Batgirl: Kicking Assassins

Batgirl: Kicking Assassins 

By Andersen Gabrych & various (DC Comics)
ISBN 1-84576-203-7

Following on from the events of the Batman: War Games quartet of novels, this volume sees Batgirl relocated to the notorious Gotham City suburb of Blüdhaven, for a measure of autonomy but still the same old high-octane crime-busting. Also new in town is arch Bat-foe the Penguin, who is seeking to carve himself a new criminal empire free of the depredations of the Dark Knight.

That’s pretty much all the scene setting you need for these eminently readable action romps, collected from issues #60-64 of Batgirl’s own monthly magazine. In short order she establishes her own sanctum, resources and snitches as she strives to clean up those wicked streets.

En route she tackles assorted thugs, learns a few lessons from Batman’s sometime assistant Onyx, battles the bizarre criminal band known as the Brotherhood of Evil and narrowly survives an encounter with the super-assassin Deathstroke the Terminator, who has his deranged daughter, the Ravager, in tow.

Light on plot but wonderfully packed with martial arts mayhem and snappy dialogue, this just book buzzes with simple heroic exuberance. This is a light snack to offset some of the more ponderous and pompous super-hero fare.

© 2005 DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.