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For a female who manages baseball equipment, see Batboy.
Batgirl
Art from Wizard Magazine (2006), featuring Barbara Gordon and Cassandra Cain as Batgirl. Art by Matt Haley and Davud Hahn.
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceBatman #139 (1961)
Created byBob Kane
Sheldon Moldoff
CharactersBetty Kane ("Bat-Girl")
Barbara Gordon
Helena Bertinelli
Cassandra Cain
Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe
Stephanie Brown
Batgirl
Batgirl vol. 1, #1 (Apr, 2000).
Featuring the Cassandra Cain version of the character
Art by Damion Scott.
Series publication information
PublisherDC Comics
ScheduleMonthly
Format(vol 1 & 3)
Ongoing series
(vol 2)
Limited Series
Genre
Publication date(vol 1)
April 2000 – April 2006
(vol 2)
September 2008 – February 2009
(vol 3)
October 2009 – ongoing
Number of issues(vol 1)
73 and 1 Annual
(vol 2)
6
(vol 3)
1
Main character(s)(vol 1 & 2)
Cassandra Cain
(vol 3)
Cassandra Cain
Stephanie Brown

Batgirl is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, frequently depicted as female counterparts to the superhero Batman. Originally created by Bob Kane and Sheldon Moldoff, the first incarnation of the character, the "Bat-Girl" Betty Kane, debuted in Batman #139 (1961) as the sidekick to Batwoman. Following the promotion of Julius Schwartz to editor of the Batman-related comic book titles in 1964, the Bat-Girl character was removed from publication (along with Batwoman) and replaced by the "new" Batgirl Barbara Gordon in 1967. The new character was introduced in Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino's Detective Comics #359, entitled "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl".

The Barbara Gordon version of Batgirl made regular appearances in DC comics from 1967 to 1988. The official retirement of Batgirl took place in Batgirl Special #1 (June 1988), which was published a few months after Barbara Gordon's shooting by The Joker in the graphic novel Batman: The Killing Joke (March 1988). Editor Kim Yale and comic book author John Ostrander later reinvented Barbara Gordon as Oracle, the premier information broker of the DC Comics Universe and leader of the Birds of Prey organization.

In the 1999 story Batman: No Man's Land, Helena Bertinelli briefly assumes the role of Batgirl until she is stripped of the identity by Batman towards the conclusion of the story for violating his stringent codes. Within the same year, a new character introduced during the No Man's Land series, Cassandra Cain, created by Kelley Puckett and Damion Scott, becomes the fourth Batgirl, and she is mentored by Batman and Oracle. Cassandra Cain was the first version of the Batgirl character to be featured in an eponymous monthly series, which was published from 2000 to 2006, ending with Cain relinquishing her title as Batgirl. During the "Headhunt" arc of the Birds of Prey comic book series, the Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe character created by Gail Simone temporarily took the name of Batgirl, but was eventually forced to abandon the role by Oracle and subsequently adopted the alias "Misfit." Subsequently in the pages of Teen Titans, Cassandra Cain reclaimed her former identity as Batgirl.

A second ongoing Batgirl comic series was launched in 2009 with Stephanie Brown, formerly The Spoiler and briefly the fourth Robin, as Batgirl. It has been explained that Cassandra Cain had a crisis of faith after the presumed death of Bruce Wayne and asked her best friend, Stephanie, to continue the Batgirl legacy. Like Cassandra before her, Stephanie is being mentored by Barbara Gordon.

Publication history

Betty Kane

Main article: Betty Kane

Following the accusations of homosexuality between Batman and Robin as described in Fredric Wertham's book Seduction of the Innocent (1954), a female character, Kathy Kane the Batwoman, was introduced in 1956 as a love interest for Batman.[1] In 1961, a second female character was introduced as a love interest for Robin.[1] Betty Kane the "Bat-Girl" was depicted as the niece and side-kick to Batwoman and first appeared in Batman #139 (1961).[2] The creation of the Batman Family, which included Batman and Batwoman depicted as parents, Robin and Bat-Girl depicted as their children, the extraterrestrial imp Bat-Mite and the "family pet" Ace the Bat-Hound, caused the Batman-related comic books to take "a wrong turn, switching from superheroes to situational comedy".[1]

These characters were abandoned in 1964 when newly appointed Batman editor Julius Schwartz concluded they were inappropriate.[3] Schwartz had asserted that these characters should be removed, considering the Batman related comic books had steadily declined in sales, and restored the Batman mythology to its original conception of heroic vigilantism.[1] Bat-Girl, along with other characters in the Batman Family, were retconned out of existence following the 1985 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths.[4] However, even though Bat-Girl did not exist in the Post-Crisis continuity, a modified version of the character, Mary Elizabeth "Bette" Kane, was introduced as the superhero Flamebird, who continues to appear in DC Comics publications.[5]

