Booknote: Batgirl, Volume 1

Cameron Stewart, et.al., Batgirl, Volume 1: The Batgirl of Burnside.  New York: DC Comics, 2015. ISBN: 9781401257989.

Genre: graphic novels and comics
Subgenre: superheroes, new adult fiction
Format: e-book galley
Source: Provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review 

From the book's description:

"It’s a reinvention of Batgirl from the boots up, focusing on Barbara Gordon’s amazing eidetic memory and how she balances her dual lives—one as a masked hero and the other as a grad student."

This is a new series with a new look for Batgirl. Barbara Gordon leaves home to strike out on her own as a graduate student. She moves into the very desirable and hip neighborhood of Burnside. However, not all is well as she soon has her computer stolen, the one that had all her work for graduate school. As if things could not get worse, a fake Batgirl is ruining Barbara's crime fighting reputation. And in all this, she has to maintain her identity as a hip, young woman.

This is a comic that will appeal to young readers, late teens and perhaps college age students. While clearly for all readers, it seems a bit more geared for a female reader appeal, what is often known as the new adult reader. It works to capture the feel of the age group with various contemporary references to actual celebrities, social media, and pop culture.  The stories are light and entertaining, and they are fast moving. We get to see Barbara deal with her dual role as hero and young adult out in the world; we get a bit of light humor and a good amount of action along the way. In addition, the art is very colorful on this one. I think the artist did a very good job with the art, especially with Barbara's Batgirl look. It is a new look that seems to suit her well. I think readers who enjoy this genre will enjoy this new Batgirl series.

This was a light and fun read. For me, it was a nice contrast to some of the darker DC Batman titles I read now and then. Very colorful and well done art, and the stories have a good amount of action and slice of life of young adults in college and the dating scene.

This will make a good choice for libraries with graphic novel collections. It will likely appeal to new adult readers, specially female readers who also read comics and want something lighter than some of DC's darker offerings. I really liked it, mostly for the good art and new look.

For those of you who keep track, this collects issues #35 to #40 of  Batgirl and a story from Secret Origins, #10.

I am giving it 4 out of 5 stars.

This book qualifies for the following 2015 Book Reading Challenges: