10 issues into Batgirl (2024). Unfortunately already halfway through, I'm about to be a monthly reader.
I like the first arc a lot! Heavy angst Cass is very fun! Personally, I really enjoy Cass and Shiva's terrible relationship, and I think this run does best at making it feel interesting. Post-2000 a lot of the moments between them feel kinda easy, in The Outsiders they kinda just work together and I love that that isn't what Brombal gives us at all.
I think, besides parental angst, what works about the first arc being Shiva focused is that the series does a really good job at walking the line between giving Cass more and reckoning with her past. Generally love the voice Cass gets, I'm into the body language narration a lot. And interaction with Shiva is great for sign posting change. Like, for instance, whenever she shouts outs the other bats
Overall, I'm super enjoying the series. It feels like a good continuation of Cass specifically. Unique voice, angst, fun action. I'm having a good time.
But I do struggle a bit with what I've read of the second arc so far (7-10). 7 and 8 are backstory issues about Shiva, and I don't like how mythic it becomes. I think the high drama of it means that the rest of the story is going to unfold only because the main character is Cass, which is something I tend to not like in superhero stories. I don't want her to feel so important to the wider world, and that's something that this The Blood connection does. Suddenly she's not inserting herself in conflict to accomplish something, conflict is happening to her because she was born related to Shiva. (who also suddenly has boosted importance)
Issues 9 and 10 introduce me to Tenji, and I do like those ones. Her whole conflict with the Tiger is super fun. Batgirl comics are at the best when action is a set for melodramatic character conflict. This sorta thing is great:
Only 9 more issues currently D: so sad.












