Mia “Maps” Mizoguchi Has been a Gotham resident for quite some time, but it’s only now, years after her debut DC Comics is finally ready to give maps her spotlight. It’s been a long time coming, but iDC used the time to grow Maps’ character from a bright youth interested in Gotham’s mysteries to a tested Gotham resident who’s seen Gotham at its worst—and now, a superheroic time traveler at work with the birds of prey.
Maps Mizoguchi first appeared in Gotham Academy By Brendon Fletcher, Becky Cloonan, and Karl Kerschl, who explore the immediate history of one of Gotham’s oldest institutions. Maps stood out for her genuine adoration for Batman and Robin, which sometimes led her closer to danger than her friends would have liked. The first arc of Birds of prey By Kelly Thompson and Leonardo Romero marked the first time readers saw Maps with the name Meridian In an effort to save Barbara Gordon’s life.
While Birds of prey Has yet to explain why Maps, coming from DC’s future, developed her time travel technology – which works by accessing the Green, the cosmic force that keeps all plants in the universe alive – It only feels appropriate for maps to be involved In a community she’s proud to support.
Mizoguchi maps out from exploring Gotham Academy to saving Batgirl’s life
In recent maps stories by Carl Kerschl, she even appears as Robin
Among Gotham Academy’s student body of pessimistic students who believe in the supernatural, Mapes’ overeager enthusiasm made her different. Where her best friend felt bitter at the sight of the Bat-signal, Mapps saw it as a lucky sign. Maps’ interest in anything superhero-related should have been a big sign of foreshadowing, however DC took her journey slowly, giving her chance encounters with members of the Bat-Family – Like Damian Wayne – enough times to become a friendly face and a person to keep an eye on. Still, Maps’ ventures into the world of vigilantism continued either alongside Batman or on school grounds.
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at the end of Birds of prey #1, Black Canary introduces her collaborators as Meridian: maps Mizoguchi’s future self, covered in self-designed tech that allows her to travel back through time. While Maps in the present is still young, wide-eyed at the sight of a batarang, Her future self is close enough to Barbara Gordon to know her secret identity And take it upon yourself to prevent your death. It might have been a shock, but DC has built maps enough for it to just be a happy eventuality.
Maps Mizoguchi is officially a Gotham City icon
And possibly Batman’s future Robin
Gotham Academy may seem isolated from the rest of the city, however Maps’ detective work repeatedly brought the city’s issues to Gotham Academy’s front doorsFrom Arkham Asylum inmates traveling through the school’s secret passages to the Court of Owls poking around the greenhouse. Unlike other cities in the DC Universe, Gotham has repeatedly undergone major changes, forcing its many characters to keep up with its evolution. through everything maps has seen, Her faith in both her city and her protectors did not waverFrom her tumultuous time at the academy, to her quest to save Batgirl’s life.
In all her appearances, DC has shown who Maps’ is in her heart, getting her closer and closer to her eventual superhero-self. While Gotham Academy and its students make rare appearances, Birds of prey Makes it clear: Maps Mizoguchi has a bright future in the DCU. The bat family has not forgotten their most enthusiastic fan. It may have taken a while to get a glimpse of maps like Meridian, and her journey there may still be a ways out, but it’s clear that the slow build of Maps Mizoguchi In the world of DC Comics Is worth the time it takes.
Birds of Prey vol. 1: MegadeathFeaturing Maps’ first appearance as Meridian, is now available from DC Comics.