Batgirl #21 & Superman #711

This'll be the last batch of comics I post today. Tomorrow should see another 4-6 reviews posted, as I ever so slowly get up to date with my comic reading. If I can get these reviews taken care of, I'll be able to post something a little different, which would be a nice change of pace. Enjoy! Or don't...

Batgirl #21:

Summary: Having received a tip from her unwanted sidekick, the Grey Ghost, Batgirl comes face-to-face with the newest Order of the Scythe member, Harmony. It seems that Harmony has broken into an abandoned convent and was up to no good(as I'd figure anybody who broke into an abandoned convent would be). Batgirl tries to attack Harmony, but quickly discovers that Harmony was surrounded by a wave of sound that protected her from harm, while damaging anything that got in her way(like a certain Batgirl). After a bit of a battle, Batgirl simply decides to bury Harmony under some rubble while trying to figure out a strategy. While thinking, Batgirl runs into Grey Ghost, and tells him in no uncertain terms to leave her the hell alone, or else. Apparently Batgirl's harsh words FINALLY get through to Ghost, and he leaves. From there, Batgirl realizes that Harmony had gotten out of the rubble and was taking the DNA from a long dead nun... Creepy! Batgirl is stymied by Harmony again, but realizes that a loud enough sound would probably overload Harmony's equipment and make the villain vulnerable. To that end, Batgirl drops a huge bell in the room she was battling Harmony in, and makes quick work of the novice villain. While all of that was going on, Proxy decides to head to Nanda Parbat at the urging of the ghost/hallucination of her dead brother, Marvin, with the hope that the trip would help fix her paralysis. Finally, the Grey Ghost, still stinging from Batgirl's reprimand, heads to the hooded leader of the Order of the Scythe and offers his assistance in keeping Batgirl off the Order's back.

Thoughts: Well, a lot of stuff certainly happened here, no? Proxy has decided to head to Nanda Parbat, leaving Batgirl without an advisor since Barbara Gordon/Oracle has been busy with the Birds of Prey and her other Batman Inc. related duties. The Grey Ghost revealed his true colors by handing the leader of the Order of the Scythe the DNA collector that Harmony lost during her battle with Batgirl, and Batgirl is still trying to get to the bottom of just who's behind the Order, as well as what their plans are. I have to say, most of DC Comics may have gone to hell in a hand basket, but at least the majority of the Bat-books are still delivering top-notch stories.

Score: 8 out of 10.
I can't think of a caption for this page... Sorry, you'll have to come up with your own.

Superman #711:

Summary: After getting a key to the city of Provo, Utah, Superman hears an alarm being sent by... *sigh* Jimmy Olsen... It seems that Livewire is acting completely insane and has taken a mess of hostages in Las Vegas(where Jimmy was working a story), demanding all of the money in the city. Supes tries to reason with Livewire, since the last time he saw her she had seemingly turned over a new leaf, but Livewire is too angry/crazy to listen and attacks Supes with more power then she had demonstrated before. While Supes tries to deal with Livewire, Jimmy calls STAR Labs and discovers that Livewire was always drawing electricity into her body, which in turn was messing up the chemistry in her brain. The scientist tells Jimmy that Livewire needed to be placed in a containment suit, and Supes, who was eavesdropping on the phone call has just the thing. Supes flies to the Fortress of Solitude and grabs his old blue energy suit(the one from back in the 90's when Supes had electricity powers for some unbelievably bizarre reason), handing it over to the scientist at STAR Labs, who immediately begins working on it. From there, Supes races back to Las Vegas and wraps Livewire in the costume, curing her of her insanity. After explaining to Jimmy(the idiot) that America was all about offering people second chances, even people like Livewire, Supes continues on his journey.

Thoughts: Meh. With the exception of Jimmy Olsen(who you may realize I hate), there was nothing actively wrong with this comic. It was pretty much your basic Superman vs Livewire issue, with Supes coming up with a way to peacefully halt Livewire's rampage. It was an okay comic. Now if Jimmy Olsen would have been fried by Livewire, this would have been a GREAT comic!

Score: 7 out of 10.Wait, now Superman loves America again?! Make up your mind, big guy!