Barbara Gordon

Main article: Barbara Gordon

A new Batgirl -- Barbara "Babs" Gordon, the daughter of Batman supporting character Police commissioner James Gordon -- debuted in Detective Comics #359 (cover-dated January 1967, but released in November 1966).[6] In her debut, Gordon is on her way to a masquerade ball dressed as a female version of Batman when she disrupts a kidnapping attempt on Bruce Wayne by the villainous Killer Moth. This attracts the attention of Batman and leads to her establishing a crime-fighting career. This new character, jointly created by Editor Julius Schwartz, artist Carmine Infantino and author Gardner Fox, was a collaboration between DC Comics and the Batman television series of the late 1960s which aired on ABC. When television producer William Dozier sought to renew the Batman program for a third season, he asked Schwartz for a new female character to be introduced in the comic book medium, which could be adapted into the television series in order to attract a female audience.[1] The new version of Batgirl was written as an adult, having earned a doctorate in library science and maintaining a career as head of Gotham City Public Library.[7]

As Batgirl, Barbara Gordon proved to be more popular than the previous Bat-Girl and Batwoman characters combined. Barbara Gordon appeared as Batgirl in both Batman and Detective Comics, as well as other DC Comics publications unrelated to Batman. The character also received a starring role in the Batman Family comic book series which debuted in 1975, where she became part of the "Dynamite Duo: Batgirl & Robin" with Dick Grayson.[8] Described as one of the most popular characters to appear in publications during the Silver Age of Comic Books,[7] Barbara Gordon appeared as Batgirl regularly from 1966 to 1988, and she is frequently featured as Batgirl in "flashback" stories in current DC Comics publications. After relinquishing her role as Batgirl in the 1988 one-shot comic Batgirl Special #1,[9] Barbara Gordon is shot through the spinal cord and crippled by the Joker in Batman: The Killing Joke.[10] The plot, which led to Gordon's paralysis, subsequently became a point of controversy among critics and commentators.[11] Editor Kim Yale and author John Ostrander revive the character in Suicide Squad #23 (1989) under the guise of Oracle, a freelance information broker and expert hacker.[12] As Oracle, Barbara Gordon is written as an ally to various DC Universe superheroes, but is most notable as the founder and head of operations of the Birds of Prey organization.

Helena Bertinelli

Main articles: Huntress (Helena Bertinelli) and No Man's Land (comics)

Eleven years after the editorial retirement of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl, a new version of the character was introduced in Shadow of the Bat #83 during the maxiseries Batman: No Man's Land (1999).[13] In Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #120 (1999), the new Batgirl is revealed to be Helena Bertinelli, an established DC comics superhero alternatively known as the Huntress.[14] Bertinelli is eventually forced to abandon the mantle by Batman.[15] After reclaiming her identity as the Huntress, Bertinelli later joins Oracle's Birds of Prey, becoming the second former Batgirl to be on the team's roster.[16]

Cassandra Cain

Main article: Cassandra Cain

Depicted as a martial arts child prodigy, Cassandra Cain is written as a young woman of partly Asian descent who becomes the third in-continuity Batgirl, with the approval of both Batman and Oracle, following her introduction in Batman #567 (1999) as part of the Batman: No Man's Land crossover.[17] Cassandra Cain wears the same Batgirl costume worn by Helena Bertinelli. Raised by assassin David Cain, Cassandra Cain was not taught spoken language, but instead was taught to "read" physical movement. Subsequently, Cain's only form of communication was body language.[18] The parts of the character's brain normally used for speech were trained so Cain could read other people's body language and predict, with uncanny accuracy, their next move. This also caused her brain to develop learning functions different from most, a form of dyslexia that hampers her abilities to read and write.

