Art by: Neil Googe
Colors by: Rico Renzi
Letters by: Becca Carey
Cover art by: Jorge Corona, Sarah Stern
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: September 13, 2022
Batgirls #10 continues the hunt for the Hill Ripper as Cassie and Steph work to crack a mysterious code found in their murdered neighbor's "eye." Meanwhile, Killer Moth makes a nuisance of himself, and Steph may have found a love interest.
Is It Good?
Batgirls #10 works best when you reset your expectations for what they could be and accept them for what they are. The tone, pacing, dialog, and plot have slowly but steadily morphed into a YA adventure story, filled with middle school banter, corny jokes only your bestie would laugh at, mild action with minimal stakes, and a murder mystery with all the dramatic tension of a Scooby-Doo episode.
Please note that this is not a criticism. It's a re-alignment of expectations. As long as you know what you're in for, you can plan accordingly.
The plot centers around Cass and Steph trying to crack the code found in their murdered neighbor's fake eye. Through a wild stretch of assumptions, the girls conclude the message is a book cipher that has something to do with the word "eye." As they pour through every book in the library that has anything to do with the word "eye," Steph bumps into a boy who immediately sparks a romantic interest.
Meanwhile, Barbara has a contentious meeting with Commissioner Montoya to ask for GCPD cooperation (she doesn't get it), and she takes the edge off with a little Dick Grayson sexy time. You could make the case the male characters in this issue are either villains or subjects of sexual objectification by the Batgirls, but that's a different article for another day.
The issue ends with Cass cracking the code and the introduction of a new villain.
Is it good? If you're looking for a YA mystery targeted at middle school girls who will probably never read this comic, you're in for a treat. For everyone who reads comics and remembers when Cass was considered one of the most lethal killers on the planet, skilled enough to beat Batman, you'll probably be better off skipping this.
The art is fine. Since Corona's departure from the internal pages, the art style has varied significantly but stayed on the same quality level. Googe has a solid eye for character design and panel composition, but he struggles with drawing feet. Other than the cartoonish foot designs, the art is good enough to match the story.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Bits and Pieces:
Batgirls #10 amps up the middle school YA shenanigans and turns down the dramatic tension in the Batgirls' search for a killer. The art is fine, and the plot makes a mild amount of progress, but the corny, childish dialog may be off-putting for some, and the leisurely pace prevents creating any excitement or anticipation.6.5/10
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