Batgirl, particularly these days, is kind of the forgotten Batperson. Of course she doesn’t have the cultural cachet of Batman (who’s been on film, TV shows, etc.), but she’s not talked about even as much as Batwoman (who is going to be on the limitless Earths crossover; and no, Batwoman is not Batgirl when she grows up.) It seems strange, especially with the popularity of the Bat mythos and with the fact that she was once played by 90s icon Alicia Silverstone. The fact is, though, that a lot of people just don’t know about her. but they should. So here’s the history of Batgirl, from the peculiar reason she was created to her character today.

It begins in 1954 when psychiatrist Fredric Wertham wrote the book Seduction of the Innocent. (Please don’t fall asleep.) now if I gave you 3 guesses, I’m not sure you could predict what exactly Wertham blamed for seducing the poor 50s youth. rock and roll? Television? cool leather jackets? We could keep going, but it was comic books. little cartoon drawings, with their cartoon violence and hidden naked ladies (maybe), were leading American youth to ruin.

In The Beginning: The early history Of Batgirl

Batman #139, image by means of DC Comics

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One of the most egregious offenders, according to Wertham, was Batman and his uneasy relationship with his ward, Robin. It was the kind of relationship that would later be spoofed by Saturday night live in its “Ambiguously Gay Duo” shorts. but that was decades later. In the 50s, DC just got Batman a girlfriend.

In 1956, Kathy Kane made her debut as Batman’s love interest and the original Batwoman. 5 years later, in 1961, her niece Betty Kane, the original Batgirl, also showed up. The Batman comics then turned a lot more toward 60s situational family comedy, with Bruce and Kathy as the Batdad and Batmom, respectively, and Robin and Betty as their kids. They even had a Bat-dog, Ace the Bat-Hound, and an imp called the Bat-Mite.

The popularity of Batman comics waned, though, in the early 60s to the point that DC nearly killed him. So when Julius Schwartz became the Batman editor in 1964, he reinvented the brand and the story by scuttling the extraneous Bat characters. Batman comics went back to being about a rich crime-fighter. as for Betty as Batgirl, the crisis on limitless Earths storyline in 1985 retconned her into non-existence. (Betty Kane herself didn’t disappear, though. A twist on the original character, the character Mary Elizabeth “Bette” Kane, is one of the women who has taken on the Flamebird mantle.)

Barbara Gordon Becomes The Batgirl

Detective Comics #359, image by means of DC Comics

In the mid-60s, when the Batman TV series had taken off, the show’s producers tasked Schwartz with developing a female character to appeal to lady viewers. William Dozier, an executive producer, proposed that they make the new character both police Commissioner James Gordon’s daughter and the new Batgirl. artist Carmine Infantino created the concept artwork for the character, which Batman producers used to sell the show for the third season.

On the TV series, Yvonne Craig played Barbara Gordon, librarian by day and crime-fighter by night. together with Batman and Robin, they became the “Terrific Trio.”

Meanwhile, Barbara Gordon made her comic debut in Detective Comics #359, “The Million dollar Debut of Batgirl.” On her way to a costume party–dressed as a lady Batman, of course–she runs into the man in Bat himself. Specifically, she interrupts the killer Moth attempting to kidnap Batman and that’s enough for her to catch crimefightin’ fever. Batman tries to dissuade her, because of her delicate female sensibilities, but she ignores him.

Batgirl was a featured player in Detective Comics issues throughout the rest of the 60s and the 1970s. She also made appearances in other series, like Justice league of America. She briefly retired, after being elected to the us house of Representatives, but it didn’t take. After a year, she was back out there, teaming up with Superman.

Batgirl Survives The crisis On limitless Earths

Beginning in 1975, she had a starring role in the Batman family series, which focused on the adventures of the extended characters in Batman’s universe. In Batgirl’s case, that indicated partnering up with Robin a lot of of the time, although she does meet Batwoman in Batman family #10. The series ran through 1978, while Batgirl continued to make appearances in Detective Comics issues.

By the 1980s, DC had a massive number of characters and storylines. In buy to pare everything down to one DC Universe, they launched the crisis on limitless Earths series in 1985. Although Gordon is barely a blip in the series, it did retcon the history of Batgirl. No longer was she Jim Gordon’s daughter, but she was, instead, his niece, born to Jim’s brother Roger and his wife Thelma. Orphaned at 13, Barbara moved to Gotham, where Jim and his wife, also named Barbara, adopted her. and that, of course, is where she caught bat fever. (Villainy is the only known cure.)

2 years later, in 1987’s secret Origins #20, Gordon’s past would be explored once again, with minor changes. For example, this time, her daddy doesn’t die in the car accident that kills her mother. Instead, he succumbs later to alcohol-related illness.

