Batgirl of Burnside: DC Compact Comics Edition
by Cameron Stewart, Brenden Fletcher
At a glance
First published2014
SettingBurnside neighborhood, Gotham City
AudienceYA (12-18)
ISBN1799508552
About the Author
Cameron Stewart, Brenden Fletcher1 book reviewed
Batgirl of Burnside
DC Compact Comics Edition
by Cameron Stewart, Brenden Fletcher
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Batgirl of Burnside: DC Compact Comics Edition collects the landmark Stewart–Fletcher–Tarr reinvention of Barbara Gordon — Batgirl #35–45, Batgirl Annual #3, Secret Origins #10, and DC Sneak Peek: Batgirl #1 — in a single, portable, affordable volume. A genuine entry point for readers new to Barbara Gordon, this self-contained arc trades Gotham's grim corners for the vibrant, youthful energy of the Burnside neighborhood, making it ideal for superhero readers who want character-driven storytelling and a visually fresh aesthetic. The key caveat: readers expecting darker, continuity-heavy Gotham storytelling will find the book's deliberately contemporary, neighborhood-focused tone a significant stylistic departure.
- Is it worth reading?
- For readers drawn to character-driven superhero comics with a fresh visual identity and a protagonist navigating a distinct urban setting, the Burnside run delivers a self-contained, complete narrative that functions as a genuine entry point to Barbara Gordon. The assembled creative team — Cameron Stewart (2010 Eisner and Shuster Award winner for Sin Titulo), Brenden Fletcher, Babs Tarr, and Irene Koh — brought distinct individual strengths to a character with decades of history. The DC Compact Comics Edition's accessibility and affordability make this an especially practical way to experience the complete arc. Readers who prefer darker, continuity-heavy Gotham storytelling should be aware this is a deliberate stylistic departure.
- Similar books
- Readers who enjoyed the Burnside run's character-driven, visually fresh take on Barbara Gordon may want to explore other landmark DC reinventions and female-led superhero arcs. Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III's Batwoman: Elegy is a stylistically bold, self-contained entry point to another Gotham hero. Gail Simone's long-running Birds of Prey, which features Barbara Gordon prominently, offers a darker but similarly character-focused approach. Mariko Tamaki and Mikel Janín's Batman: Detective Comics and Kelly Thompson's Harley Quinn run share the Burnside era's investment in a fresh aesthetic and younger readership. For a non-DC parallel, Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang's Paper Girls delivers the same energy of young protagonists navigating a visually distinctive world.
- Who should read this?
- Batgirl of Burnside is best suited to readers drawn to superhero comics that center character-driven storytelling, a younger protagonist navigating a distinct urban setting, and a visual identity designed to feel fresh against traditional DC aesthetics. It works particularly well as an entry point for newer comics readers or those new to Barbara Gordon, since the arc is designed as a self-contained reinvention that does not require prior knowledge of her history. Longtime DC fans seeking a consolidated reprint of the original Burnside run will also find the Compact Comics Edition a practical addition. Readers who prefer darker, continuity-heavy Gotham storytelling, however, are likely to find the book's deliberately contemporary, neighborhood-focused tone a significant departure.
- What age is it for?
- Best for readers ages 13 and up. The Stewart–Fletcher–Tarr run was explicitly designed for a broader, younger readership, and the book's contemporary tone, character-driven storytelling, and visually accessible style make it well-suited to teen readers discovering superhero comics. The Burnside arc does not feature the graphic violence or heavy content typical of darker Gotham stories.
- What makes the Burnside creative team special?
- The assembled team brought distinct and complementary strengths to a character with decades of history. Cameron Stewart's comics résumé spans Batman and Robin, Seaguy, Seven Soldiers: The Manhattan Guardian, The Other Side, and Catwoman, and his original webcomic Sin Titulo won both the 2010 Eisner Award and the Shuster Award for Best Digital Comic — a pedigree that signals serious craft investment. Brenden Fletcher co-wrote the run alongside Stewart, while Babs Tarr's visual identity for the book became so closely associated with the run's cultural footprint that it is now inseparable from the Burnside era's legacy. Irene Koh also contributes illustration work to the collection, rounding out a creative lineup that brought award-recognized sequential art and a genuinely fresh visual voice to Barbara Gordon.
- Why does this run matter in DC history?
- The Stewart–Fletcher–Tarr run, which began with Batgirl #35 in 2014, is widely recognized as one of the more consequential course corrections in DC's New 52 era. The creative team redesigned Barbara Gordon's costume, shifted her setting from the grimmer corners of Gotham, and explicitly aimed the book at a broader, younger readership — a totality of ambition the publisher itself described as reinventing Barbara Gordon 'from the boots up.' The run reshaped how DC told Batgirl's story and left a lasting imprint on the character's visual and narrative identity. The DC Compact Comics Edition ensures this foundational arc remains accessible to new generations of readers.
Summarize this book
Is it worth reading?
Who should read this?
What age is it for?
What makes the Burnside creative team special?
Why does this run matter in DC history?
Summarize this book
Batgirl of Burnside: DC Compact Comics Edition collects one of the most-discussed Barbara Gordon stories of the modern era — Batgirl #35–45, Batgirl Annual #3, Secret Origins #10, and DC Sneak Peek: Batgirl #1 — written by Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher, with art by Babs Tarr and Irene Koh. The premise is a deliberate reinvention: Barbara Gordon crosses the bridge to Burnside, Gotham's coolest neighborhood, trading the weight of her darker past for a fresh start in a younger, more socially connected world. The publisher's own framing captures the dramatic stakes — will the bright lights of Burnside ultimately burn her for good? The DC Compact Comics format packages the complete run in a trim, portable volume designed for accessibility and affordability.
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Age & Reading Level
Recommended age
Ages 12–18
Reading level
Young adult
Best for: Ages 13+ — the run was explicitly aimed at a broader, younger readership; the contemporary tone and accessible visual style suit confident teen readers and up.
Skip if you prefer darker, continuity-heavy Gotham superhero storytelling over a lighter, neighborhood-focused character reinvention.
Editorial Review
Batgirl of Burnside: DC Compact Comics Edition collects the celebrated run by writers Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher with art by Babs Tarr and Irene Koh, following Barbara Gordon as she trades the grim streets of Gotham for the vibrant, youthful energy of the Burnside neighborhood — a creative reinvention that reshaped how DC told Batgirl's story.
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