This impressed me. I want to read more of the New 52 Batgirl after reading this. All contributors are to be commended. Read Full Review

While not being fully on board with the notion of the FUTURES END stories, this is one that caught me by surprise. Gail Simone knows and cares about the Barbara Gordon character. She ends her run on the series but showing us a possible future and puts her through the wringer. Usually future stories are full of despair but Simone's take on Batgirl and her legacy offers some hope. Along with Javier Garron's art, we get some cool designs and you can't help but want to see more of this corner of the "five years from now" timeline. The events of this story may never come to be but you'll definitely want to see what Gail Simone has given us. You'll definitely want to thank her the next time you see her at a convention. Read Full Review

The tone of this book is dark, and full of discovery. This seems to be the ongoing theme with many of the Future's End book. It was a fitting scenario for the end of a fantastic run. Barbara is similar to the pre-52 run but yet she is so different. Barbara is a multifaceted character. She is far from perfect but she is full of drive and determination. things don't always go Barbara's way but she eventually accepts what life has served to her and embraces it. This book is a perfect end to my favorite Batgirl run. Gail Simone...THANK YOU. Read Full Review

A fitting conclusion to a stellar run, Batgirl: Futures End #1 is, in essence, a single story that mirrors the entire arc of Barbaras journey from Batgirl #1 to last months #34. It began with trauma, laid out a road to recovery that was harsh and unyielding, and concluded with Barbara exactly where she belongs surrounded by a loyal family and the self-confidence she needs to be herself at last. I cant think of a better way to say farewell and thank you to another version of Barbara Gordon that will live in my heart forever. Read Full Review

This was a brilliant ending to Simone's run on Batgirl and the accompanying artwork by Javier Garron fit this issue like a glove.  It was a action packed, tear jerking, love provoking finale that we normally could only hope for.  Just a joy to read and emotionally jarring to know that it's the end.  Definitely something you will need to read for Futures End, because it's definitely one of the best this event has had to offer so far.  Check it out. Read Full Review

Batgirl Futures End #1 is an absolute delight, and is 100% sure to please fans of all three Batgirls. Simone delivers the powerful fan service, and truly goes out on a high note. Read Full Review

Not only is this issue the best Batgirl issue that Simone has written, but one of her best by far because this issue really speaks as a love letter to the fans of Birds of Prey and the former incarnations of Batgirl. If there was anything working against this issue, it would be the fact that Barbara decides of be the female version of Bane while deciding to work with him for a reason that isn't made clear throughout the whole issue, and dressing like a female Bane can look a little ridiculous at times. Everything else in this issue is done really well and it is extremely unfortunate to see that this direction the series could have taken will most likely end here and that is a great shame. Read Full Review

They can be strong, they can be smart, and they can inspire, too. Read Full Review

I'm extremely sad to see Gail Simone leave this book but this is a perfect issue for her to go out on. Everything really comes full circle despite being set in the future. Garron's art is gorgeous. This truly is the end of an era as next month begins radical changes that we will all have to adjust to whether we're ready or not. Read Full Review

Then we're reminded by a blurb at the bottom of the page that next month will have an all-new story and a new creative team, and the League of Batgirls will go back to nonexistence. Ah yes. How could I have been so silly to hope? I'll miss you, League of Batgirls. I'll miss you so much. Read Full Review

Javier Garron is the penciller here with Romulo Fajardo Jr. on colours, Saida Temofonte on the letters and Clay Mann on the cover with Romulo. The art here is much different to the DC house style being a bit more shiny and flashy for one than the regular Batgirl comic before this. I didn't mind it so much, but it did kind of jar. Still, I loved Romulo's colours quite a bit, and the differences between all the heroes and villains were nicely highlighted too. Read Full Review

Overall, Barbara's swan song is fun, surprising and very, very Simone. Read Full Review

I find the story starting in a place that "Bat" fans can get behind. It is Barbara Gordon as you have not truly seen her before: Venomed the frack up! Read Full Review

We may not have gotten the emotional send-off for Barbara she deserves, but we know there will always be another Batgirl. Read Full Review

