Batgirl #11 Review

The assassin from the Unburied has fallen. Now, Batgirl and her brother, the Jade Tiger, must face a new adversary from the Blood of Wu. But unbeknownst to Cassandra, this new foe has a proposition for her. Will Cass embrace this proposal or will it turn deadly if she refuses? Batgirl #11 concludes “The Three Swords” story arc, and these are my thoughts.

This issue was my favorite of the arc, and it once again proves why this series is a just plain fun read. The pacing was action-packed, and it had a very anime feel to it. Tate Brombal’s script was lean and to the point and there were some twists that I didn’t expect, so I’ll applaud him for that. There were questions that I had brought up in the first part of the arc that were answered by the end, specifically the motivations for the representatives from the Blood clan and the League of Shadows. I was satisfied with those revelations because they tied to both of the previous arcs.

Wu Bing of the Blood was a really compelling villain.

Takeshi Miyazawa’s artwork along with Mike Spicer’s colors continue to be consistent highlights for me as well. The fight sequence between Cassandra, Tenji, and Wu Bing from the Blood (who was familial ties with Cass and Tenji through Shiva’s side) was very reminiscent of popular shōnen anime fights in series like Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, or Dragon Ball Z. There’s this one panel where Cassandra is in full rage mode and pummeling Wu Bing and the expression on her face is drawn really well. I could feel the anger and intensity flowing through her, so props to Miyazawa for being able to continuously convey those emotions in the characters’ faces.

The ferocity in Cass’ face was beautifully illustrated by Takeshi Miyazawa.

I do have some slight nitpicks from the issue. Some of Tenji’s dialogue just doesn’t work for me. Sometimes it just feels out of place, but his character might grow on me over time. He does have an emotional moment with his father that I could relate to and appreciated. Brombal has done a great job throughout the series so far of having those touching character moments, and this issue was no different. Bronze Tiger even had some closure for his character’s arc that I thought worked out nicely as he realized that teachings and spirits of Lady Shiva, her sister, and Richard Dragon live on through Cass and Tenji.

Bronze Tiger realizes that his friends’ legacies will live on in Cass and his son.

By the end, I was excited for the characters’ next journey as they prepare for the looming battle with the Unburied and as they set to join Nyssa al Ghul’s newly formed League of Shadows. And the Blood of Wu will also return, so I’m curious to see how they will play into the larger picture as well.

Recommended if…

• You’re a fan of shōnen anime/manga.
• You’ve enjoyed Takeshi Miyazawa’s action sequences.
• You just want a fast-paced and fun read.

Overall

Batgirl #11 once again proves that the creative team behind this series had a particular vision, and they’re implementing it very well. This issue was just really fun and very anime inspired. The action sequences continue to be dynamic, and there are emotional character moments as well. I continue to have a good time reading this series and cannot wait for Cass’ next adventure.

Score: 8.5/10

DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of review.