Despite Cain's disability, author Andersen Gabrych describes the character's unique form of language as the key factor in what makes Cain an excellent detective; the ability to walk into a room and "know" something is wrong based on body language.[18] During the first arc of the Batgirl comic book series entitled Silent Running, Cassandra Cain encounters a psychic who "reprograms" her brain, enabling her to comprehend verbal language, while simultaneously losing the ability to predict movements.[19] This issue is resolved during the second arc of the series, Batgirl: A Knight Alone, when Batgirl encounters the assassin Lady Shiva who agrees to teach her how to predict movement once again.[20] Six years after its debut, DC Comics canceled the Batgirl comic book series with issue #73 (2006), ending with Cain relinquishing her role as Batgirl.[21]

When DC Comics continuity skipped forward one year after the events of the limited series Infinite Crisis, Cassandra Cain is revived as leader of the League of Assassins, having abandoned her previous characterization as an altruist. The character's progression from hero to villain angered some of her fans and was accompanied by heavy criticism.[22] Cain reprised her role as Batgirl in the "Titans East" (2007) storyline of Teen Titans,[23] where it was discovered that she had been influenced by a mind-altering drug administered by supervillain Deathstroke the Terminator. Following the conclusion of the storyline, DC Comics has restored Cain's original characterization as a superhero and the character has been given a supporting role in the comic book series Batman and the Outsiders.

Following the events of Batman's death, Cassandra becomes disillusioned with being Batgirl and has since then stepped down from the role.

Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe

Main article: Misfit (DC Comics)

During the "Headhunt" arc of Birds of Prey by Gail Simone, a "new" Batgirl emerges in Gotham City, who is soon revealed to be a teenager named Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe; a young girl with inherent superpowers.[24][25] After encountering Oracle face to face, Gage-Radcliffe is forced to abandon her career as a vigilante. However, the character later returns in Birds of Prey #101 under the alias "Misfit", becoming the third former Batgirl to be affiliated with Oracle's organization.[26]

Stephanie Brown

Main article: Stephanie Brown (comics)

see also Batgirl (Comic)

Stephanie Brown, formerly Spoiler and Robin, has taken up the mantle of Batgirl after Cassandra Cain gives Brown her unwanted Batgirl costume. Brown is the fifth in-continuity Batgirl.

Character attributes

Betty Kane's Bat-Girl was primarily interested in vigilantism in order to develop a relationship with the original Robin, Dick Grayson, as her introduction into publication was a deliberate attempt to avoid further allegations of homosexuality that Seduction of the Innocent presented to the public.[14] Depicted as the niece of Batwoman, Bat-Girl had developed a crush on Robin after arriving in Gotham City and decided to fashion her own superhero persona based on Robin's costume. Her appearance in comic books primarily displayed her character attempting to develop a romantic relationship with Robin, despite his embarrassment or lack of interest.[1]

When Julius Swartz asked Carmine Infantino for a redesign of the Bat-Girl character, Infantino recalled Betty Kane's character as a "pesky girl version of Robin", and decided to come up with something more original.[27] Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino's new "Batgirl" was written as an adult and as a career woman working as head of Gotham City Public Library. Though the Barbara Gordon character saw Batman as her inspiration and idol, fashioning her crime-fighting persona after him, her primary concern was solving cases and often worked independently from Batman and Robin. Batgirl was primarily featured in Detective comics in stories separate from the Dynamic Duo.[7]

Adaptations in other media

Main article: Barbara Gordon in other media
File:Yvonne Craig Batgirl.jpg
Batgirl as portrayed by Yvonne Craig in the 1960s Batman television series.

A pop culture icon, the Barbara Gordon version of Batgirl has been adapted into all media relating to the Batman franchise including merchandise, television, animation, video game,[28] and feature film. The Barbara Gordon Batgirl, jointly inspired by producer William Dozier and DC Comics editor Julius Schwartz,[14] appeared in the final season of the live-action Batman television series in 1967, promptly following the character's comic book debut.[29] Actress Yvonne Craig was featured in a promotional short, which was shown to ABC executives in order to not only add Batgirl to the cast, but ensure a third season for the television series.[30] As Barbara Gordon, Craig was a replica of her comic book counterpart, working as a librarian for Gotham City Public Library; she led a double life as Batgirl, helping Batman, Robin and the Gotham City police department to solve an array of cases.[30] Although Craig's addition to the cast was able to renew the program for a third season, it did not save the series from cancellation;[31] Batman was officially canceled in March 1968.[32]

Barbara Gordon's Batgirl made her first animated appearance in Batman with Robin the Boy Wonder[33] in 1968 and was also adapted into its successor animated program The New Adventures of Batman in 1977.[34] During the 1990s and 2000s, Barbara Gordon appears as Batgirl in the series of animated programs and animated films which comprise the DC Animated Universe; these include Batman: The Animated Series,[35] Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, The New Batman Adventures,[36] and Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. A younger version of the Barbara Gordon character also played a recurring role in the animated series entitled The Batman.[37]

