Since this review was posted, Cameron Stewart was outed as an abuser. As comic books are a collective effort, this review will remain live, but I cannot in good faith recommend purchasing this book or other works by this person.
Comic book reviews for Batgirl #36, Batgirl #37, and Batgirl #38 by Cameron Stewart, Brenden Fletcher, and Babs Tarr
Average rating: 3/5 stars
Batgirl #36 by Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher
Art: Babs Tarr
I’m still really loving this comic. Tarr’s art put it’s over-the-top. I particularly love her attention to the different fashions and styles that each character has. Not only does each character have distinct faces and body shapes, but they wear clothing that fits their personality. One part of art in superhero comics that’s often criticized is that people cannot distinguish characters who aren’t in costume. Those artists should all take lessons from Tarr.
I loved this diving into Babs’ childhood with the Jawbreakers. Whomever has figured out that Babs is Batgirl knows a little more about her than just her secret identity. Ooh, if they’re bringing back James, I’m not going to be impressed.
Enjoying the conflict between Frankie and Dinah. Especially since Dinah is not interested in working with Babs to solve the mystery and is begrudged to stay with her.
Nadimah is pretty much favorite too. I love how solution-orientated she is. I’m pretty sure that she’s going to solve some mysteries for Babs. Or something terrible due to Hooq is going to happen to her.
Jeremy Degroot, on the other hand, bores me. I kind of hope that he’s a fake love interest and that she actually dates Qadir. Who’s tons more interesting.
Batgirl #37 by Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher
Art: Babs Tarr
Wow. I am so glad that the writers apologized for the blatant homophobia in this book. There’s no reason Babs’ biggest shock ever would’ve been that the fake Batgirl was a drag queen. And it’s sad to see, in an otherwise very diverse cast, the tired trope of the crazy crossdresser who’s extremely narcissistic and just wants fame.
The whole plot had a lot more promise. But it went from Bling Ring to interesting exploitation art of Batgirl by Dagger Type to a tired stereotype really quickly.
I also would’ve loved to see more of the ladies out and about.
I’m guessing that Liam is get another love interest for Babs, since Jeremy and Qadir weren’t enough.
Batgirl #38 by Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher
Art: Babs Tarr
I’m not super in love with selfie celebrity Batgirl either. I do get that she’s a young woman, who wants attention and lots of friends, which is something that Babs has never really had. (Except she totally has a great group of friends in this book. Like way more friends than most superheroes ever have. Even with her once-again falling out with Dinah.)
I did like the reveal that the whole celebrity thing, and in some cases, fighting certain types of crime were very much an excuse to avoid the fact that Babs’ thesis was still stolen and she can’t easily replicate it. I love Nadimah.
Oh, Officer Liam Powell is a bucket full of trouble. He’s the standup type guy that Babs “should” be dating. At least from the point of view of her father. (In fact, she’s basically dating her father, except perhaps that Jim was kind of okay with Batman running around Gotham fighting crime.) But yeah, he’s not going to make her feel any easier about her double life as Batgirl.
I do wish Babs and Dinah would make up. It is funny to see Dinah fronting a rock n’ roll band though.
Buy Batgirl Vol. 1: The Batgirl of Burnside