Batgirl (2016-2020) #2

Batgirl (2016) (Single Issues)

by Hope Larson, Rafael Albuquerque (Illustrator)

“Beyond Burnside” part two. Batgirl is off to Singapore! Following the mysterious advice of the ancient superhero known as Fruit Bat, Babs dives into the dangerous world of MMA fighting. But her first opponent may be more than just an adversary in the ring. Could she be connected to Babs’ new travel-companion-slash-maybe-crush?

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Comic Book, Comics Manga, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Graphic Novels Comics

25 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 24, 2016

About the author

Hope Larson is an American illustrator and comics artist. Hope Larson is the author of Salamander Dream, Gray Horses, Chiggers, and Mercury. She won a 2007 Eisner Award. She lives in Los Angeles, California.

Reviews

[S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like a 2.5 but I'm rating it up because I have resigned myself with the story... It does improve slightly on the previous issue because we get to spend more time in Barbara's head, but the flaws are all still there.

Also: when meeting her new training instructor in Singapore she goes down with on punch!? Really!? This is the woman who fought the Joker and some of Gotham's most terrifying villains, and trained side by side with Batman and SHE GOES DOWN WITH ONE PUNCH!?

[Dr Rashmit Mishra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really Really Sad issue

The flaws of the first issue are still there , unrectified and though the story is looking like it might be a Batman-esque Detective and mysterious trail it somehow manages to side track often .The whole kiss made me uncomfortable on so many levels , I mean why do DC want to ruin Batgirl-Nightwing romance? it was there in the Batman Beyond TV show , was in the Killing joke movie , in Batman 2.0 and now this . It just feels so wrong especially since apparently the timeline coalesces with the Nightwing infiltrating Court of owls and we are made aware that Dick and Barbara are still a thing . So what does this mean? is Barbara cheating on Dick now ? WTF

Meanwhile The art has been especially annoying to me considering that the Rebirth Era has some of the most brilliant arts drawn by some really awesome people not named Jim Lee like Eddie Barrows for Detective Comics or Patrick Zircher at Action Comics or Juan Ferreya at Green arrow or personally considered the best so far Phil Winslade . But Rafael Albuquerqie depends on his yellow overtone and weird sketches to often depict scenes with erroneous facial expression to compare with the scenario being told

So Far it feels like a real Half-hearted attempts by DC to revive Batgirl to her destined peak and that's just sad on all sorts of level :(

[Annemarie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay, I have to get this of my chest. She's supposedly smart and speaks a bunch of languages but says "a Japanesegirl with a Chinese tattoo" and the tattoo is literally 学生 which coincidentally is Japanese as well. You speak Japanese and you don't know the simpelest of kanji?? Frustrating.

The romance felt forced. The pacing was weird. Still don't like the art. Very disappointed.

[Nalle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esta faceta de Bárbara es más compleja de lo que pensé, aunque también su historia avanza un poco lenta. Me hizo falta Batgirl en este número 🤷

[Nathaniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This take on Batgirl is starting to grow on me, but Larson needs to pick up the story. The idea of Barbara Gordon having some interest and some ability in MMA is a cool idea, and seems like an interesting take. I hope Larson commits one way or the other soon on the potential love interest. I'm not a giant fan of the art Rafael Albuquerque does for this issue, but for portions of the story it worked for me.

[Mai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly I'm just really disappointed with Batgirl rebirth, this issue and the last have been inconsistent with the new 52 batgirl volumes which started off amazingly, it went a little bit downhill with batgirl of burnside, but got much better by the 3rd volume in that series.

But I'm confident things will turn around by the next issue tho.

[Brendan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not yet sold on this series, I had just read the new 52 volume 1 and loved that writing and artwork. This feels shallow and very clunky at the moment but I won't give up just yet.

[Marci ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seemed like a filler issue, but I'm really loving Babs as a character. As I said in my review of the first issue, this is my first Batgirl series so it's all something new for me.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems like Batgirl gets easily distracted when she is on a mission. Girl needs to learn how to prioritize! However, I'm super curious about that tattoo. On to the next issue!

[cauldronofevil · Rating 3 out of 5]

”Beyond Burnside: Part 2”
Batgirl is in Singapore and sees a drone spying on her and Kai. She tracks it down to find it was just a peeping tom.