In addition to animated adaptations, the Barbara Gordon version of Batgirl served as the inspiration for the character Barbara Wilson in the 1997 feature film Batman & Robin. Departing from the comic book character's history, the alternate version of Barbara is portrayed by Alicia Silverstone as the niece of Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne's butler and Batman's loyal assistant.[38] The short-lived Birds of Prey television series, which aired on The WB network in 2002, features a paralyzed Barbara Gordon donning her Batgirl costume after creating a device that allows her to walk.[39] The series featured Dina Meyer as Barbara Gordon, in a future where she has been paralyzed by the Joker and operates as Oracle.[38]

Cultural impact

The depiction of the Barbara Gordon incarnation of Batgirl as a career-oriented woman, coupled with her alter-ego as a crimefighter, is considered to be symbolic of the women's empowerment movement of the 1960s according to critic and historian Peter Sanderson.[40] Gordon's career as a librarian also represented a "valued and honored profession" within mainstream American comics, despite the fact that comic books were not considered to be a respectable pastime by library professionals.[7]

...likely explanations for why Batgirl's alter ego was a librarian are (a) librarianship was at the time an established and acceptable occupation for a(n) (unmarried) young woman, and (b) Barbara Gordon's job as a seemingly meek and passive librarian had to be considered an ideal contrast to her truly significant (and exciting) work as Batgirl.[7]

Actress Yvonne Craig, who was cast as Batgirl during the final season of the Batman television series, also portrayed the character in the 1972 public service announcement for the United States Department of Labor advocating equal pay.[41] Craig has stated her portrayal of Batgirl remains a symbol of women's empowerment.[42] Despite this, the Batgirl character has often been criticized for being an uninspiring female variation of Batman.[43] Compared to Wonder Woman, described as "the principal icon of superhero women", Batgirl has been disregarded as a derivative of her male counterpart.[44] When Yvonne Craig portrayed Batgirl in the Batman television series, she was not allowed to engage in hand-to-hand combat; her fight scenes were all based on choreographed dance routines of Broadway showgirls, some claimed this made her appear as an inferior version of Batman, while others said it made her appear more graceful.[45]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Daniels, Les (2004). Batman: The Complete History. Chronicle Books. p. 93. ISBN 0811842320. Cite error: The named reference "Batman: The Complete History" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ Batman #139. DC Comics. 1961.
  3. ^ Fred Grandinetti. "Remembering Kathy Kane: The First Batwoman". Newsarama. Archived from the original on 2007-07-10. Retrieved 2007-09-19.
  4. ^ Wolfman, Marv (1985). Crisis on Infinite Earths. DC Comics. ISBN 1-56389-750-4.
  5. ^ Secret Origins Annual #3. DC Comics. 1989.
  6. ^ Fox, Gardner (1967). Detective Comics #359. DC Comics.
  7. ^ a b c d e Arant, Wendi (2002). The Image and Role of the Librarian. Haworth Press. pp. 77–78. ISBN 0789020998. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Maggin, Elliot (1975). Batman Family #1. DC Comics.
  9. ^ Randall, Barbara (1988). Batgirl Special #1. DC Comics.
  10. ^ Moore, Alan (1988). Batman: The Killing Joke. DC Comics. ISBN 978-0930289454.
  11. ^ "Variations on a Theme". 2007-08-18. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  12. ^ Ostrander, John (2007). Suicide Squad (Vol. 1) #23. DC Comics. ISBN 1401214916.
  13. ^ Gale, Bob (1999). Batman: No Man's Land. DC Comics. ISBN 978-1563895647. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ a b c Brooker, Will (2001). Batman Unmasked: Analyzing a Cultural Icon. Continuum International Publishing Group. pp. 187, 151, 319. ISBN 0826413439.
  15. ^ Rucka, Greg (1999). Batman: No Man's Land VOL. 3. DC Comics. ISBN 1563896346. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Simone, Gail (2004). Birds of Prey #65. DC Comics.
  17. ^ Conroy, Mike (2002). 500 Great Comicbook Action Heroes. Chrysalis. ISBN 1844110044.
  18. ^ a b Richards, Dave (2005-03-04). "Nature or Nuture? Andersen Gabrych talks "Batgirl"". Retrieved 2008-02-17.
  19. ^ Peterson, Scott (2001). Batgirl Vol 1: Silent Running. DC Comics. ISBN 978-1563897054. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ Puckett, Kelly (2001). Batgirl Vol. 2: A Knight Alone. DC Comics. ISBN 978-1563898525.
  21. ^ Gabrych, Andersen (2006). Batgirl: Destruction's Daughter. DC Comics. ISBN 1401208967.
  22. ^ Taylor, Robert (2006-11-05). "Reflections: Talking "Robin" (And Batgirl) With Adam Beechen". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2008-02-19. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ Johns, Geoff (2007). Teen Titans #43. DC Comics.
  24. ^ Simone, Gail (2006). Birds of Prey #97. DC Comics.
  25. ^ Simone, Gail (2006). Birds of Prey #98. DC Comics.
  26. ^ Simone, Gail (2006). Birds of Prey #101. DC Comics.
  27. ^ Fitzgerald, Michael (2007). "Carmine Infantino: Decades at DC and Beyond". Retrieved 2007-11-23.
  28. ^ Game Informer features a two-page gallery of the many heroes and villains who appear in LEGO Batman, including Batgirl, with a picture for each character and a descriptive paragraph. See "LEGO Batman: Character Gallery," Game Informer 186 (October 2008): 92.
  29. ^ Sherman, Stanford (1967-09-14). "Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin". Batman. www.tv.com. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  30. ^ a b Terrace, Vincent (2002). Crime Fighting Heroes of Television: Over 10,000 Facts from 151 Shows, 1949-2001. McFarland. p. 23. ISBN 0786413956.
  31. ^ Daniels, Les (1995). DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes. Bulfinch. p. 141. ISBN 0-8212-2076-4.
  32. ^ Browne, Ray Broadus (2001). The guide to United States popular culture. Popular Press. p. 69. ISBN 0879728213. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ "The Batman/Superman Hour". 1968. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  34. ^ "Pest". The New Adventures of Batman. www.tv.com. 1977-02-10. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  35. ^ Reaves, Brynne (1993-09-13). "Shadow of the Bat". Batman: The Animated Series. www.tv.com. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  36. ^ Dini, Paul (1997-09-13). "Holiday Knights". The New Batman Adventures. www.tv.com. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  37. ^ Jelenic, Michael (2005-09-17). "Batgirl Begins". The Batman. www.tv.com. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  38. ^ a b Mainon, Dominique (2006). The Modern Amazons: Warrior Women on Screen. Hal Leonard. pp. 135–137. ISBN 0879103272. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  39. ^ Armus, Adam (2002-11-27). "Lady Shiva". Birds of Prey. www.tv.com. Retrieved 2008-01-02. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  40. ^ Sanderson, Peter (2007). "Comics in Context #67: Catch As Cats Can". IGN. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
  41. ^ "Yvonne Craig as Batgirl in a Public Service Announcement for the U.S. Department of Labor". www.yvonnecraig.com. 1972. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
  42. ^ Schiff, Laura (1998). "Interview With Yvonne". Femme Fatales Magazine. www.yvonnecraig.com. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
  43. ^ Flood, Michael (2007). International Encyclopedia of Men and Masculinities. London: Routledge. p. 256. ISBN 9780415333436.
  44. ^ Zimmerman, David A. (2004). Comic Book Character: Unleashing the Hero in Us All. InterVarsity Press. p. 60. ISBN 0830832602.
  45. ^ Early, Frances H. (2003). Athena's Daughters: Television's New Women Warriors. Syracuse University Press. p. 136. ISBN 0815629680. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

