Johanna's Batgirl Review
Johanna Draper Carlson
> Mini-spoilers for Batgirl #3...
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
>
>
> Might I inquire as to which ones they were?
"No", "Shh", and ... "What", I think. Scintillating dialogue, as you can
see. :)
> Speaking of Lady Z, has a story ever been done where she's been
> called upon by Clark to get rid of Mxyzptlk?
Not that I'm aware of. In the stories I've read, Mxy is used as a way to get
Clark into a problem he can't punch out of, which is a great idea.
> Since I haven't read the issue, I don't know how they phrased the fact
> that she's never encountered a metahuman,
"She's never seen a metahuman" -- from Batman.
I'd forgotten about AZRAEL ... but then, like most people, I usually do. Buh
dump ba.
> she ran into Mercy (Lex's bodyguard) during NML, and I think they sparred
> a bit. She's one of those "other" Amazons.
The Bagha-Mighdall, or whatever? Really? Where was that revealed?
> Didn't he write some of the earlier DCAU Bat-comics? I think he was
> involved with Batman Adventures, before Ty came onto the roster.
Apparently, he wrote the Batgirl spotlights in that series.
Johanna Draper Carlson joh...@comicsworthreading.com
Reviews of Comics Worth Reading -- http://www.comicsworthreading.com
indy Magazine Contributing Writer -- http://www.indymagazine.com
Comicology Contributing Editor and Writer of Ask Answer Lass!
Johanna Draper Carlson
Plot: Scott Peterson & Kelley Puckett
Script: Kelley Puckett
Pencils: Damion Scott
Inks: Robert Campanella
Spoilers...
Does anyone ever really hide things in their kid's teddy bears? It seems
such a media cliche. And so convenient for getting some quick drama -- the
kid's in danger! It seems that Batgirl is doomed to continue running into
plots that involve parents and children; they allow for touching flashbacks
of her life growing up, which adds some cheap angst.
If Batgirl's lost her silent shtick, isn't it about time to get rid of the
creepy fetish mask? She's turned into quite the little chatterbox, with
three whole words this issue. Strangely, they were all cases where the words
were unnecessary; the character pose conveyed the emotion sufficiently.
While it's understandable that the character as originally developed would
be rather tough to hold together a continuing series, taking away the one
way she stands out from the ever-growing Batman family just points out what
a standard character she is.
The "Batgirl's in danger because she's never seen a metahuman" plot didn't
work for me at all. Never mind that there's really no difference between
Batman and a metahuman nowadays -- I just can't believe that this girl
survived Gotham and No Man's Land without running into one of the many
non-human crazies.
If the last half of your book is going to revolve around fight scenes, it
might be a good idea to make them good, or at least decent. Instead, we have
a badly paced and badly drawn mishmash that the careful reader has to work
at piecing together. But then, the ending is telegraphed almost from the
first pages, so it shouldn't terribly surprise anyone.
I used to hear wonderful things about Kelley Puckett's writing, but this
really doesn't live up to that reputation. Admittedly, it's tough for me to
get over my dislike of this awful character. Can anyone recommend some
better examples of Puckett's work?
Johanna Draper Carlson
Loren Di Iorio
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Johanna wrote:
: She's turned into quite the little chatterbox, with three whole words
: this issue.
Might I inquire as to which ones they were? I'd be mighty proud if
they were "Kite-Man" and "Babs". ;) Or, "Loren loves Babs" (in any
order :) ). Or "ambiotronic", "Kltpzyxm" (Zatanna would have no
trouble with that one :) ), and "gastronometric".
Speaking of Lady Z, has a story ever been done where she's been
called upon by Clark to get rid of Mxyzptlk?
: The "Batgirl's in danger because she's never seen a metahuman" plot
: didn't work for me at all. Never mind that there's really no difference
: between Batman and a metahuman nowadays -- I just can't believe that
: this girl survived Gotham and No Man's Land without running into one
: of the many non-human crazies.
Since I haven't read the issue, I don't know how they phrased the fact
that she's never encountered a metahuman, but if they said it like either
you or I did, it'd be forgetful of them, 'cause she was in Az only a few
months back, and Az is most certainly a metahuman. Not only that, but
she ran into Mercy (Lex's bodyguard) during NML, and I think they sparred
a bit. She's one of those "other" Amazons.
: I used to hear wonderful things about Kelley Puckett's writing, but this
: really doesn't live up to that reputation. Admittedly, it's tough for me
: to get over my dislike of this awful character. Can anyone recommend
: some better examples of Puckett's work?
Didn't he write some of the earlier DCAU Bat-comics? I think he was
involved with Batman Adventures, before Ty came onto the roster.
...Loren
Loren Di Iorio
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Johanna wrote:
: Loren wrote:
:
: [re: Cassie's remarkable lexicon]
: > Might I inquire as to which ones they were?
:
: "No", "Shh", and ... "What", I think. Scintillating dialogue, as you
: can see. :)
Riot at parties and the like, I'm sure. :)
: > Since I haven't read the issue, I don't know how they phrased the
: > fact that she's never encountered a metahuman...
