Tag Neil Googe

A Batgirls #16 Micro-Review – Puppet Nightmare Fuel

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***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Batgirls 16, cover, March 2023, Jorge Corona, Sarah SternTITLE: Batgirls #16
AUTHORS: Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad
ARTISTS:  Neil Googe, Geraldo Borges (Finishes), Rico Renzi (Colorist), Becca Carey (Letterer). Cover by Jorge Corona & Sarah Stern.
RELEASED: March 14, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue serves up some nightmare fuel in the form of robot puppets made up to look like the extended Batman family. Most of them are in classic costumes too. So the book gets some added fanboy cred there.

Neil Googe draws a pretty awesome Mad  Hatter. Neil Googe draws a lot of things pretty awesome. This is a really strong issue for him.

Has there ever been a Girl-Bat, i.e. a young female version of Man-Bat? Why do I ask? Oh, no reason…

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Batgirls #15 Micro-Review – An Essential Stephanie Brown Issue

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Batgirls 15, cover, February 2023, Jorge Corona, Sarah SternTITLE: Batgirls #15
AUTHORS: Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad
ARTISTS:  Neil Googe, Rico Renzi (Colorist), Frank Cvetkovic (Letterer). Cover by Jorge Corona & Sarah Stern. 
RELEASED: February 14, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This is one of the better issues you’ll ever read about Stephanie Brown and her father, the Cluemaster. If they ever make a collection of essential Stephanie stories, this one should be included. It’s that strong. My hat’s off to Cloonan and Conrad for delivering the goods, and to Googe and Renzi for delivering on the drama and heart.

The centerpiece of this series is, as it should be, the friendship between our main characters, Stephanie and Cassandra. That’s one of the notes this issue ends on, and it really sticks the landing.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Tim Drake: Robin #4 Micro-Review – The Batgirls Family

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

tim_drake_robin_4_cover_december_2022_ricardo_lopez_ortiz (1)TITLE: Tim Drake: Robin #4
AUTHOR: Meghan Fitzmartin
ARTISTS: Riley Rossmo, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Tom Napolitano (Letterer). Cover by Ricardo Lopez Ortiz. 
RELEASED: December 27, 2022

The Batgirls, Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown, make an appearance in this issue. It’s interesting, in that Riley Rossmo’s art almost feels like it’s in the same family as that of Jorge Corona and Neil Googe, the two respective regular artists on the Batgirls series.

This issue also contains a sweet moment between Tim and his boyfriend Bernard. I initially wasn’t sure about the two of them as a couple, given their history as friends in the comics. But they’re growing on me.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Batgirls 2022 Annual Micro-Review – A Different Perspective

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Batgirls 2022 Annual, cover, November 2022, Robbi Rodriguez, Rico RenziTITLE: Batgirls 2022 Annual
AUTHORS: Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad
ARTISTS: Robbi Rodriguez, Rico Renzi (Colorist), Dave Sharpe (Letterer)

RELEASED: November 29, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

I thought the body-switch storyline we see here might have been a one-off for the annual. But as it turns out, it’s continuing into Batgirls #13. Thankfully, they’re using it for more than just comedy. There’s the potential for some really nice character exploration with the story. They’ve got me looking forward to more.

Robbi Rodriguez’s style is a little more conventional than what Batgirls has shown us from Jorge Corona and Neil Googe. We didn’t need a break from that more quirky style. But it’s nonetheless nice to see things from what feels like a different perspective.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Batgirls #12 Micro-Review – Classic (Not S&M) Riddler

Rob Siebert 1 Comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Batgirls 12, cover, 2022, Jorge Corona, Sarah Stern, RiddlerTITLE: Batgirls #12
AUTHOR: Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad
ARTISTS: Neil Googe, Rico Renzi (Colorist), Becca Carey (Letterer). Cover by Jorge Corona & Sarah Stern.

RELEASED: November 8, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Neil Googe and Rico Renzi put together a really fun rendition of the Riddler. Classic Riddler, mind you. Not S&M Riddler.

Batgirls has hit its stride, and become one of the most fun offerings at DC Comics right now. Not just because of the dynamics between the characters, but work Neil Googe is turning in. It’s a bit unconventional for a Bat-book. But he’s making it work. I’m hopeful this series has a long life in front of it.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Batgirls #11 Micro-Review – Arkham Zoo?!?

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Batgirls 11, cover, 2022, Jorge Corona, Sarah SternTITLE: Batgirls #11
AUTHORS: Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad
ARTISTS: Neil Googe, Scott Godlewski, Wayne Faucher (Co-Inker), Rico Renzi (Colorist), Becca Carey (Letterer). Cover by Jorge Corona & Sarah Stern.

RELEASED: October 11, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Cloonan and Conrad are doing a nice job making the Gotham Academy characters feel important and relevant to Batgirls. I never read GA, but always heard good things.

As I’m a stickler for this sort of thing, I have to point out that while there is a zoo in this issue, there is in fact no Arkham Zoo as the cover suggests. No pack of tigers surrounding our heroes either.

Who would you keep at Arkham Zoo, anyway? All the animal-themed villains? The Penguin? Killer Croc? Man-Bat?

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Batgirls #10 Micro-Review – Animated Grit

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Batgirls 10, cover, 2022, Sarah SternTITLE: Batgirls #10
AUTHORS: Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad
ARTISTS: Neil Googe, Rico Renzi (Colorist), Becca Carey (Letterer). Cover by Jorge Corona & Sarah Stern.
RELEASED: September 13, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

For my tastes, Neil Googe and Rico Renzi’s art is a little easier on the palette. It’s highly animated at times, especially when it comes to Stephanie Brown. But at the same time it’s got a certain grit to it that fits Gotham City well. Let’s call it animated grit…

Steph gets a love interest in this issue. It comes off pretty charming, largely thanks to the way Neil Googe and Rico Renzi draw it. After a couple decades of conditioning, having that love interest not be Tim Drake is going to take some getting used to.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Batgirls #9 Micro-Review – Thanks For Showing Up!

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Batgirls 9, cover, 2022, Jorge Corona, Sarah SternTITLE: Batgirls #9
AUTHORS: Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad
ARTISTS: Neil Googe, Rico Renzi (Colorist), Becca Carey (Letterer). Cover by Jorge Corona & Sarah Stern.
RELEASED: August 9, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This is one of the only superhero comics I’ve ever read to not only acknowledge that it’s a comic book, but to have our narrator (Stephanie) thank us for showing up again. Granted, this is the first issue of Batgirls I’ve picked up in awhile. Have they been doing that kind of thing the whole time? It’s…different.

KGBeast, the villain that shot Nightwing in the head and gave him amnesia, is back to being treated like a chump. Our heroes pretty much spank him here. Well, we knew his sudden serious turn wouldn’t last, didn’t we?

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.