DCAU #76: Batgirl: Day One

IN THIS ONE... Batgirl's first night out alone leads her to stop a jewel theft by Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn and Catwoman

CREDITS: Written by Kelley Puckett; art by Mike Parobeck and Rick Burchett.

REVIEW: It came out around the time Shadow of the Bat did, so you might have read it before you saw the episode. Perhaps that's why I can't quite tell where it fits in Batgirl's continuity. In this issue, she dreams of fighting crime like Batman does, goes to a costume party dressed in a female version of his costume (better than in SofB Part 1, but closer to Batman '66 than Part 2's), competently prevents a big wonking gem from being stolen by three major villains, and then dumps the costume in the trash because it "didn't fit". So is this after that first televised adventure, or did this happen some time before, informing Barbara's eventual decision to wear the cowl? Could be either.

The reality is that it really doesn't matter. It's Batgirl! I love Batgirl! Batman only appears on the splash page, in some crazy "untold" Mount Rushmore adventure before surrendering the book to Babs Gordon who has to take care of Harley Quinn (who almost takes her head off a couple times), Poison Ivy (Batgirl takes a potted plant hostage to disarm her), and Catwoman (whose involvement is foreshadowed for sharp readers by the "Catseye" security team) whose treacherousness is well played.

It's a very fun story, with lots of beautiful girls being smart and interesting, and it's funny too, with several background pieces of dialog in tiny type providing low-key punchlines, like one of Catwoman's goons asking her out, for example.
IN THE MAINSTREAM COMICS: Batgirl's introduction at a costume party is straight out of the comics, though Killer Moth is replaced by Batman's three best-known female rogues.

REREADABILITY: Medium-High - Only the continuity confusion makes me hesitate in giving this a High recommendation.

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