InsaneJournal

We start with Batgirl #38.  Batman has very randomly fired Steph with no explanation in Gotham Knights. I'm not posting it because it's pretty maddening, but here is the abridged form.

Stephanie: Hi, you have not contacted me since Bruce Wayne Fugitive, so I'm stalking you a little.
Bats: You don't have the skills or the talent. You are fired. Go home.
Steph: BUTWHAT? WHY? Why are you firing me?
Bats: *No explanation*
Steph: But you came to me! You're the one who wanted to train ME! Not the other way around!
Bats: ...
Steph: Is it because I'm the Cluemasters daughter?
Bats: *does not refute this for some reason, because he has decided to be the biggest dick ever*
Steph: Would you give me a chance before showing me the door?
Bats: Okay, how about I completely humiliate you by giving you a case to solve, and let you think you've failed and let a bunch of people die when in reality I've already solved the case and saved the day, and blame you for not figuring this out, even though it's clear the only reason you didn't is because you trusted me not to set you up to fail?
Steph: You bastard!
Bats: By the way, sorry your Dad DIED!
Steph: GO TO HELL! *goes home, Tim comes to comfort her* Tim he is such a jerk!
Tim: I know.

I'm not exaggerating at all, honest. In fact, some of that is almost verbatim, like Steph pointing out Batman recruited her, and she didn't do anything wrong. Also the "go to hell" and he is such a jerk I know.

Anyway, Batman tells Cass she may not hang out with Steph anymore because of this. Cass is like:



And totally proceeds to hang out with Steph anyway once Steph trains the puppy dog eyes on her, though she feels really guilty about it.



I love how, despite her hero worship of him, Cass is willing to defy her "daddy" to hang out with Steph. And they do some roof top tag, and Cass teaches Steph out to jump impossibly far, and Steph actually manages to land a hit on Cass for once in her life, which makes them both break down giggling, and it's all completely adorable and I'm sad I can't post it. But instead, we get them discussing the facts of life.




I love Cass's tortured expression when she goes "Not...ROBIN'S??" and Steph's derisive laughter in response. Anyway, Cass and Steph's *tru confessions* are so much win. Love those two.

Anyway, two lady gangs are having a turf war. Cass tells Steph to stay back, but Steph thinks that Cass has been beaten unconcious at one point and feels she has to intervene. She is wrong, though, and Cass has to save her from a knife that is thrown.





Ah, Cass, always with the knocking Steph out.

As you can imagine, Cass cleans up the gang in no time.





Awww, so sad. You feel for both of them here. But, they do make up when Steph becomes Robin, covered next post.

Anyway, let's fast foward. Tim has gotten back from his excellent adventure and Steph has gotten back from beating up the Riddler.



Yep, she's lying to him about having made up with her mom. We'll get to that later. Now, it's time for Tim's sixteenth birthday. Which, you'll note, Steph remembered and Tim didn't. Because he's a space case.



Okay, Tim actually called it a "date." STOP CHEATING ON STEPH WITH IVES TIM! Admit your forbidden love!



UNBRIDLED LUST, IVES, UNBRIDLED LUST.



Tim, you geek to the nth power. Note the D&D analogue they seem to have in the DCU.



Steph's a good seamstress. She sewed her own costume and all.

The present? Oh, just a huge amount of Batdickery.  Bats sends Tim a thingamajig that's *supposedly* Alfred from the future saying one of the Batfamily will become evil and make Gotham a warzone and it starts around now Tim must stop them etc...and then Bruce sets up a bunch of clues to confirm this. But it's really a test to see if  Tim's really ready to take it to the next level of investigating and learn to accept the impossible and question his allies. It completely tortures Tim and makes him feel crazy. All for the CAUSE. Like I said, huge Batdickery. But let us ignore that.




Never become friends with Batman. He will ruin your birthday.

Anyway, Steph comes clean to Tim about her Mom.



Like I say, ignore Tim's monologueing. Batdickery.



You can't get anything past Tim!



"OHMYGOD SHE'S GONNA BREAK UP WITH ME!" Tim is such an adorable paranoid geek. But look how much he cares! It's sweet.



He doesn't care that she lied to him, he just wants her to make up with her Mom! Oh, the love.



Yeah, she hasn't told Tim she beat up the Riddler. And never does, because all Lewis's subplots are dropped in favor of War Games. Whoopee. Stop living in Steph's head, Eddie!



Tim Drake, master diplomat. Bat dickery? What bat dickery?

Actually, the Bat dickery is important, because Tim finds out about it, tells Batman off in a way that is completely awesome and deserved, and says he quits. Steph has to comfort him.



No, Steph, he has not heard of feelings. AS YOU WILL FIND OUT EVEN MORE. I mean, hey look, Tim is cute!



Yes, Tim, we know you want to see Dick. Out of costume. Um. Oh god, the subtext.



And Tim randomly forgives Batman. But Bats with an explanation point over his head is so adorkable I will overlook that.

Anyway, that's the last of Jon Lewis Steph, sadly. We move onto Robin!Steph next. The main Willingham story is very flawed, but there's some nice moments. And the Batgirl and Robin and Detective comics Steph!Robin are pure awesome.

After that we cover her return, and then this series will be....FINISHED! I'll resume my regular posting of any Steph that comes out, tho. And maybe most some Steph Showcase stuff that used to be on EvenRobins.