A-Z Challenge - B Is For Batgirl

 

 

 

There have been many versions of Batgirl but the first one, Barbara Gordon, has always been my favorite. I hated watching the Joker paralyze her with a gunshot to the spine (upon what other indignities he heaped upon her in the classic story The Killing Joke) but she rose to motivate other heroes as Oracle, the wheelchair bound computer expert/connection to all the heroes. She also leads and motivates the Birds of Prey, an all female group consisting of Black Canary, Huntress and Misfit, a young runaway.

 

Another girl, Stephanie Brown had become the newest Batgirl. She was once also the first female Robin. Oracle trained her. Since the New 52, Stephanie and Oracle are no more. Barbara Gordon is back in the Batgirl suit. I understand little about the hows and whys of how she can suddenly walk again but that is because I don't keep up with much in DC's 52 these days. Their Superman sucks, Morrison has wrecked Batman by killing Damian Wayne and the rest is all just so joyless.

 

Batgirl, past and present is one of the few titles I can read and always find fun in it. The Batgirl character always brought alot to the Batman, and Batman:The Animated Series. She's the girl Robin but without the death of her parents. In fact her Dad is Police Commissioner Gordon - who himself is the worst detective in the world if he never figured out his daughter's or Bruce Wayne's true identity.

 

However, the coolest Batgirl characterization they have done lately was for the DC Nation series of cartoons. Each is only a minute 20 seconds in length but pack in everything visually that you need to understand about the character. This is MY Batgirl - the sugar rushed hyper spazz who can't wait to be in the fight but who sometimes needs to be reminded she doesn't have superpowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Knightness Rougue's Cosplay of Batgirl is worth looking up on the Google.