Henchman-4-Hire

Now this is a legitimate surprise, and one I find myself welcoming with open arms. DC Comics has revealed a new creative team on Batgirl for this fall, and with it, I think they’re signaling a new direction for their entire company. At least I hope that’s the case. Forgive me for getting a little hyperbolic over here, but I like what I see and I see what I like.

Look at this picture, from artists Cameron Stewart and Babs Tarr, and tell me it isn’t Batgirl channeling Ms. Marvel or Lumberjanes.

Hipsters are still popular, right?

I don’t know how things look from where you’re sitting, but for me, we’re in the middle of a comic book revolution. Cute, quirky, artistic and personable comics are my favorites, these days, and Marvel is leading the charge. Hawkeye, Silver Surfer, She-Hulk, Captain Marvel, FF and, especially, Ms. Marvel are the comics on everyone’s lips. They’re new and interesting, with a focus on both style and substance. These are comics that push the medium towards a true art form. Or at the very least, a great entertainment. In my curmudgeony old age, I find myself flocking towards these types of comics, ones that focus on the people first and the superheroes second, ones that love art and revel in how unique comic book art can be. There is also a stronger focus on women, both as characters and as creators.

Basically, everything Marvel and most Indie comics are doing these days.

But not DC.

Since the start of the New 52, DC has been glued to their House Style for the past three years. Comics Alliance goes into detail here, but basically, DC has strictly followed the designs and style of artists like Jim Lee and David Finch when making all of their comics. Whether it was Superman, Batman, Blue Beetle or Hawk & Dove, DC has only cared about creating grim, gritty, detailed and action-filled comics.

But who is talking about DC Comics these days? Aside from praising maybe Scott Snyder’s Batman or Brian Azzarello’s Wonder Woman, who out there has any kind words for DC? Nobody. There’s nothing but derision, for the most part. Whereas Marvel books are the talk of the town.

Well now it looks to me like DC is finally going to reach outside the box and try something new.

I love this costume design

According to Mtv’s interview with the books creators, including writer Brenden Fletcher, Barbara Gordon is going to move to Burnside, the hipster borough of Gotham City, where she will immerse herself in youth culture. She’s going to build that new costume out of materials from vintage clothing stores. Barbara Gordon is going to become hip. She’s going to take selfies and probably drink coffee.

I’m not knocking these facts, I think they sound great. I love Gail Simone as much as the next person, but she was writing to the House Style Batgirl. That’s on DC, not on her. She even said so on Twitter that she was told to keep her Batgirl grim and gritty.

I never read Gail Simone’s Batgirl series because I just couldn’t bring myself to care, for some reason. I’ve never cared very much about Batgirl, and I loved Secret Six a bit too much to forgive DC when they launched the New 52. The point is, I am definitely going to give this new Batgirl direction a try in October.

Very cute pop!

I don’t know if DC can pull it off. I don’t know if their heads are in the right place or if they’re just playing copycat. But between Batgirl and Gotham Academy, I really think they may have finally caught on to the way the winds are blowing. Perhaps there is hope for them yet.

———————————-