BARBARA GORDON: BREAKOUT #3 (DC COMICS)
Does Barbara Gordon have enough left to survive Supermax Prison?
The vigilante took on an impossible case to find out what is happening to innocent people inside the deadly compound. Her stay has been less than welcomed. With constant fighting and an untrustworthy ally, Gordon pushes forward to find the truth.
She soon realizes the clues might not be in front of her. They might be buried in the past….
BARBARA GORDON: BREAKOUT #3 by Mariko Tamaki, Amancay Nahuelpan, Tamra Bonvillain & Ariana Maher (DC COMICS) takes Batgirl into dangerous areas.
Let’s take a closer look at what’s happening now.
BARBARA GORDON: BREAKOUT #3 by Mariko Tamaki, Amancay Nahuelpan, Tamra Bonvillain & Ariana Maher (DC COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Tamaki throws Gordon into troubling times with this latest chapter. With the abuse endured at Supermax, the writing sees Gordon start slipping further into madness. It is offset by a flashback of a previous Bat-family case. The case reminds Gordon to trust her instincts when it comes to the prison. Her early encounter with Sparrow keeps things on edge as they start another day behind bars. This only worsens as the reflections inside the walls steer towards some unsettling circumstances.
Readers watch as the flashbacks grow more intense. They prove to be a metaphor for what’s happening now. The writing shows Barbara’s obsession in solving an identity. Borrowing from this playbook, the story dips into a more combustible present. A electrifying twist happens as Barbara appears to put some clues together. It results in a chilling finish as more answers appear to be on the horizon.
read last issue’s review!
Nahuelpan & Bonvillain open with the flashback of the Bat-Family in action. The looks are more positive than brooding as they prepare to search for a suspect. Barbara’s talk with Nightwing is as casual as one can expect. Their close-up speak loudly as Barbara tries to sort through her miscalculations. It leads into a solid full page shot of Batgirl soaring in the skyline. A much happier time than her current stat quo.
The prison roll-call is more gritty and uneasy to watch. Gordon’s uncertainty of who to trust leads into justifiable paranoia. Her dissection of the prison is down to the letter. Readers watch as that problem isn’t the only one she has. The ghost hallucinations take a near full shot breaking her down. This moves events back to the past. After a brief full shot, panels go back to a frantic Gordon trying to flee. It results in a strong full page image. This matches the energy of the flashback finale panels. Once in the closing stages, the tone goes very dark as more clues appear to become known. Solid work.
FINAL GRADE: 8.2
Has Barbara Gordon hit her breaking point? Tamaki keeps the heavy pressure up with the script. Nahuelpan & Bonvillain delve into the previous case with excellent pages. Gordon’s latest case is anything but open and shut.
Let me know your thoughts on BARBARA GORDON: BREAKOUT #3 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
