SInce this series has begun, Simone has introduced a number of new villains: Mirror, Gretel, Grotesque, Knightfall. The first three weren't really all that interesting, amounting to little more than plot devices to help Barbara get back her sea legs (so to speak). Knightfall was different and her appearance in this issue confirms that Simone sees her as Barbara's arch-nemesis, someone who'll constantly be lurking in the shadows. However, since then, we've had the "Death of the Family" digression and the battle with James, Jr. Now, Simone introduces another new villain, but one that serves as more than a plot device.
The introduction of the Ventriloquist here does serve a plot point, with Simone using her as a vehicle to explore the darker world that Barbara now inhabits since she seemingly killed her brother last issue. Unlike the first three villains, however, the Ventriloquist is a well developed character, posing a real threat to Barbara. She's so dangerously unstable that Barbara would seem to be justified if she chose to eliminate her, so Simone raises the obvious question whether she will.
The Bat-books have never really gone here. Sure, Jason returned from the dead a committed killer, but it's the fact that Barbara isn't a committed killer that's interesting here. Having stepped over the line, will Barbara stay on that side of the line, without becoming the maniac that Jason eventually became? Will she bring reason to her pursuit of justice, deciding which villains have the potential to be rehabilitated (like Ricky) and which ones pose such a grave threat that they need to be eliminated (like James, Jr.)? Barbara brings a unique voice to that discussion and I really can't wait to see where Simone goes with it, particularly since the Ventriloquist seems like a great character to raise the question, existing somewhere between Ricky and James, Jr. Man, am I glad that Simone is still on this title.
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