Barbara goes to a company called Adapt that does something with mixed martial arts and she was hoping she could train. She’s approached and asked if she is looking for a fight. He refers her to May at a nearby gym.

Turns out May lives in Gotham. She spares with May and gets creamed.

Back at the hotel, Kai takes her swimming on the 57th floor of a fancy hotel. Once he tells her he’s got a real job, she kisses him.

Of course, now he’s hooked and changes his plans to stay a few more days with her. She’s already feeling like it was a mistake.

She still trains with May. May arranges a fight with a girl called The Moth in a warehouse with an audience and a referee.

But when Barbara notices the tattoo on The Moth is the same as one she saw on the school girl who attacked Kai and was looking for a ‘formula’ she’s destroyed and knocked out!

Not much story here, but I’m enjoying the art. Not much Batgirl action, but that’s okay. The romance thing is a little lame, but I assume it’s for the target audience. So I’ll give this 2. Nothing particularly bad, just a little thin. But +1 for the art, which I’m enjoying. 3 stars.

[Dylan Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

This issue was not as good as the first one, but I still REALLY enjoyed it and this may end up as one of my favourite Rebirth titles (I will have to read more to find out). Barbara is still an amazing protagonist, and the plot is really intriguing. I can’t wait for the rest of the story to be unravelled. My 2 problems with this issue are the art (very rarely, but still a problem) and the pacing. The pacing was GOOD (the pacing wasn’t in any way bad) but not excellent like in the first issue. As for the art, it is stunning for 99% of the book. The issue arrises when dark colours are used, as I find that it doesn’t work well with the art. Most of the comic is bright and vibrant though, which looks amazing.

[Luiz Santiago · Rating 3 out of 5]

3

[Mar · Rating 5 out of 5]

ME ENCANTÓ

[Steven Shinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still kinda slow-going, with Barbara spending time turning someone down.

[Maranda Prigmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is headed to Singapore. Wants to become a MMA fighter to find out who the teacher is. Kai wants her to be with him and she cares but has her mission.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Batgirl #2' by Hope Larson with art by Rafael Albuquerque continues the Beyond Burnside story. I haven't read a lot with this newer version of the character, but it's a really fun book.

Batgirl finds herself in Singapore, tracking down a lead that will lead her into a ring of MMA style fighting. She's also staying in a posh hotel with her friend Kai. As she investigates the fighting ring, things between her and Kai seem to take a natural course, but Babs isn't sure that's what she wants. She also gets a invite to train and fight, which will lead her closer to the trail she's on.

I'd like to call out the absolutely wonderful cover by Francis Manapul. It's a stunner! The writing and art in the issue are good too. Like I said above, it's a fun book, and I really like this character.

I received a review copy of this issue from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this comic book.

[Marisa Carpico · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really more of 3.5. Lacked a sense of urgency, but I like that Babs is just out there trying to figure out what she wants and who she wants to be. The thought bubble storytelling is a little graceless, but I do love the voice Larson gives her. Even with all the words, the point is a little buried. Hope the next issue kicks things into a higher gear.

[Siona Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5 stars.

Not bad, but not that interesting either. I could do without the romance plot, and I'd like to see more of Fruit Bat or similar characters. Hopefully the next issues are better.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Def enjoy the fact that they are incorporating MMA into the story.Also am fond of the fact that they are in no rush with this title.Its nice that there is not something earth shattering happening every page like it does in a James Patterson novel.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

WHY? WHY? WHY?
Why is it needed for a girl to have a love interest? Couldn't they just be friends?

[mike andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batgirl goes to Singapore and begins MMA training......loses her first fight but gets a little close to the teacher.

[Klara · Rating 3 out of 5]

"You can't see the future when the past is standing in your way." -The one and only Bat Fruit

[Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know a lot of people aren't liking this because of how Young Adult Barbara feels.

But I thought this issue was great. I liked getting to see Barbara learn a little something about fighting and I understand her thoughts about Kai.

I think Kai is pretty cute, but not a lot there. Obviously it's not going to end well.

I'll be reading this book for awhile.

[Marlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Barbara signs up for an MMA fight & she goes down with one punch as though she did not train with Batman, his family & help defeat some of hos villains.

Barbara & Kai has something going on, but she leaves Kai behind because she has her mission.

Meh. Barbara's story seems so young adult.