Beatty and Dixon did a great job with Robin: Year One back in 2000, so it comes as no surprise that the debut issue of Batgirl: Year One has all the makings for another strong series. The writers update the origin of a member of the Batman Family, and they add a greater depth of characterization, more logic and some new parallels that are in line with the character's eventual evolution into something more than a generic super-hero sidekick or spinoff. The one problem, though, is the need for the reader to be quite aware of DC continuity to fully appreciate the storytelling.
Young Barbara Gordon knows her stuff. She's well versed in computer science, law enforcement and the martial arts. She's brilliant and resourceful, but her problem is that everyone around her underestimates her due to her height and girlish appearance. She's bound and determined to be a force for good and yearns to break out of people's perceptions of her as a mousey librarian. Ultimately, she decides the answer to her problems lies in getting help from one of Gotham's heroic and colorfully clad residents... but it's not the Batman.
Marcos does a fantastic job with the art here. He manages to capture the title character's small stature and youthful appearance that causes others around her to think of her as fragile, but he also conveys her confidence and grace of movement. His work here reminds me of that of David (Batman: Year One) Mazzuchelli and Michael (Gotham Central) Lark. My one qualm with the art is that given the reflective nature of the script, I'd have liked to see some more darkness in the line art and colors, like we see on the cover.
This issue's biggest liability is its reliance on and redefinition of DC Universe continuity. Linking Batgirl's origin to the Justice Society makes sense in the character's new context and adds a new, unpredictable element into the origin story, but Beatty and Dixon really don't provide much in the way of exposition for the uninitiated reader. Thanks to the 1960s Batman television show, Batgirl is actually something of a pop culture icon and of interest to only casual comics readers. And even readers of Birds of Prey might not be well versed on points of DC continuity involving the JSA.
Despite that accessibility concern, though, there's no denying that this is an excellent use of the super-hero genre and the somewhat unpopular practice of retcons. This is a character-driven story now, not the gimmick-driven tale from yesteryear that served as an excuse to expand the Batman line of characters. Beatty and Dixon really delve into what makes Barbara tick. Her confidence and savvy here make her an instantly likeable figure, and it's her fight with perception, not a super-villain, that makes for interesting reading.