References

  • Arant, Wendi. Benefiel, Candace. The Image and Role of the Librarian. Haworth Press, 2002. ISBN 0789020998
  • Brooker, Will. Batman Unmasked: Analyzing a Cultural Icon. Continuum International Publishing Group, 2001. ISBN 0826413439
  • Daniels, Les. Batman: The Complete History. Chronicle Books, 2004. ISBN 0811842320
  • Daniels, Les. DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes. Bulfinch, 1995. ISBN 0-821-22076-4
  • Early, Frances H. Kennedy, Kathleen. Athena's Daughters: Television's New Women Warriors. Syracuse University Press, 2003. ISBN 0815629680
  • Flood, Michael. International Encyclopedia of Men and Masculinities. Routledge, 2007. ISBN 9780415333436
  • Mainon, Dominique. Ursini, James. The Modern Amazons: Warrior Women on Screen. Hal Leonard, 2006. ISBN 0879103272
  • Nolen-Weathington, Eric. Modern Masters Volume 3: Bruce Timm. TwoMorrows Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1893905306
  • Terrace, Vincent. Crime Fighting Heroes of Television: Over 10,000 Facts from 151 Shows, 1949-2001. McFarland, 2002. ISBN 0786413956
  • Zimmerman, David A. Comic Book Character: Unleashing the Hero in Us All. InterVarsity Press, 2004. ISBN 0830832602
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