Behind are the days when librarian Barbara Gordon attended a masquerade party disguised as a Batgirl and ended up saving millionaire Bruce Wayne from Killer Moth. Gail Simone imagines a totally new origin for the dominoed daredoll in "A Fire in the Heavens;" one that is somewhat darker and definitely less festive than "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl." What doesn't change in this new origin story is the spark, the sense of justice, and the asskickery qualities that have always identified Barbara.

Artist Ed Benes joins the title with beautiful renditions of Batgirl when she first appeared in Gotham four years ago, and a brand new design for the character during those early days. Simone takes advantage of the situation to put some skeletons in young Batgirl's closet as plot devices for future storylines, and reconciles the new with the old bringing Barbara's first stint as Gotham's heroine to a close with the sick events of "The Killing Joke." From beginning to end, the issue is an amazing read.