Batgirl #13 Review

Writer: Hope Larson / Artist: Inaki Miranda / DC Comics Cutting to the chase, Batgirl #13 did not need to happen. In its second filler in a row since the “Son of Penguin” arc, Batgirl airs a filler that would be more forgivable if not for last week’s underachieving standalone, making this issue exceptional only in that it seized the opportunity to highlight a likable new character. That character, Esme, is memorable from our last arc whom Barbara Gordon met while learning to balance her work, life, and heroism, by volunteering to teach coding to a group of students. Esme is instantly endearing as we see the world through a wide-eyed child on an adventure, and the issue takes place with her inner voice guiding the way, living the dream we all once had as kids who stumble into the chance to play sidekick to our favorite heroes.

Unfortunately, that is where the intrigue stops. Batgirl #13 follows Esme and Batgirl as they search for a lost, Instagram-famous dog. When they cross paths with Catwoman, they discover that Isis – Catwoman’s pet and best friend – is also missing, so they three team up to solve the mystery of the stolen pets. If this plot seems too silly to be true, that is because you would generally expect more, even from a standalone, perhaps in the form of veiled moral of higher proportions or being lulled to sleep by a seemingly arid plot only to be surprised with its twist. Alas, the story ends as suddenly as it begins, and Catwoman is merely a prop cameo, empty i…