The whole creative team has shown a great deal of progress over the course of its time together with Babs, Steph, and Cass. The annual shows the poise and nuance that come with an ample amount of experience together as a team. Its been fun to watch the team grow together on both sides of the comics. Its not very often that teams match up this well. With any luck, the three characters, the two writers, and the two artists will continue to haunt their own distinctive corner of Gotham for quite some time. Read Full Review

Friendship and family take the forefront in the over the top, jam-packed issue. Read Full Review

There's no way you should miss this annual! We have amazingly well written characters, with visually stimulating artwork by hugely talented people. The Batgirls 2022 Annualwas nothing like I expected, yet somehow everything I needed from these. The bonding and closeness you get to see with get you in the feels, and I love it. Read Full Review

After a year of stories, the Batgirls occasionally feel like second fiddles in their own bookwith several complex villainous conspiracies and Barbara Gordon occasionally pulling focus as the third Batgirl. In some ways, this annual feels like it's attempting to refocus the book on Cass and Stephand then it takes a strange and wacky turn into left field and throws the entire series for a loop. Read Full Review

The Batgirls 2022 Annual is for the sensitive reader. When I say that I mean it is for a reader who is able to connect with the characters and relationships. This isn't a loud blockbuster, but it's not without an interesting and exciting plot. However, the attention to character and relationships is what elevates this, although the twists in the setup and plot are really cool as well! More comics should be like Batgirls. Even if you weren't a fan of Steph and Cass when the series started, it's hard to imagine how you can't be now after just over a year of the series. Read Full Review

'Batgirls' meets 'Freaky Friday' in the first annual for one of DC Comics' most colorful and fun books on the stands. Far more pages give us more time with the Batgirls as their world continues to grow and solidify, continuing to be a dynamic colorful, and very energetic place to visit full of so much character depth. Read Full Review

Though uneven art and still overly intrusive narration sometimes mar the impact of the story, a plethora of details, emotional beats, and creative character development packs a solid punch for the first Batgirls annual. Read Full Review

All in all, a fun issue that nicely sets up a second year of the series. Read Full Review

This annual continues the main story of Batgirls by introducing a number of key elements like Barbara moving out of the clock tower and both Stephanie and Cassandra's parents coming into play. It also highlights the two girls similarities and differences, while sending them on a wild body swapping adventure. As the first in a two part arc, and an oversized annual it struggles a bit with pacing and tone, but generally gives readers a fun time with the elements it brings in. If you're keeping up with the series, or just want more lore on some of the Batgirl's family history it's one to check out. Read Full Review

Batgirls 2022 Annual sets up the next phase of the cauldron's adventures with an out-of-nowhere body swap, character cameos, decent art with bad coloring, and a lot of unnecessary slice-of-life scenes to pad out the pages. Read Full Review

This annual takes on a genuine cinematic feel at times, and is certainly being more creative in how it depicts scenes, giving a stylistic element that's much appreciated.

The story is well paced, and left me excited to see what happened next. So overall, in spite of the annual not fully shedding some of the flaws of the series that drag it down a little, I'm left genuinely excited for the next part.

Better than the Nightwing Annual

This issue surprised me. I haven’t been a big fan of the book. I don’t like the art. Too cartoony for my preference, but I concede that is pure taste and the art isn’t bad the way bad comic art can be. I also thought the stories were not good and the characters were not done right by.

But this annual handles a lot of my concerns. Through a freaky Friday coin, Steph and Cass trade bodies and they are kidnapped by their parents for different reasons. Lady Shiva grabs Steph in Cass’ body and Cluemaster grabs Cass in Steph’s body. Sets up issue 13, and we get actual sense of who these characters are.

I am looking forward to see what happens next. We also see Babs move back to the Clocktower. I never bought the three girls slumber party setup. Babs is older and deserves her own space. Now there is a college dorm vibe. Girls away from home but close enough to mom. Works better for characterization and opens up possibilities for all.

I liked this issue and feel it sets up a good story and does worldbuilding better than the first story arc did.

I could be wrong, but I hope not. more