Review by Karl Verhoven

Stephanie Brown was for a long period someone DC didn’t know what to do with. New superhero Spoiler being revealed as the daughter of minor Batman villain Cluemaster provided a good emotional twist, and at that point her enthusiasm trumping competency was seen as positive. A spell as Robin ended in her supposed death, and was characterised by conflict with Batman, cementing a reputation as not being up to the job. Reports of her death proved false, and the stage reached in the opening chapter is Cassandra Cain relinquishing the Batgirl identity and passing the costume to Stephanie.

This rankles with Barbara Gordon, the original Batgirl, now confined to a wheelchair as computer whiz Oracle. The introductory three-parter is uncharacteristically average from Brian Q. Miller, who’s still finding his feet. It does the job of introducing the cast and their roles in the series, and Miller delivers credible emotional responses from the start, but the threat isn’t greatly imaginative. That’s certainly not down to primary artist Lee Garbett, whose action scenes are excellently choreographed, and whose visual characterisation also excels. Further into the book there’s a sequence displaying Stephanie’s now greater efficiency in dealing with a would-be suicide bomber on a moving train, and it could be used as the template for establishing scenes.

An essentially lighthearted superhero, Stephanie’s dialogue is along the lines of Spider-Man’s banter, and Miller’s timing and delivery is impeccable. “Dumb as you may be, not an altogether bad plan there”, she compliments one villain, finishing with “Me, I like to improvise”. It sums up Miller’s version of her.

What was originally collected as Batgirl Rising and The Flood is separated by a chapter included in neither in which Stephanie reconnects with old boyfriend Tim Drake, now Red Robin. It’s deliberately awkward, with sniping on both sides and predictable in ensuring they eventually have to work together, but Talent Caldwell’s misproportioned bodies with breasts as large as heads sucks away the fun. It leads into a Red Robin story, but that’s not included here.

Fun is a priority throughout, with Miller never turning up the angst too high, even when appalling parenting is involved in ‘The Flood’. At four parts it’s the longest story here, makes good use of supporting character Wendy Harris, and has Stephanie up against assorted Gotham worthies not in their right minds.

If you prefer your superheroes to have an element of fun, Stephanie Brown’s time as Batgirl really hits the spot, and Volume 2 continues an enjoyable run.