Whereas last issue tried to signal the changes to this title through the introduction of a conga line of gays and lesbians, this issue makes actual changes. We've traded in young car thieves as potential boyfriends for adorable graduate students. Our archnemesis is no longer some sociopathic heiress with a confused (and confusing) modus operandi but a mysterious villain that knows Barbara's identity. Said nemesis is no longer putting together a team to murder all the criminals in Cherry Hill, but hiring assassins to come after Barbara as if she herself wanted them to kill her. (OK, maybe that part didn't make a lot of sense, but I'm willing to overlook it.) Moreover, the assassins aren't just color-by-number super-henchmen, but twin Asian girls obsessed with a 1980s cartoon character. Our supporting cast is no longer limited to a transgender roommate whose only distinguishing characteristic was being transgendered, but includes a Muslim research assistant, her techie brother that builds Batgirl a grappling hook in exchange for her help, a fun coder roommate, and a pissed-off Bird of Prey. (In other words, we're no longer just multi-cult-y for the sake of being multi-cult-y, as we were last issue.) Barbara is no longer worried about whatever it was that worried her under Simone, but instead trying to resurrect her life as a graduate student. Finally, Gotham is no longer just a dark place that makes you question why people live there, but full of vibrant neighborhoods like Burnside where it's apparently not all death all the time.
All these changes combine to form one of the most inventive and dynamic stories that I've read in a long time. In fact, it's somehow even better than the sum of its parts, in no small part because of the visuals that leap off the page. As I said, I'm sold.
***** (five of five stars)
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