Batgirl #20, in which the Eggplantmobile gets a name, and Steph gets inventive

[ebailey140]

As we saw in the preview pages, here...

http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/2912371.html

...Steph was considering all sorts of possibilities for Batarang designs...



She's named that Nolantech tank of hers the Compact. It also has an urban camouflage mode where it appears to be a normal (though eggplant) car when not in use.

She deduces, from their previous encounters, that while his suit gives Slipstream super speed, his brain, and therefore reaction times, still function at normal speed. How to take advantage?





This is someone who used to have to make whatever equipment she had on hand work, so she's learned to be creative.

Anyway, since his reaction times were normal, he couldn't make the quick adjustments a Flash could make. So, she just needed to step out of his path.

We still don't know who the mysterious person behind the Reapers is, though Steph realizes the attempted heist was to finance something bigger.

Comments

[k_red]

So I guess Clu finally figured a way off the Grid.

[perletwo]

The thing I loved most about this? She figured out how to do it all on her own. And even though she kicked herself for getting to it a second too late, she figured out who Slipstream was all on her own, too. :D

[shadowpsykie]

yay steph!

[ebailey140]

This also demonstrates why, while she doesn't have Cass's level of martial arts skills, she's not a lesser Batgirl. She's more of a preparing and building gadgets type of girl. She has a different set of skills, but not a lesser set.

[shadowpsykie]

i would LOVE for the gadgets and planning (outside the box thinking) to be her "thing" along with her Chutzpah! i want a scene to be "When are you EVER going to use THAT baterrang" and then have to use it! :D

tim's is computers, at LEAST 2nd tier martial arts and his intelligence.

[darkblade]

"And Tim said a flaming icearang was self indulgent."

[shadowpsykie]

I would TOTALLY love to see that!

[bariman]

Quickly freezing then heating something metal would make it very brittle, which could be very useful in superhero work.

[blackruzsa]

Steph is the one thing in Gotham that makes it seem like a funny, happy place to be, and that you can get creative when taking down bad guys.

She needs her own tv show. God I love her so much.

[shadowpsykie]

Old couple: that bat girl seems like such a sweet heart, lets move to gotham!

One week later....

Joker (dressed as dentist): hello my youthfully impared.friends! I'm your friendly neighborhood Doctor Joker! No no no, those chompers will NEVER do. you can't have proper laugh let alone smile with those dull things! Here try these on for size, Doctor Joker's Deadly Dentures! (patent pending!)

[blackruzsa]

Dear god XD

Although honestly, I'd date Steph if there was ever a chance. The quirk factor is mind-boggling.

[shadowpsykie]

its funnier if you use Mark Hamil's voice :D

id date steph too if i was... well straight, i'll settle for Gay BFF! :D

[blackruzsa]

XD
I am happily bi. I'm honestly sure Steph would make an awesome bff.

[shadowpsykie]

my only issue would be pissing off Cass and Kara... ;D

[nezchan]

This makes the part of me that's a fan of Kamen Rider W very happy. I like combinable effects.

[shadowpsykie]

Oooh sailor moon's combined attacks!

[nezchan]

Now you're talkin'. That's one of my favourite things about shonen manga (and SM), the creative uses of what is often a fairly limited power set.

[shadowpsykie]

Tiara+flames+bubbled/ice+ lightning + energy (or any combination there of :)

[bariman]

I could easily see a top-down beat-em-up video game starting Steph where you could make multi-effect batarangs and quick-slot them for use. And if it's a multi-character game, I could see that as her special ability.

There was a game on the last generation of console, "Batman: Rise of Sin-Tzu" I think, based on the DCAU. I'm thinking of something like that. Of course, there's already the Arkham games, but this could be a side game to that series.

[cygna_hime]

God, I love her body language SO MUCH. Especially in the electro-magnarangs panel. She actually *looks* happy, not just like a generic figure with a smile stuck on. I love how Steph grins with her whole body.

[shadowpsykie]

I love how Steph grins with her whole body.

she would make Tyra proud :D

[big_daddy_d]

This reminds me of the Adam West Batman..where he'd just come up with something to directly counteract a villain or a plot..but unlike that, this wasn't outrageous and I like it. (I still like the Adam West Batman though. :D )

[whitesycamore]

Why is Steph leaning imperiously over a terrified man covered in goop and poking him with a stick so incredibly amusing to me? Because it is.

[shadur]

"... And then you did a touchdown dance?"

That's my girl. :D

[icon_uk]

That's the bit that made smile too! :)

[irrelevant]

Best part. :D

[skitster]

Another Star Wars quote in a DCU story. Impressive, very impressive.

[espanolbot]

Batgirl is generally very pop culturey. Steph references Futurama and Star Trek too.

[bariman]

Not "very." Most impressive.

[skitster]

...can live with that.

[icon_uk]

The psuedo-science nerd part of me is wondering how well superspeed would work without enhanced reaction time.

If you were only running in straight lines, in open spaces, fair enough, but the moment you try to use it in a confined space, or for comlpex moves, you're essentially moving like a go kart with a rocket motor attached to tback, you MIGHT be able to steer things, but it'd be tricky, and in most cases by the time you're aware of any obstacles you'd have hit them four seconds ago.

Surely it'd be like Sam/Cannonball used to be, except without the built-in invulnerability?

[ebailey140]

That's Slipstream's weakness that she takes advantage of. She brings up the straight line bit.

[icon_uk]

It's good that she did, though I'm perhaps wondering why anyone with a power that has THAT big a liability thought it would be worth exploiting in a life of crime. I'm reminded of the line from H2G2 about a sleek looksing spaceship - "Looks like a fish, moves like a fish, steers like a cow"

[kamino_neko]

He was recruited into the life of crime before being given the powers. By that point, he had little choice but to run with it.

[icon_uk]

Thank you, my inner Dr Comic-Science is now satisfied!

Context is all! :)

[deepspaceartist]

By that point, he had little choice but to run with it.

Really? You should be ashamed of that pun.

[kamino_neko]

Perhaps.

If I had the capability of feeling shame.

[deepspaceartist]

Yes, I suppose on a comm where expressing one's PSL for comic book characters is common, bad puns wouldn't really be a shame-inducer, would it? I sould really know better by now.

[retro_nouveau]

Well, "Firewall" sounds like a base for Proxy, not Batgirl, and Steph shouldn't be underground.

And "Compact" is an extremely weak name, not to mention Batcycle > Batpod > econobox hatchback. I don't mind the teeny tiny size, but make it like an MG at least. Something you can put a ... um, spoiler on? I don't mind if it looks fuddy-duddy when in camouflage mode, but it should actually be awesome.

But this is classic Stephanie Brown in every way, so overall ... Squee!

[airawyn]

Do you mind if I snag that icon?

[retro_nouveau]

I would actually be very happy if you do. :)

[airawyn]

Thank you!