Batgirl #1

Perhaps I'm biased due to my pre-existing affinity for the character, but I really enjoyed this issue. Casting Stephanie Brown as Batgirl seems like an obvious move, what with every member of the Bat-family getting a promotion after Bruce took the dirt nap, but Brian Miller takes what could have been a very basic excercise in an interesting direction by playing off of one of the most interesting aspects of Stephanie's character: She's not very good at crime fighting.

Oh sure, she's got the moves and the gadgets and the fancy pajamas, but she's just not that effective, barely scraping by in dangerous situations, making bad calls and patting herself on the back. By recognizing this fact in this new series, rather than trying to sell us on how totally awesome the Spoiler has always been, Miller has created a very interesting starting point with a clear direction for what has traditionally been a very aimless character. She know's she's not a very good vigilante, but it's in her blood and she can't give it up.

Of course the slam dunk in the inclusion, from the beginning, of Barbara Gordon, the original Batgirl, in what appears to be a mentoring capacity. The Oracle, as we all know, is as brilliant and tenacious as the greatest of heroes, and to see her test Stephanie to see if she really has what it takes to take up her mantle should be very interesting indeed.