Batgirl #18: Barbara Finds Out About Damian Death

[superfangirl1]

Comments

[mrstatham]

James Jr can go fuck himself. What was a fairly interesting character and an investigation of a parallel to Dick, and the effects Gotham can have on someone so young? Absolutely ruined by going the obvious route of making him an obvious villain for his sister and just making him pathetically hammy. There's supposed to be something chilling about these scenes, but it's just completely farcical and overdone. Oh noes, we can't see his eyes! This take is about as threatening as Forbush Man.

[atom_punk]

I'm getting more of an Albert Wesker vibe myself. Of course I always thought Wesker was more of a ponce who was only an effective villain by virtue of the fact that the rest of the people in the Resident Evil universe have the mental agility of molasses flowing down the iciest part of the Himalayas :P

Definitely feeling that DC is taking James Jr. down the path of Hush and going back further, Prometheus. I liked all three of those characters at their debuts because they were legitimately very threatening and interesting adversaries. But if you keep bringing them back and keep having the heroes win, they start to look incompetent and the stories get repetitive.

[icon_uk]

thought Wesker was more of a ponce

Not sure what that means where you are, but where I'm from that's a rather unpleasant term for an effeminate gay....

[protogarrett]

I always thought of it as a word for a poser.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Ponce

[icon_uk]

http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/ponce

I'm sure it has other meanings in other places, but here's it can mean either an effeminate gay or, sometimes, a man who lives off a prostitute’s earnings.

[atom_punk]

I was indeed under the impression that "ponce" meant "poser" or generally a "braggart". I was not aware it was a pejorative term and I apologize for any offense I may have unintentionally caused.

Is there an editing option for comments? I'd be happy to alter my post if there is such and option.

[icon_uk]

That's cool, it appears that it does mean that, but I suspect that, like, say, one of Donna Troy's codenames, different meanings in different places with different implications.

Alas, you can't edit comments once they have been replied to.

[mrstatham]

I thought Hush was more interesting under Dini's pen, but I do see what you mean, and I absolutely agree. I just think that the direction they've opted to take James Jr down here is so obvious and so ridiculous that it really makes how well the character worked in Black Mirror astonishing.

[benuben]

I actualy think Hush became much better and interesting character after Hush ended.

[dementia2]

This..this so much I was far more interested in dick and James "relationship" vs Barbara. The sister brother thing has been done to death.

[filthysize]

Like Tec #18, that one page is literally the only mention of Damian, despite the cover. The rest of the issue just goes about the ongoing story as usual, completely uninvolved.

God, if you're gonna force something into other books, at least do it properly.

[icon_uk]

After two issues of being forced (badly) into "Death of the Family", not surprised that crossover fatigue might be creeping in.

[starwolf_oakley]

The last issue of "The Black Mirror" did James Jr. better, at least in terms of his banter with Barbara.
The gist:

"I was afraid you'd kill me in my sleep. And here you are hamming it up like any other supervillain."
"I see. You don't think I'm taking this seriously, therefore *you* aren't taking this seriously."
(removes blanket to show two knives in Barbara's legs)

They can do the shiney eyeglasses all they want. JJ's thing is wanting to be taken more seriously than a typical Bat-villain.

[mrstatham]

Again, this. Snyder hasn't quite lived up to how good Black Mirror was, yet, but James Jr's basically been rendered a standard, ridiculous, hammy supervillain for real by Simone and company. The execution just feels way off.

Huh

[mambalev]

What kind of failed medical examiner, would mistake a stab wound for something caused in a building collaspe. Oh wait, its Gotham, hiring all the people who finished bottom of the class.

Also funny he manages to swap his phone to his other hand while apparently driving.

That's like 3 crimes in itself, tsk tsk.

Re: Huh

[filthysize]

He was referring to her accidentally getting stabbed with a knife while the building was collapsing.

Re: Huh

[auggie18]

I know it isn't what you meant, but this is the sentence that came to mind:

"Oh no! Now the building has a knife!"

Re: Huh

[atom_punk]

"Oh gods! The prophets were right! The true villains were the buildings all along! If only we had listened!" D:

Re: Huh

[mrstatham]

Well, it still reeks of stupidity for him to even suggest that, frankly. I mean, yes, there's accidentally getting impaled by something, but then there's just general stupidity in saying he could make it look like an accident in just the right spot. Which.. Well, no. I doubt even Gotham's emergency services are stupid enough to think "WOW THIS BUILDING STABBED THIS PROMINENT VIGILANTE - RIGHT IN THE LIVER!!"

But then I would expect as much from this take on James Jr, who makes it look utterly preposterous that his father or any GCPD member hasn't grabbed him by now.

Re: Huh

[icon_uk]

He puts the knife in then follows up by ramming several large jagged pieces of debris into her. Would probably be hard to tell something caused by a knife from wounds caused by sharp pieces of shrapnel.

Re: Huh

[blue_bolt]

Why bother with the knife if he's going to stab her with shrapnel? Just do that first...

The whole Gordon Jr. thing just feels WAY too shoehorned.

Re: Huh

[icon_uk]

He wants to have the knowledge that HE killed her up close and personal, the rest of it is just him covering his tracks.

Not invested enough in the JG Jr thing to care one way or the other, but it could go like that I think.

Re: Huh

[junipepper]

*snort* I didn't even notice that at first glance. Now it's, like, the most glaring thing in the post. Fortunately I'd already lost interest in this Batgirl; otherwise I'd have to get really irritated at the utter stupid laziness of the art fail...

Re: Huh

[mrstatham]

It might not be laziness, given it's hardly scientifically impossible - as irresponsible as it is, but the guy's a villain, after all, and probably wouldn't give a fuck if he did run someone over - to switch the phone between hands/ears as he drives.

[big_daddy_d]

I get that Gordon wanted to call Babs and tell her he loves her and all but... I don't know. This seems....I don't know. Only good I can really say that I like Babs rocking the old school Lara Croft clothing.

[mrstatham]

Given Simone's abrupt dismissal from the book and her subsequent return *after* the character will be done mourning Damian, I have to wonder if the thing I recall her saying she protested was Damian's own death.