Batgirl has been an interesting run. Simone did some great things, some not so great things and DC pulled the rug on her a couple of times to make the ride interesting. This comic presents the best of what she does: provides great character voices to female leads while squeezing every last bit of drama out of the story at hand. If you like a very different take on Batgirl and you like the fun times Batgirl then you are going to love this issue. Don't let the gimmick cover fool you, there is a good story in here. Read Full Review

So yes, in conclusion Batgirl Futures End #1 really did turn it around and manage to surprise me. Never have I been more happy to be wrong and am very glad I picked this one up. Read Full Review

Batgirl: Futures End #1 is an alright issue. There are some good ideas and decent writing here underneath some lackluster execution and a rather rushed story. I think a couple of more pages here could have fixed this and I wouldn't mind seeing a one-shot surrounding the ideas. Regardless, this is the end of the line for Simone's time with the book. Next month ought to be interesting… Read Full Review

Batgirl: Futures End #1 falls short of recasting Barbara Gordon as a drug-fueled revenge junkie, so it never really breaks us away from the mold completely. It turns out that Banegirl had the Dumbo feather in her grasp the whole time, leaving us with a slight "afterschool special" vibe that isn't incongruous with the Babs we've come to know and love. With a "re-invention of Batgirl from the boots up" solicited for the next month, this issue is still a timely reminder that no matter how the character is repackaged to appeal to various demographics, strong female characters are ones that "make themselves a goddess." May Batgirl never leave us completely. Read Full Review

The writer maybe deserves some praise for trying something different, and the artist deserves some recognition for portraying a female version of Bane, but the end product is lacking. It is a What If? Question that need not be asked and the fans of the series might be wondering why they bothered. Instead fans might want to just wait an extra month for a change in direction in Batgirl with the introduction of the new creative team. Read Full Review

This issue of Batgirl marks the end to Gail Simone's run. She is one of the last original creators who launched the New 52 line 3 years ago and has written every issue of this Batgirl series. Since this issue is a part of a "potential future" we are left wondering if any of these stories will still be a part of the DC Universe once Futures End has wrapped up. On the plus side, we have what looks to be an interesting new take (perhaps soft reboot) happening with Batgirl in issue #35. Read Full Review

A strange and interesting take on the potential outcome of Batgirl's world for the Futures End month, but ultimately I think it's forgettable and will be happily forgotten five years from now. There may be some intriguing possible clues about the fates of Stephanie Brown, Cassandra Cain, Tiffany Fox, Jim Gordon, and even possibly Dick Grayson, but none of it feels like it will stick or is worth fretting over. Read Full Review

So in the end, I think this issue concludes Simones run on a high note. Its not great, or really even that good. The logic fails and contrivances can be staggering if you let them. As with most works of fiction however, that doesnt always matter. Did you enjoy it? Did it feel true to the characters? Would you read it again? Its a very imperfect piece of work, but the value it contains isnt negligible. Its a hopeful look towards the horizon and reaffirmation on what Gail Simone loves most about the character. If nothing else, you cant fault the writer for that. Read Full Review

"Batgirl: Futures End" #1 is an odd and lackluster sendoff for Simone, and is worth picking up solely for all of the other characters calling themselves Batgirl. Read Full Review

Spoilers ahead*
I think this issue really sums up Gail's run and the character perfectly. The beginning showing Barbara's "future husband" getting shot, representing Barbara's tragedy losing her legs. But, the way this was done was so much more heart wrenching it seemed then anything to do with her paralysis. After just reading the preview that showed this moment I hestitated to actually read this because this just seemed to be the darkest moment in the New 52 Batgirl.

Then you see what she became... And after all the darkness that was this run I really wasn't expecting it to turn around like it did.

Although she became a little too much like a female Batman, it was so great to see that she became more like a beloved older sister (which she became pre-52). The part about her changing her self into a Goddess herself really seemed to speak to how much of a strong, bad-ass character she is. The last page really leaves you excited and hopeful that she can finally start coming out of the darkness. more

All Futures End books should've been this compelling

Didn't enjoy this a bit. It wasn't believable to me. It went all the places. Not fan of DC and this didn't help.

This was a travesty. Batgirl, protege of BANE? "The Black Beast"... Really? I don't know what universe Gail Simone is writing for, but it sure ain't the DC Universe. Full of bad ideas, utterly disposable.