Batgirl: Year One #[nn]

Batgirl leaps off the cover of this 2004 DC collection in full black-and-gold costume, fists raised and cape sweeping dramatically against a vivid burst of pink, red, and rainbow light — it's a striking image from cover penciller Marcos Martín and inker Álvaro López that perfectly captures a hero hitting her stride. Writers Scott Beatty and Chuck Dixon kick things off with "Chapter One: Masquerade," setting the tone for an origin-era story brought to life by the art team of Martín, López, and colorist Javier Rodríguez. If you've ever wanted to follow Barbara Gordon from the very beginning of her life behind the mask, this is a great place to start.