Batgirl #26 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Although I wasn't expecting it, Simone uses this issue to make us realize that we've been reading a 26-issue story, the return of Batgirl.  It has Barbara confronting the various villains that she's faced throughout this series so far -- all at once.  When she emerges triumphant, she also emerges with the confidence to call herself Batgirl again, because now she believes that she is.  It's a powerful moment, but it says something about the issue that it's almost lost in a more powerful one, the confrontation between Barbara and her father.

I have to say how impressed I am with the way that Simone handles the confrontation, partly because it doesn't solve everything.  We only really get two issues resolved.  First, it gets Commissioner Gordon off Barbara's back after she draws a parallel between her "killing" James, Jr. to save Barbara, Sr. and Gordon shooting Ricky because he had a gun.  It's an apt comparison, though Gordon (rightfully) notes that he only allows the superheroes to operate in his town because they don't kill.  In other words, at the end of the day, he carries a badge that allows him to shoot a suspect brandishing a gun because he's accountable for his actions; the "capes" don't have the same accountability.  So, Barbara doesn't get the hugs that she was hoping to get, since Gordon views her as essentially perpetually suspect for crossing the line, even if he understands how it happened.  Second, Barbara does maybe forgive herself a little in having to defend herself to her father, clearing the way for her to re-claim the title of Batgirl now that she has the confidence to do it.  However, that's about the extent of the resolutions.  She tries to reveal her identity to Gordon, but he refuses to allow her, telling her that he would've made it his business to know the Bat-family's identities if he wanted to know.  But, Simone also lets us know that of course he knows when he picks up a family portrait and mutters, "Dammit."  As I said, we don't get every problem resolved in one neat package.

On some level, it doesn't really matter what relationship Batgirl has with Commissioner Gordon.  It's not like she's Batman.  They pretty much had a live-and-let-live relationship before the whole business with James, Jr.  The real question is what it means for the relationship between Barbara and Jim.  It's probably better, since Jim understands her motivations a little better.  Moreover, as we learn this issue, neither James, Jr. nor Ricky actually died.  But, it's not what it was.  Both Barbara and Jim know something about the other that they didn't necessarily want to know and it's going to take a while for them to get over that, if it's even possible.  But, as Barbara says in the end, we at least now have some hope.  Simone makes it clear that we're entering a new era.  As I said, she does it in a way that makes you feel like we've just read one continuous 26-page story and I have to take off my hat to that accomplishment, because it's rare.  I can't wait to see where we go in Chapter Two.

**** (four of five stars)