Art of the Day: Livewire and Batgirl

Artwork: Livewire and Batgirl by Mike Maihack

Art of the Day: Barbara Gordon, Kara Kent and Streaky

Artwork: Batgirl and Supergirl by Mike Maihack

Art of the Day: Batgirl and Supergirl

Artwork: Batgirl and Supergirl by Mike Maihack

Art of the Day: Batgirl

Artwork: Batgirl by Mike Maihack

Art of the Day: Batgirl

Artwork: Batgirl by Mike Maihack

Entertainment News #8: Cancelled Shows, Shelved Movies and a Show Ending

- Netflix cancels the TV series First Kill after one season. I believe one of the reasons why Netflix keeps losing subscribers is due to the company constantly cancelling TV series. Viewers are not going to continue investing their time into series if the company can't be bothered to do the same. And they barely promoted this show before it premiered.

I don't like how now of days, networks and streaming services do the bare minimum when it comes to promoting shows and then expect fans and viewers to watch something they didn't know existed. Or networks and streaming services expect fans to do the promotion for them which is a lazy approach to marketing. It's disappointing this series was cancelled because it actually was rather interesting and I had hoped it would get another season to really delve more into the story.

Art of the Day: Streaky the Supercat, Supergirl and Batgirl

Artwork: Supergirl and Batgirl by Mike Maihack

Art of the Day: Batgirl

Artwork: Batgirl by ronsalas

Art of the Day: Supergirl and Batgirl

Artwork: Batgirl Annual #1 cover by Bengal

Comic Book Wednesday: Batman Adventures: Batgirl: A League of Her Own

Something I miss about pre-Covid life is going to the comic book store and I miss my Comic Book Wednesday post. I might not be able to go to the comic book store but I can bring back my CBW post by posting new and old comic books that I want to read like this Batgirl anthology.

Batman Adventures: Batgirl: A League of Her Own is a must read for me. I love the Batman: The Animated Series and the follow up series The New Batman Adventures ;and the Batgirl featured on both of those shows is one of my favorite versions of the character. I can't wait to get this and read it, especially since the book features several Batgirl stories that tie-in to the BTAS and TNBA universe.

Book: Batman Adventures: Batgirl: A League of Her Own by written and illustrated by various writers and artists

Description:

Batgirl takes on Gotham City's toughest villains including Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy in these timeless, all-ages stories set in the world of the seminal Batman: The Animated Series!

In these previously uncollected stories inspired by the hit Batman: The Animated Series, Batgirl swings across the rooftops of Gotham City alongside Batman, Nightwing, and Robin to battle the likes of Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Ra's al Ghul. She even finds time to team up with her father, Commissioner Gordon, to catch two escaped convicts.

These stories are written and illustrated by top Batman: The Animated Series and Batman Adventures talent, including Paul Dini, Ty Templeton, and Rick Burchett, along with a cover by Batman: The Animated Series co-creator Bruce Timm! Collects the all-ages Batgirl Adventures #1 and Batman: Gotham Adventures #8-9, #22, and 38!

Art of the Day: Batgirl (Barbara Gordon)

Artwork: Batgirl by Des Taylor

Illustration of the Day: Batgirl (Barbara Gordon)

Illustration: Batgirl: Year One

Batgirl: Year One is one of my favorite books, if you haven't read it, I really recommend giving it a read. It's the best!

Art of the Day: Oracle

Artwork: Oracle by Phil Cho

Art of the Day: Batgirl

Artwork: Batgirl by therry

Book Review: Batgirl vol #2 (New 52)

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.

Art of the Day: Batgirl (DC Super Hero Girls)

Artwork: Batgirl by Phil-G-Ramsay

Currently Reading: Batgirl vol #2 (New 52) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

I can't believe it's been four years since I read the first volume of the New 52 Batgirl series. Due to reading so many Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) books, I had gotten a bit behind with my own books which is why I decided to cut back on reading and requesting ARCs. With that said, I can't wait to start reading vol #2, it's most likely still as grim and dark as the first volume but I'm looking forward to reading it.

As for the second book I'm reading, I figure it's never too late to read a classic. I've watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but I've never read the book both movies were based on.

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

Description:

Batgirl Barbara Gordon faces foe after foe now that she's back in the role of Batgirl. A deadly new gentleman killer, Grotesque, stalks the streets of Gotham City; The Court of Owls sets its sight on her father Commissioner Gordon; and an innocent woman sentenced to Arkham emerges more dangerous than the inmates she was locked up with!

Book: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket book #1) by Roald Dahl with illustrations by Quentin Blake

Edition: Paperback

Description:

Willy Wonka's Famous Chocolate Factory is Opening at Last!

But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!

Art of the Day: Oracle (Barbara Gordon)

Artwork: Oracle by arunion

I still miss Barbara Gordon as Oracle. Yeah she's great as Batgirl but as Oracle that's where she excelled because not only did she overcome a traumatic experience caused by the Joker but she took on a new heroic role as the information powerhouse Oracle.

People with disabilities are unfortunately often overlooked in society but in the comics Barbara Gordon wasn't. The pre-New 52 Birds of Prey, Batman and Detective Comics stories showed Barbara front and center instead of being pushed to the sidelines. I don't know if DC Comics even realized or cared that they had an amazing character who fans loved but who also represented the disabled into their decision when they made the change for the New 52.

I've said it before and I'm saying it again, Barbara didn't need to go back to being Batgirl in order to be a hero. She already was as Oracle.

Fandom Friday: Girls' Night Out (The New Batman Adventures Animated Series)

Happy Friday!

I wanted to create a new column for my blog, Fandom Friday where I can post anything on my mind that's fandom related. The first post goes to an episode of The New Batman Adventures animated series.

Batman: The Animated Series and the follow up series The New Batman Adventures are pretty much considered to be a classic and there are so many episodes that are my favorite to watch. But there is one episode I wish had turned into a spin off series. Girls' Night Out was the 7th episode from the revamped The New Batman Adventures and this episode had Batgirl and Supergirl (who was from the Superman: The Animated Series) teaming up to stop Livewire who teamed up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn. The deadly trio were terrorizing Gotham city and it had these two heroes to have to come up with a plan in order to put a stop to their crimes.

It was a fun action-packed crossover between the two animated series. This episode was great, it was all girl power, heroes vs. villains. This was the beginnings of a friendship between these two which I wished carried over to the Justice League/JL Unlimited animated series. On JL/JLU, I always felt like Kara could have benefited from having Barbara show up every now and then on a few episodes.

I was a kid when I watched Girls' Night Out, I still remember geeking out when I saw it because it's not like when Batgirl teamed up with Catwoman in the finale episode of Batman: The Animated Series, this episode had the female version of The World's Finest in one episode. I really wished this episode had turned into a spin off series for Batgirl and Supergirl, it would have been so cool because both would have been the main characters instead of the supportive characters they were on their respective animated series.

Fashion Meets Comics: Batgirl T-Shirt

The New 52 may not be my favorite era of DC Comics but one thing I did like was the new suit that was designed for Barbara Gordon's Batgirl. It reminded me of the suit she wore on The New Batman Adventures animated series.

I like that the shirt is turquoise (one of my favorite colors), I wonder if it's as bright and colorful as it appears in the picture. I wouldn't mind getting this, I think it would look great for the summer.

Batgirl "Flying with Bats" Juniors T-Shirt                        $24.95                       WB Shop (wbshop.com)