Batgirl 2: Stephanie Brown

Let's just say that I don't like to clutter my house with stuff, but Stephanie Brown will always find a place on my shelf. Good art. A deeply flawed, maybe even contrived, but strong heroine. Well paced, energetic stories and dialogue that for me never feels forced or dumb, but flows naturally, even when characters are quipping left and right.This volume may seem a bit all over the place, with Batgirl jumping from one team-up to another, but it allows us to see Stephanie as a conduit through which characters of the Batman Family can find some light in their lives, which too often are marred with tragedy.My opinion about this run of Batgirl changed a couple of times throughout the years but I think my appreciation for it ultimately increased. Especially in the "current year", as we get more propaganda and token characters stuffed into our entertainment, it's good to be able to go back to a book where women were written first and foremost as human beings, and not as mouthpieces of the authors. As they are allowed to struggle and grow, we are allowed to learn with them.And seeing the criminal lack of imagination and thought that went into Barbara's return, this particular book is the last time Batgirl was truly great and inspiring.

Wow, this book was awesome! Great to see Steph finally getting treated with somewhat respect and having a proper story that isn’t just a tie in to Tim or her Dad. Would like to have got to know proxy more, wonder if she’s featured in other books.Having read both the alternative older runs of Batgirl, it really shines a light on how bad the semi rebooted, young but not really, burnside Babs is. Each of these runs really let these characters shine, history and all but current Babs is crippled as a character due to forcing a younger focus.I would really love to see a Babs/Oracle ran batgirl team in the future, like has been hinted at so many times.Stop trying to force Babs back to being a child and let her evolve.It’s going to feel really strange seeing Steph as Spoiler again after her getting to have her run as a true bat family member.

In terms of the contents of this book (story, art) it's absolutely fantastic. The story is fun and well written with some great moments and Steph might just be my personal favourite Batgirl (I've yet to read any Cassandra Cain books yet though) and she's a refreshing take on the role. The art is also fantastic as it is colorful, vibrant and nothing looks particularly bad either.However, this only gets four stars from me purely based on the quality it was delivered in as on the front cover there is a crease on the corner, a rather large on for a supposedly 'new' item, which has also impacted a good portion of the pages. I would certainly recommend that if you're buying comics from Amazon that you buy multiple at one time so that way you get them in a box, otherwise they'll be sent in one of those glorified oversized envelopes which are just terrible.Overall, the comic itself is fantastic and one of my favourites but I can't give it 5 stars because of the quality that it came in. If you can find this book on a different site then that would probably be optimal but otherwise this is a must have if you're a fan of Stephanie Brown or Batgirl in general.

Very happy DC has reprinted in 2 graphic novels. Originals were 3. Cover is as photographed.

I love it?

It came in great shape and wrapped up individually.

It arrived earlier

A good read

This series offered a chance to see Stephanie Brown - daughter of Cluemaster, Spoiler, the girl Robin - grow into her heroism as one of the Batgirls. Barbara Gordon - the Batgirl of most of comics history, who is also Oracle - mentors Stephanie.That all changes after a later crisis, but it was a real joy to read. There was something gentle about it despite all the fighting.

FANTASTIC ITEM