Barbara Gordon: Breakout #1
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/1.webp "Barbara Gordon: Breakout #1")
| Writer | Mariko Tamaki |
| Artist | Amancay Nahuelpan |
| Cover Price | $3.99 |
Framed. Outlawed. Hunted. The extralegal activities of Gotham’s vigilantes have never been more dangerous. After Barbara Gordon is arrested for aiding the Bat-Family, she is shipped off to Supermax, GCPD Commissioner Vandal Savage’s pet-project prison for all who oppose him. She will find herself alone, surrounded by dangerous criminals and equally dangerous guards, in a place where nothing is what it seems. The true danger is just beginning… Eisner Award-winning writer Mariko Tamaki and fan-favorite artist Amancay Nahuelpan reunite to deliver a twisty, unexpected Bat-book for DC Next Level.
CRITIC REVIEWS Back to Top
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9.5
Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield
May 13, 2026This is Barbara’s story in every way, from her plan to get in to her realizing she’s more than a little out of her depths now. It’s the strongest spotlight as a solo hero she’s had in a long time, and one of the best looks at how this new Gotham actually functions that we’ve gotten yet. Read Full Review
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9.3
Nerd Initiative - Matthew Roth
May 13, 2026Megan: 9.1/10. I found Barbara Gordon: Breakout #1 to be a breath of fresh air when it comes to Bat-stories. Seeing all of this from Barbara’s perspective was fasicanting, but to also see how truly alone she was in a place that’s full of people who are working against her was impactful. Read Full Review
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9.0
But Why Tho? - William Tucker
May 13, 2026Barbara Gordon Breakout Issue 1 is a reminder of Barbara’s bravery. She is placed in the most brutal of scenarios, truly isolated and devoid of technology, and yet she’s able not only to survive, but thrive. Read Full Review
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8.5
AIPT - Collier Jennings
May 13, 2026Barbara Gordon: Breakout #1 delivers a tense, gritty, page-turner of a first issue, and the start of a murder mystery. It's also a reminder that whether she's Batgirl, Oracle, or in her civilian identity, Barbara Gordon isn't someone you ever underestimate. Read Full Review
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8.5
Fanlight Zone - Ken M.
May 13, 2026Barbara Gordon plays a deadly game of chance as her noble deeds might cost her everything in this debut chapter. Tamaki pens a straight-forward debut with the writing. Nahuelpan & Bonvillain add to the drama with fast action panels. A suspenseful addition into the Bat-Family mythos. Read Full Review
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8.5
KPB Comics - Phillip Creary
May 14, 2026It’s a strong start for the series. There’s mystery, a new environment, and a version of the character that’s easy to root for. I’ll definitely be back for issue #2 to see how she handles the mystery happening in the walls of her cell. Read Full Review
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8.5
Comic Book Clique - Frank Jarome
May 14, 2026Time Served Barbara Gordon: Breakout #1 is a strong setup to what should be an important book for the overall story of the Batman line going forward. It neatly establishes the players and the stakes, while wisely holding some of its cards for later and ensuring that you have no issue keeping up even if you haven’t read Matt Fraction’s Batman. Barbara Gordon has a plan, and I’m excited to find out just what it entails. Read Full Review
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8.3
Graphic Policy - Brett
May 13, 2026Barbara Gordon: Breakout #1 is really well done with a story that's familiar but just does it in a way that's engaging and you want to read more. Read Full Review
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8.0
ComicBook.com - Nicole Drum
May 13, 2026It’s that hard shift from badass to terror in the final panels that might actually be the weakest element of the issue, however. Not that it’s not good for the story—it definitely sets things up for the next issue. Instead, it just feels a little jarring as the whole issue to this point we’ve gotten the impression that Barbara has accounted for almost everything and is at a greater advantage only for that last panel to suddenly yank the rug out from under things in a way that feels disorienting, but not deliberately so. Even with that tonal shift, however, Barbara Gordon: Breakout #1 is a fantastic comic and a great kickoff to what might be one of the most exciting Batfamily stories in a while. Read Full Review
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8.0
Get Your Comic On - Neil Vagg
May 13, 2026Barbara Gordon: Breakout #1 is dynamic and often tense debut which puts the former-Commissioner’s daughter back in the spotlight where she deserves to be. With all of the foundations in place, Mariko Tamaki and co. are already free to dive deep into Gotham’s latest nimble murder mystery. Read Full Review
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8.0
Comic Watch - Jamison Nilsson
May 15, 2026Barbara Gordon: Breakout #1 is a fresh take on Batgirl beyond the suit but doesn’t do much to justify its own premise. The artwork is good and maintains the tone of the Batman line at DC Comics, while having a unique enough visual identity to separate it from the other titles running parallel to it. Read Full Review
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8.0
Kabooooom - Matt Morrison
May 15, 2026I wound up liking Barbara Gordon: Breakout #1 far more than I expected. Granting that I am a bit defensive when it comes to Babs (us librarians have to stick together) I still have issues with the core concept and how it fits into the larger narrative of the Batman books right now. Taken as its own beast, however, this is an enjoyable first issue that leaves me wanting to read more. Read Full Review
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8.0
Comic Book Revolution - Kevin Lainez
May 16, 2026Barbara Gordon: Breakout #1 is a strong debut for the latest DC Next Level series. Answering a lot of questions about the set-up to the series goes a long way to getting the reader bought into Barbara Gordon’s new status quo. It all comes together to make this series one of the most important comic books in the current Batman Family publishing line. Read Full Review
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7.8
The Batman Universe - BJ Shea
May 13, 2026There's a greater conspiracy going on in Vandal Savage’s Supermax and we know our girl will figure it out. Read Full Review
USER REVIEWS Back to Top
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9.0
Very fun concept, good writing and solid art. More babs is always a good thing. Didn’t quite get the cliffhanger but I will definitely check the next issue out.
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9.0
i had no expectations, but this issue was surprisingly good. The action was kinetic, and I liked Mariko Tamaki's writing. I am invested in this series as of now.
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8.0
Good read, great page turner with a mysterious cliffhanger.
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8.0
Good first issue. I'll be back for number 2.
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7.5
It's good, though I was expecting a little more from this creative team. Really surprised to find that this is, as far as I know, an ongoing. It doesn't really seem like a concept that would deem an ongoing series necessary, but I could be totally wrong. We'll see how it goes. I liked what we got here and I'm definitely interested enough to continue on with it. Nahuelpan's interiors were really nice throughout.
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6.0
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