Overall the art was great. The pencils were definitely gritty, something that complimented the nature of the story Fawkes was trying to tell. It would have bene nice if the colors hadn't been so bright and instead used heavier inks. I think that would have complimented this story a bit more.This is a much darker Batgirl story and one of, dare I say, the most interesting I have read throughout this series. Like I mentioned above, the focus on the relationship between Barbara's family and Barbara's brother is really great. I want to see more of that and I hope that DC intends to mold Barbara's brother to be her very own personal Joker. I think that if written well, James Gordon Jr. can be incredibly menacing and that will certainly give creators a chance to demonstrate how Barbara can step up her game. Read Full Review

Batgirl #17 isn't the same as it is when Gail Simone is writing it, but it's still pretty good. If you can only find yourself judging it based on it not being written by Simone, then back up and read it again with an open mind. Fawke's dialogues are good and clean and the direction of the story is pretty interesting. With the art team being at the top of their game there's really not much to complain about that won't come across as petty. Read Full Review

While a normal issues has the internal conversations coming from Barbara this issue is actually James talking. He's filling us in on just how crazy obsessed he is with ruining his dear sisters life. If you have a general idea of the Gordon family's history this is a great jumping on point. If you didn't realize our favorite Gotham City Police Commissioner had a son, then it's going to get confusing. Read Full Review

Right or wrong feelings about this issue really hinge on how issue #18 turns out. That issue willeitherhelp to hold it up as a solid storyline bridge, or the book that has nowhere tofall but down after the epic and panic inducing incidents from Batgirl's role in “Death of the Family.” Read Full Review

This was a decent issue, and although I personally prefer Simone's writing on this series Fawkes gives something different, and unique. I don't know whether to recommend this issue or not. I'd probably say yes, especially if you've already been following the series. I'd also recommend it to newer readers, and people who don't like Simone's run (although I'm not one of them I know there are some, all series have lovers, and haters) as this is a very different type of writing. Read Full Review

Fawkes could have been cast in the role of pariah if DC didn't come to their senses and rehire Gail Simone. This negative view towards Fawkes' talents would have been a shame, because he s clearly a structurally strong writer who has a great sense of character and drama. Fans should look forward to seeing him taking the driver's seat on another book in the future. Read Full Review

The things that occur in this issue are executed well enough but they aren't very interesting. I thought I was getting a confrontation between Batgirl and Jim Jr. but Read Full Review

While this issue wasn't the best, it wasn't terrible, either. Fawkes is talented, but I can't help but feel behind-the-scenes editorial decisions may have hurt his story a bit, so he probably isn't completely at fault. As a result, this issue is merely okay, not excellent. Read Full Review

Batgirl #17 is a disappointment following the events that took place during Death of the Family. Though Ray Fawkes does follow-up the long build James Gordon Jr. has been getting the narration the characters gives throughout the issue gets old a third of the way into the story. It does not help that it does not seem like Barbara is given time to see how she is after what the Joker just put her and her family through. The dull artwork does not help as there was no flow to what was going on with Sampere's artwork. Overall, there is nothing special about this comic and I am just going to wait until Gail Simone comes back because Fawkes lost my interest in his story incredibly quick with Batgirl #17. Read Full Review

The This is an issue I didn't particularly like, but I can't hold that much of it against it in way of the creators, as I would for say Catwoman, which I think is written by someone who is not particularly good at writing. I don't know for sure what went on behind the scenes, but I'm willing to bet it didn't help this issue. Hopefully I like Fawkes' next issue more. Read Full Review

Daniel Sampere’s artwork is better than Fawkes' writing, but it’s nothing to get too excited about. Sampere does very standard, factory-like pencils. His lines are bold, his work shaded nicely, but it does little more than tell the story. There’s no flair, no excitement behind his work and his movement leaves much to be desired. The fire scenes with Batgirl are nicely done, but overall this is just average work that any decently trained artist could pull off. Read Full Review