl assists Klarion the Witch-Boy in finding, stopping and coupling his cat familiar.

Writing: (7/10) This book was a really easy read and get into, new reader friendly. Bryan Q. Miller does great in making you comfortable with the character and the world surrounding her. Miller’s characterization of Batgirl is good and displays a lot of personality and gives her time to shine. This issue displays the lighter side of her and pairing her with Klarion is priceless, it feels so organic and strangely a good pairing. That being said here is the problem the book it is solid but not really something that is what I consider a must have book. Batgirl falls in a weird category of books I have loved in the past that ended up getting left on the cutting room floor like The Thing, Irredeemable Antman, etc. I hope history doesn’t repeat it self and this book continue to grow readership and stays around because it is a solid book.

Art: (5/10) I have to say this first and foremost I have previously loved the work of Dustin Nguyen, that being said I didn’t like the art on this book at all. The style is very loose, cartoony, and unfocused throughout the book. Nguyen it seems tried a lot of experimentation with different styles and techniques but to me it just came off as a jumble mess. This is just my first issue on the book so it might just be something that is temporary to go with all the craziness and comedy in the issue. Only time will tell.

Cover: (8/10) The cover is a very stunning one done by interior artist Dustin Nguyen one of the most memorable ones I have seen in quite sometime. I love the rendition of Klarion and the color really makes the cover pop and stand out from the crowd.

Overall: (7/10) This book is solid and worth a try, I hope with all the main bat titles flooding the market that this book continues to grow and stay around for the long term. For myself it is an on the fence book for me not because it is not good but I have a very limited comic budget but I will go back and get the first trade collection and from there determine if I will stay on board for the long run.

Bottom Line: A good solid book that is worth giving a try too.

Comic Book Savant