Warning: contains preview images for Batgirls #7!
The Bat-Family, including Nightwing, Batgirl and Robin, are getting together for a movie night in an adorable variant cover for Batgirls #7. The recently-launched Batgirls is a glorious celebration of the Bat-Family, and this cover by Rian Gonzales perfectly captures the book’s vibe, showing the family’s various members in an extremely rare moment of wholesome downtime.
Many superheroes such as Superman, Spider-Man and Shazam have “families” of similarly-powered/themed characters, but few reaches as deep as the Bat-Family. Despite his undeserved reputation as a loner, Batman has over the years amassed one of the largest families in comics—almost to the point where it is a small army. The Bat-Family not only encompasses Batman, but former Robins such as Nightwing, Spoiler and Red Hood, former Batgirls like Barbara Gordon or Cassandra Cain; other members include Batwoman, Signal and most recently, Harley Quinn. Almost every member of the Bat-Family has suffered extreme trauma, and many have deceased or absent parents. Their shared traumas have united them in one cause, rallying behind Batman to help make Gotham City and the world a safer place. Recently, DC launched Batgirls, following the adventures of Gordon, Spoiler and Cain, and now a newly revealed variant cover for issue seven shows the Bat-Family in the midst of a movie night. The issue will be written by Becky Cloonan and Michael Conrad and illustrated by Robbi Rodriguez
Rian Gonzales’ cover, unveiled on League of Comic Geeks, shows Spoiler, Cassandra Cain, Batgirl, Nightwing, Batwoman, Bitewing, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne and Ace the Bat-Hound, in a movie theater. Whatever they are watching, many of them are invested in it, particularly Spoiler and Batgirl, who is covering Bitewing’s eyes. Tim Drake could care less about the movie and Cain finds it so boring that she has fallen asleep. Nightwing looks scandalized as well while Batwoman sips on her soda. Finally, Ace is hugging Damian, much to the latter’s chagrin.
Rian Gonzales’ cover paints a wholesome picture, a stark contrast to the gloom and doom normally characterizing the Bat-Family’s existence. In the last year, they have had to contend with an attack on Arkham Asylum and its rebranding as Arkham Tower as well as Scarecrow and his attempts to usher in the Fear State. The Bat-Family stood triumphant at the end, but the scars remain. Gonzales’ cover catches the Bat-Family during some much-needed downtime, simply watching a movie and enjoying each other’s company. For a brief moment, they are not worried about the Riddler, or Killer Croc; they probably are not even worried what Batman might think.
Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl and the rest of the Bat-Family have come together for a movie night in an amazingly adorable variant cover for Batgirls #7, which fans can get when it goes on sale in print and digital June 14.
