BARBARA GORDON: BREAK OUT #6 – New Players

Creative Team – Mariko Tamaki, Pablo M. Collar, Tamra Bonvillain, Ariana Maher, Karl Kerschl

Published by DC Comics

Catch up with Barbara Gordon: Breakout #5!

The Story

Things are getting even more out of control at Supermax for Barbara Gordon, which is saying something. With the murder of a fellow inmate, Barbara knows that she’s someone’s target, but she just doesn’t know who. She has one ally in the prison, and the rest Barbara knows she can’t trust. Trying to investigate what actually happened to Sparrow while dodging the people who don’t want her to find out is its own challenge. However, she has to handle this investigation while avoiding getting killed herself.

Meanwhile, Supermax has welcomed two more inmates who are more than familiar with Barbara. These two inmates could be exactly what Barbara needs to figure out what’s going on and what she needs to stay alive. However, they’re on very limited time, as Barbara is now being accused of murder. If things weren’t complicated before, they sure are now.

Mariko Tamaki continues to thrive with Barbara Gordon: Breakout #6! With each issue, I’m pulled further and further into the story but I have to say, with the sixth issue, I was glued to the pages. There was no way to know what was about to happen, and by the end, I was begging for more. The scene changes between the men’s side of the prison and the women’s was handled perfectly, allowing each story to mesh into the other. The differences between the different sides of Supermax were loud as the men’s side had a feeling of confidence in their safety, while on the women’s side, there was the looming threat of whoever killed Sparrow. I can’t wait to see what the seventh issue brings as this one ended on a huge note!

The Art

Pablo M. Collar, Tamra Bonvillain, and Ariana Maher have done nothing but hit home run after home run with Barbara Gordon: Breakout. There’s tones of despair, loneliness, and worry that are needed to be illustrated that push the story to its unbelievable heights. Collar’s linework will make you feel like you’re right in the middle of the story, alongside Barbara in her investigation. Bonvillain’s colors do the impossible and bring vibrancy into a place as cold and dark as Supermax. Maher’s lettering is what I think stands out the most in this issue. The emotions are all over the spectrum in this issue, and Maher beautifully portrays those emotions loudly in the lettering. Along with that, there is excellent use of the sound effects in the panels where some are intertwined into the action, which I absolutely loved. Together, the artists made this another exceptional issue!

Final Thoughts

Just when I think Barbara Gordon: Breakout can’t get any better, the sixth issue disproves that. By adding more characters, having more perspectives, and the plot constantly thickening, the creative team proves that they’re at the top of their game!

Overall Grade – 10/10

Let me know in the comments what you thought of Barbara Gordon: Breakout #6!