:
: "She's never seen a metahuman" -- from Batman.
Now that's just bad, having Batman say it. Ugh. :I
: I'd forgotten about AZRAEL ... but then, like most people, I usually
: do. Buh dump ba.
Just like Batman, apparently. :) And about Az, unless next week's issue
involves flaming swordfights on ice bridges, or the triumphant return
of the Oath of Vengeance, or Babs, I prob'ly won't be snatching it up.
: > She ran into Mercy (Lex's bodyguard) during NML, and I think they
: > sparred a bit. She's one of those "other" Amazons.
:
: The Bagha-Mighdall, or whatever? Really? Where was that revealed?
It's something that came up in ACB earlier in the week, after someone
asked about Mercy's background. Greg Rucka offered the following:
--
Subject: Re: {REVIEW} POBB: Batman, Catwoman, Action and Sins
Date: 04/03/2000
Author: Greg Rucka <gr...@nervoushabit.com>
Don wrote:
: And if Mercy is an Amazon, how did Bats take her down so quick in
: the last parts of NML?
Currently, the belief--and this is unconfirmed in the DCU, for what
that's worth--is that Mercy and Hope are members of that sect of
"other" Amazons, the ones who aren't from Themyscria, etc., etc.
Greg
--
So it hasn't been stated officially, but that seems to be where
things are headed. The tattoos, the meta-strength, and all that.
Okay, maybe not the tattoos, but I'm not up on my Amazonology. :)
: > Didn't he write some of the earlier DCAU Bat-comics? I think he was
: > involved with Batman Adventures, before Ty came onto the roster.
:
: Apparently, he wrote the Batgirl spotlights in that series.
That's truly freaky (I'd say scary, but I think freaky covers it better).
FTR, I miss the TIRR, but I'm glad to see you continue with your
reviews! :) There are times in Usenet when I wanna use TIRR as an
everyday acronym, like "Some TIRR include <whatever>".
...Loren
PMstopper1
better examples of Puckett's work?
>>
Legends of the DCU issue #6 sand probably a whole bunch of issues from his
first run on Batman Adventures.
Johanna Draper Carlson
> Mini-spoilers for Batgirl #3...
More like Azrael #65 at this point...
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
>
>
> And about Az, unless next week's issue
> involves flaming swordfights on ice bridges, or the triumphant return
> of the Oath of Vengeance, or Babs, I prob'ly won't be snatching it up.
Looks like it's the Huntress hunting Jean Paul for killing someone, but
mostly finalizing the Nick Scratch stuff.
> : > She ran into Mercy (Lex's bodyguard) during NML, and I think they
> : > sparred a bit. She's one of those "other" Amazons.
> :
> : The Bagha-Mighdall, or whatever? Really? Where was that revealed?
>
> It's something that came up in ACB earlier in the week
Oh, ok, then I didn't miss anything. No offense, and I thank you for the
information, but being a Legion fan, I've long ago learned "it only counts
if it's in the books".
> FTR, I miss the TIRR, but I'm glad to see you continue with your
> reviews! :)
TIRR?
Loren Di Iorio
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Johanna wrote:
: Loren wrote:
:
: > Unless next week's issue involves flaming swordfights on ice bridges,
: > or the triumphant return of the Oath of Vengeance, or Babs, I prob'ly
: > won't be snatching it up.
:
: Looks like it's the Huntress hunting Jean Paul for killing someone,
: but mostly finalizing the Nick Scratch stuff.
The Huntress, you say? Hmm...
Couldn't give two flying rodents about Nick Scratch, though.
[re: Mercy's lineage]
: >> The Bagha-Mighdall, or whatever? Really? Where was that revealed?
:
: > It's something that came up in ACB earlier in the week.
:
: Oh, ok, then I didn't miss anything. No offense, and I thank you for
: the information, but being a Legion fan, I've long ago learned "it only
: counts if it's in the books".
Completely understandable, and I wholeheartedly agree. Has she been
in the Super-books much?
: > FTR, I miss the TIRR, but I'm glad to see you continue with your
: > reviews! :)
:
: TIRR?
I was almost sure you used to do reviews under the Things I've Read
Recently subject line... But I can't find anything about them at
Deja so I must be suffering from that purple ray business. ;)
...Loren
Johanna Draper Carlson
> Mini-spoilers for Az #65 and JLA #41...
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
> .
>
>
> The Huntress, you say? Hmm...
Don't get too excited; she does very little. :)
> Couldn't give two flying rodents about Nick Scratch, though.
If I was being cynical, I might speculate that they're doing the NML wrapup
primarily in Azrael to keep all the continuity-curious buying a title that
doesn't really have much more to recommend it.
> Has she been in the Super-books much?
Mercy? The recent story with Harley Quinn, but beyond that, not much pops
out in my memory.
> I was almost sure you used to do reviews under the Things I've Read
> Recently subject line...
Ooooh... yeah, I'd forgotten that. Thanks for the reminder. :)
(Geez, I realized the other day I've been reviewing off and on for at least
seven years now. No wonder I can't keep all the details straight.)