Rating: *

I collect about twelve titles each month - not including mini-series and one-shots.  I collect the stuff that really interests me and normally I’m not disappointed.  A lot of my reviews for comics are positive.  On the four star rating system, I normally give a comic I’ve read three to three and a half stars.  Since I began writing reviews for Comix 411, there have been a few comics that I’ve reviewed that have disappointed me.  Those comics have received two stars or two and a half.  I have never given a comic book, a one star - until today. 

Last year DC announced that they would be canceling Birds of Prey.  After it was revealed that Dick Grayson would be the new Batman, another announcement was made regarding the collection of Bat-Family books for DC Comics.  One of the books that would be debuting would be a new monthly Batgirl title.  Leaks began hitting the Internet that there would be a new girl under the mask.  Some began to think, with the cancellation of Birds of Prey, Barbara Gordon would be returning to the role of Batgirl in the new title.  So who is the new Batgirl?  Well it’s none other than Stephanie Brown aka The Spoiler, the former super-hero girlfriend of Timothy Drake Wayne aka Red Robin.

Now I have no problem with this - I like Stephanie.  I think she’s a great character.  But what about Cassandra Cain?  Cassandra Cain has been Batgirl for about ten years now.  She’s very popular and has a big following among the Bat-fans in the comic book world.  Why the change?  Well, according to the story in issue one of this month’s new Batgirl comic book, now that Bruce Wayne is dead, she has no interest in fighting crime anymore.  According to her, “That symbol… His crest, His fight… I fought for him.  But, no more.  The fight is yours.”  This all happens in a flashback as Cassandra and Steph are fighting a bunch of street punks.  After the fight is over, Cassandra takes off her Batgirl costume and disappears over the side of a building.  Huh?!?  What kind of explanation is that?  This makes no sense.  I’m no expert on the character of Cassandra Cain, but it would seem that she would continue the good fight even if Bruce wasn’t around.

The opening plot of this first issue is Stephanie taking on the role of Batgirl and hiding it from her mother.  As Batman readers know, Stephanie’s mom knows she worked as The Spoiler.  She doesn’t approve of that type of lifestyle and wants Stephanie to be a “normal” girl.  Part of her being normal is her starting college at Gotham University where we see her daydreaming in philosophy class thinking about her life as a crime-fighter. 

In this issue, we also see the former Batgirl, Barbara Gordon.  She meets up with Leslie Thompkins who has taken in the crippled daughter of Barbara’s enemy, The Calculator.  Barbara also has lunch with her Dad who tries to set her up with a new police officer on the force.  She then gets a call from Dick Grayson.  We can assume by his spying on the new Batgirl which is shown at the beginning of the issue, he’s deduced that this Batgirl is not Cassandra Cain and by the way she fights, the new Batgirl is Stephanie Brown.  Stephanie wakes up after a night of crime fighting still debating on whether she should do as her mother asks and live a normal life.  Stephanie receives a visit from Barbara so they can have a little chat about her new role - and Barbara doesn’t seem to be too thrilled either.  We end there.

One of the things I didn’t like about this issue is that it had some really bad street dialogue.  I know comics are famous for some cheesy dialogue when it comes to tough guys on the street, but some of the dialogue in the opening scene just made me groan out loud at how awful it was.  The story did nothing for me and I think what really solidified it was the scene where Cassandra gave up being Batgirl.  This opening story of a new Batgirl is crucial to having a decent explanation as to why the old one no longer wants to be Batgirl.  With that failure, the whole story fell apart for me and I lost interest.

Bryan Q Miller is the writer for this story and Lee Garbett is the artist.  Garbett is not that bad here.  He does a pretty good job - much better than Ramon Bachs on Red Robin.  I would skip this one folks.  This issue does nothing for me and gives me no incentive to get the next issue.  Sorry.