‘Batgirl’ #1 Preview Relives ‘The Killing Joke’

As previously discussed, Batgirl #1 is among the most anticipated of new series launching out of DC Comics "The New 52" initiative, whereby the publisher is retooling and in many cases reimagining the famous characters and titles of its venerable superhero line. The New York Post released on Monday the first lettered preview of the book, which is written by Gail Simone and features artwork by Adrian Syaf & Vincent Cifuentes, and you can see it after the cut.The preview of Batgirl #1 confirms what Simone at DC representatives have suggested in the past, that The Joker's attack on Barbara Gordon -- as depicted in Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland -- "still happened" in the reconfigured timeline of "The New 52," although it seems uncertain whether she was indeed disabled as a consequence of the event. Honestly, it's hard to tell much of anything in this preview since the images are so small.

As we discussed when "The New 52" television commercial was made exclusive to a single website, it's critical to the success of DC Comics that they introduce this new material to as wide an audience as possible, hence the use of a mainstream news source like The New York Post, whose readers must be better sighted than ours. The Post's incredibly clever headline, "She's Bat In Action!", will also do much to endear Batgirl and the DC brand to the hip, modern audience the publisher so fiercely covets.

Batgirl #1 goes on sale September 7 in comics stores everywhere, DC Digital and can also be pre-ordered online from Things From Another World.

BATGIRL #1

Written by GAIL SIMONE; Art by ARDIAN SYAF and VICENTE CIFUENTES; Cover by ADAM HUGHES

Yes, it's really happening!

Barbara Gordon is back as Batgirl – and she's going to have to face the city's most horrifying new villains as well as the dark secrets from her past. You won't want to miss this stunning debut issue from fan-favorite BIRDS OF PREY writer Gail Simone!

DC Universe 32pg. Color $2.99 US

On Sale September 7, 2011