10 Modern Comic Book Runs Destined To Become Classics

One of the more contentious decisions DC made with the New 52 was returning Barbara Gordon to the mantle of Batgirl. After Gail Simone spent a few volumes winning everyone over, it was decided that the status quo needed a shakeup if the book was going to stand out.

The book then had a creative overhaul. Enter writers Brenden Fletcher and Cameron Stewart, and artist Babs Tarr.

Moving Batgirl over to the border area of Gotham, known as Burnside, this series took Batgirl in a much needed, more lighthearted direction. While the Gail Simone series was great in a lot of ways, there was little to separate it in tone from Scott Snyder's Batman. Brilliantly, this run proves that Batgirl is her own superhero, with her own tone, supporting cast, and rogues gallery (Batman is mentioned once, maybe, in the whole run).

Thankfully, the lighter tone doesn't mean that this series doesn't get as intense as any Batman tale. Batgirl is pushed to the very limits of her emotional and physical state, as the professional and personal parts of her life threaten to pull her apart. A classic aspect of young superheroes, but explored in a clever way here, especially in later volumes.