Facing her demons
Batgirl #4
Opening with a striking full-page dramatically rendered by Ardian Siaf and Vicente Cifuentes, Batgirl #4 focuses on Barbara’s demons: internal and external.
As her nightmare continues, the most telling line in the whole book is one spoken by Batgirl’s own dream self: “Why can’t you look in the mirror, Barbara?”.
Wracked with ‘survivor’s guilt’ and driven by a need to prove herself, she is soon out on the streets, chasing down her current nemesis and helping innocents in distress.
As she confronts Mirror, Batgirl isn’t afraid to reflect his own fears back on him, emphasising the book’s theme of being able to face oneself, no matter how painful.
Simone’s writing is at its most effective when the glass-shattering action sequences are punctuated by Gordon’s own thoughts: the struggle with her own fears and doubt being just as fascinating as the hard-hitting combat she’s in the midst of.
By this issue’s end, Batgirl has won a victory against everything she’s battling against. Until the final panel: when an unexpected face from the past forces her to take a long, hard look at herself once more…
