Book: Batgirl volume #2: Knightfall Descends (issues #7-13 and #0) by Gail Simone
Illustrations by Ardian Syaf (#7-9, #11-12), Alitha Martinez (#7-8 and #10), Vicente Cifuentes (#8) and Ed Benes (#0 and #13)
Inks by Vicente Cifuentes (#7-12), Alitha Martinez (#8) and Ed Benes (#0 and #13), Color by Ulises Arreola (#7-13 and #0) and Letters by Dave Sharpe (#7-13 and #0)
Edition: Single Print Issues
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Review:
In this volume, Barbara Gordon was dealing with insecurities and guilt over her recovery which at times was making it difficult for her to be effective as Batgirl. She was also still dealing with the realization that her mother (who is also named Barbara) has returned after she had left so many years ago. Barbara did receive a reality check from her friend and fellow superhero Black Canary about dealing with her issues.
And when she wasn't sorting out those internal issues, she was dealing with an array of deadly villains. First was Grotesque, a thief and murderer who only wants to steal the best things. While Batgirl was trying to stop him, she realized one of his henchmen was someone from her past. He was one of the guys who was there when the Joker had shot her (in The Killing Joke story).
Next she went toe to toe against one of the Court of Owls' assassins who was setting off bombs throughout Gotham City.
Last, she found herself dealing with Knightfall and her henchmen the Disgraced, together they are a dangerous group of vigilantes who plan to clean up Gotham City by killing all the criminals and anyone else who get in their way. She got some unexpected help from Batwoman and Police Detective Melody McKenna. Lois Lane also had a small yet interesting cameo in this story.
Throughout many of these issues, Barbara was unaware her younger brother James had escaped from Arkham Asylum and was focusing his obsession on her and Batgirl. Sometimes I get the feeling that he knows that Barbara is Batgirl. Regardless, he's certainly up to something. James has been using Barbara's roommate Alysia as a way to subtly insinuate himself into Barbara's life without her knowing it. So far he seems to be trying to attempt some sort of mind game possible as a way to dredge up old memories. He's also working with the leader of Knightfall perhaps as a way to get rid of Batgirl or to possibly gather more information.
Issue #0 is yet another retelling of how Barbara Gordon became Batgirl and in what continues to be a New 52 norm the story continues to draw attention to The Killing Joke.
This was better than the first volume, I found the writing to be stronger and the stories flowed better. And unlike the first volume, Barbara actually had a personality. The one thing that has stayed consistent between both volumes is the illustrations which continue to be good.
Although I enjoyed this more than the first volume it still continues to be dark, grim and depressing. I never understood why the New 52 reboot was nothing but doom and gloom. And another issue I had was that the first two volumes (so far) can't seem to stop focusing on The Joker's attack on Barbara (from The Killing Joke). DC Comics went out of their way to reverse Barbara's paralysis and get her out of her wheelchair that it makes no sense why her attack keeps coming up. Throughout these issues (and the ones in the 1st volume) the subject is just so in your face making it impossible for the reader to ever forget the attack. Even the cliffhanger at the end of issue #13 makes yet another connection to it.
I'm interested in reading the next volume but I don't understand why The Joker's attack continues to be so heavily alluded to.
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