This issue gets it. It's an absolutely perfect read. Barbara Gordon has always been my favorite character in the DC Universe for this reason among many others: She's believable. And even after what the Joker ends up doing to her, she's never a victim. But this issue makes me happy because it's awesome, but it also makes me sad because we're not going to get it again next month. So here's a suggestion: Why not put Gail Simone on another title, say, Birds of Prey, and let Bennett take over Batgirl for a while? She is obviously more than capable. And the Birds haven't seemed like themselves since the reboot. So why not take care of two issues at once? Wouldn't everyone be happy then? (Oh, and Christy Marx needs a place, too. So why not just give Black Canary her own title and put her on that?) Just a thought. But until that day, sadly, consider this book not re-added to my pull list. But don't worry. I'm patient. I can wait. Read Full Review

Artist Fernando Pasarin packs every page with an impressive amount of details. As the city spirals further into chaos, the tightly controlled art manages to convey a sense of destruction and despair. Jonathan Glapion's inks and Blond's colors add to the madness by emphasizing both the darkness -- real and metaphorical -- into which the Gordon family is plunged and the violently bright splashes of color that manage to peek through. The visuals are a thematically appropriate complement to Bennett's story. While it would have been obvious to go down the route of "humanity triumphing in the face of darkness," Bennett makes a daring choice to focus on the lessons learned in moments of despair. Read Full Review

Batgirl #25 was a very enjoyable self-contained story and a decent tie-in as well, using the backdrop of the storm to tell its tale. A relatable situation and character, who actually grows through the story; good emotion and buildup; and genuinely well drawn artwork. If you are looking for some more Zero Year action this week, this might hold you over. Read Full Review

Batgirl #25 mostly functions as a showcase for what is happening in the rest of Gotham while Batman figures out his plan of attack in his own titles. While we are itching to sink our teeth back into Simone's wonderful ongoing tale, Bennett at least uses the arbitrary confines of the "Zero Year" structure as an opportunity to flesh out what is already one of the most interesting leads in the current DCU. Read Full Review

Bennett crafts an excellent version of Barbara Gordon that combines the best of her Batgirl enthusiasm with the adorkable precision that she brought to her role as Oracle. With a pixie-cut and a tactical vest, this Barbara can hold her own against the best of the character's long and storied history. Especially if you like zombie-stories or other tales of survival and collapse, this is your issue. Though some may not get excited about a story where the villain is the weather and nothing bad can happen to the hero, Batgirl makes the best of Zero Year and comes out of the storm stronger. Read Full Review

This was the first Zero Year tie-in that I've read. It will probably end up being one of the only ones too. I'm really enjoying Snyder's work with the arc, but sometimes the tie-ins feel like a money grab. This definitely wasn't the case with Batgirl #25. This issue is definitely worth reading for anyone even mildly interested in the transformation of the other members of the Bat-Family into their heroic alter-egos. Barbara Gordon is one tough chick and it shines through every page of issue #25. Zero Year seems to really be taking off, and for that reason I'm happy to give this issue Read Full Review

There are no costumes in this issue, but there's heroism aplenty. Marguerite Bennett writes a really nice story that's essentially a fill-in to the ongoing "Batgirl: Wanted" storyline, but it's a great stand-alone issue so I didn't mind the interruption too much. I'll be keeping an eye out for Bennett's work. I'm glad I picked this issue up. Read Full Review

Yet another Zero Year Tie-In that isn't needed, but I found myself enjoying this story none the less.  Even though it's a pre Batgirl story, it feels a bit more like Batgirl then the current timeline.  Both give us Barbara without the Bat suit, but this one gives us less depression, and whining.  So win there.  All in all this story gives us a lot of inner monologue to the psyche of Barbara Gordon that will shape her to become the hero we all know and love, and the artwork surrounding it set the depressing, and hopelessness nature that we felt from the people of Gotham.  Maybe not the best Zero Year Tie-In, but it keeps you interested. Read Full Review

Overall, I think this issue was a pretty good effort that was well told by an up and coming writer. What was missing was that one element that really said "Barbara Gordon." Other Zero Year issues, like Green Lantern Corps really used the main character to the fullest, and illustrated who they are and what they'd do in this disastrous situation. Is this what I'd expect Babs to do in big bad storm? Yeah, but the general heroics are one thing, I just missed that one spark needed to really mold this to Babs' character. That said, all and all, it was still a solid, enjoyable issue. Read Full Review

Overall, this is a weak issue that does not live up to the standard quality of the Batgirl series. It fails across the board -- as a Batgirl story, as a Batman tie-in, and just in terms of the basic plot.  In future days when I re-read the whole Batgirl series, I probably will not bother to pull this one out of the bag and re-read it. Read Full Review

This is a very human story with a few good moments in it and some nice artwork here and there, but in the end I found it to repeat some of the same beats as Batgirl #0 and ultimately be really unnecessary. I would have much rather had the final part of the Batgirl: Wanted Saga but unfortunately that tale continues to be as disjointed as possible. It's only a 3-part story and yet it's been interrupted not once, but twice. Read Full Review

Ultimately though, this was always going to be a bit of a stinker. Gail Simone has wisely jumped off whilst Zero Year is in town and Bennett does about as well as you she can do with an awful concept and storyline brief. But as I finish this review my final thoughts return to the awful, amateurish art of Fernando Pasarin. He needs to be replaced immediately, and when this Zero year nonsense is over and Simone returns, hopefully it's with a new and far better artist who will give this title the artwork it properly and rightfully deserves. Read Full Review

It also must be said that, though not a fault of the creative team, this is the second interruption to the ongoing arc in Batgirl. An arc that is born out of an incredibly strong moment and one that is dealing with identity and family, these sidesteps are deflating any impact that the storyline may have for readers following along monthly. In that vein, had Bennett managed to accent Barbaras relationship to James Jr. a bit more in this issue as it puts her in a role of protecting him amidst the chaos, there may have been a bit more resonance with this issues events as readers return to the arc next month. As it stands, this is a mediocre issue with that does not accomplish enough to warrant the departure from the current story in the title. Read Full Review

A single issue story, but that doesn't have to be bad. There isn't a whole lot here for people looking to see how Batgirl continues to evolve as a character, but as a look at her background it works well enough. The way the environments are drawn and coloured give this issue a unique look.

This book really smells. No Batgirl here, just a young Babs in a generic story that gives us no insight into the character. This is a fill-in, nothing more. Bring back Gail Simone ASAP or I am done with Batgirl.