Batman Beyond #12 Review

Terry McGinnis and Bruce Wayne are out of town.  But that doesn’t meant that Gotham is suddenly going to start behaving.  Enter: Batgirl!  Your Major Spoilers review of Batman Beyond #12 awaits!

BATMAN BEYOND #12

Writer: Vita Ayala & Steve Orlando
Penciler: Siya Oum
Inker: Dexter Vines
Colorist: Tony Avina
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Editor: Jim Chadwick
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Previously in Batman Beyond: “In a special issue by the guest team of writers Steve Orlando and Vita Ayala and artist Siya Oum, Batman and Bruce Wayne are away—so who’s left to protect Neo-Gotham?  Enter Nissa, the seldom seen 15-year-old Batgirl of the future!  Crime and corruption lead Commissioner Barbara Gordon to the lawless neighborhood of Crown Point where she soon finds herself under siege.  Can this young, self-made caped crusader save Gordon without the resources of Batman?”

“WELCOME TO CROWN POINT…”

As we open, we find Batman out of town, leaving Terry’s friend Max in the Batcave to watch over the city.  When an alert arrives that Commissioner Gordon has been kidnapped, Max goes into action to find her.  She also encounters Nissa, the fifteen-year-old Batgirl who operates out of Crown Point, one of Gotham’s worst neighborhoods.  Though they don’t mesh initially, the desire to save Gordon (a former Batgirl herself, remember) allows them to combine forces and overcome her kidnapper, a truly disgusting dirty cop named Flass.  Combining Max’s smarts, Batgirl’s combat prowess and the determination of Barbara Gordon, they take Flass down, and as the issue ends, Max offers Batgirl her own communicator, inviting her into the Bat-family.  Max and Commissioner Gordon watch the sun rise, remarking that the Bat-Women did perfectly fine without Batman…

THE BAT-WOMEN

This is a nice issue, but I feel a little bit in the dark, having not seen this future Batgirl before.  Even knowing what I know about the world of Batman Beyond, it’s a little bit shaky, even as the interpersonal drama works.  I really want to see more of this Batgirl, but her conflict with Commissioner Gordon is somehow lacking in the grounding needed to make it work.  I like the fact that Barbara reminds her that she doesn’t have to answer even to Batman, which is great given her own Batgirl career, and I enjoy the art throughout, so it’s not as though it falls apart.  But for some reason, this feels like it’s just a tiny bit off the mark, even so.  I do enjoy the design of Batgirl’s suit and find the combat sequences to be dynamic and well-thought-out, though.

THE BOTTOM LINE: CUTE, BUT SOMEHOW LACKING SOMETHING

In short, it’s not a disappointing issue, but it’s one that just didn’t quite fully engage me as a reader.  Perhaps a hardcore fan from the beginning will have a stronger response, as Batman Beyond #12 makes for a better-than-average read with some intriguing plot pieces in play, earning 3 out of 5 stars overall.  I would like to read more from this creative team, though, so I think we’re an overall win for the future of Gotham City…

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