Retirement Wasn’t Enough, Apparently: Barbara Gordon meets The killing Joke

image by means of DC

A year later, it wouldn’t really matter, because in 1988’s Batgirl special #1, DC retired Barbara Gordon. despite her retirement, though, she appeared a few days later in Alan Moore’s landmark Batman: The killing Joke. The graphic novel tells an origin story for the Joker. one of the most controversial aspects of the story, however, is when the Joker shoots and paralyzes Barbara Gordon. just in case that wasn’t enough, the Joker and his goons then photograph her naked body, so Joker can use the photos to torment Jim Gordon.

And in case it wasn’t clear, Barbara Gordon–Batgirl–is only crucial to the story insofar as an object. Her feelings and her thoughts don’t matter–at least, not as much as Batman’s or her father’s. She’s just a tool, an emotional cudgel. Unsurprisingly, this storyline, notorious in Batgirl history, didn’t sit well with a lot of readers. In fact, today, even Moore regrets it, telling Wizard magazine: “It was probably one of the areas where should’ve reined me in, but they didn’t.”

But Barbara didn’t stay down for long. Comic writer Kim Yale and her husband, fellow writer John Ostrander, did not care for the storyline and wrote a new one, making Barbara the Oracle, an information broker who supplies intel to other DC characters. Her a lot of crucial alliance would be with the Birds of Prey, DC’s all-female superhero team. She would also be part of “The new 52,” DC’s 2011 relaunch of its a lot of famous characters. With that, she would return to being Batgirl.

In Gail Simone’s best run series, Batgirl, Barbara regained the use of her legs thanks to an experimental surgery, but she’s hardly all better. She struggles with both PTSD and a form of survivor’s guilt. She’s a real person again, though, with her own ambitions and agency.

Batgirl goes to Burnside and Returns To The Birds

In 2014, that idea would continue on with yet another reboot of the Barbara Gordon story. This time, she was a hipster PhD student living in the Brooklyn-alike Gotham borough Burnside. That storyline would continue even as Batgirl (the series) was included as part of DC’s 2016 “Rebirth,” aka yet another excuse for them to reboot their properties. This version of the Barbara Gordon Batgirl continues to this day.

At the same time as the Rebirth, Batgirl resumed her previous alliance with the lady Birds in Batgirl and the Birds of Prey. launched in July 2016, the series ran through may 2018.

More Than One Batgirl With History

images by means of DC

First appearing in 1999’s Batman #567, Cassandra Cain is the child of assassins lady Shiva and David Cain. For comic book reasons, they deprived her of normal conditioning in buy to shape her into a world-class assassin. You know, villain parenting. That worked about as well as you might imagine, in that she’s a fearsome fighter, but can hardly read, communicate, or socialize.

For 1999’s “No Man’s Land” storyline, Cain assumes the mantle of Batgirl under the aegis of both Batman and Oracle (Barbara Gordon). She is actually the second Batgirl in the storyline; Helena Bertinelli briefly became Batgirl first. However, after her style clashed with the original Batperson–the Batman–she went back to being Huntress.

Cassandra Cain, on the other hand, is probably the character a lot of associated with Batgirl history after Barbara Gordon. After her appearance in the “No Man’s Land” series, she would then go on to be the first Batgirl to have her own monthly series. She was also the first Asian Batgirl, as well as one of the most significant Asian comic book characters period.

In the Batgirl series, Cain actually gives up her cowl to go undercover. Stephanie Brown, the first female Robin, then takes on the role. After Cain returns, brown gives it up and returns to her vigilante alter-ego, the Spoiler.

After Cain assumes her father’s persona, Orphan, Charlotte “Charlie” Gage-Radcliffe becomes the blink-and-you-might-miss-her next Batgirl. recognizing her talent, but knowing how prone she is as a young girl, Barbara talks her out of being the Batgirl. Charlie fights as Misfit, instead.

Note: These are the canon Batgirls and claimants in the history of Batgirl. This list does not include alternate timeline/history Batgirls like Lucius Fox’s daughter, Tiffany. Or the vigilante group of Batgirls in DC Comics Bombshells. Or the version of Barbara Gordon in that series who’s apparently a vampire Batgirl.

The film history Of Batgirl

Yvonne Craig ashaned at 13, Barbara moved to Gotham, where Jim and his wife, also named Barbara, adopted her. and that, of course, is where she caught bat fever. (Villainy is the only known cure.)

2 years later, in 1987’s secret Origins #20, Gordon’s past would be explored once again, with minor changes. For example, this time, her daddy doesn’t die in the car accident that kills her mother. Instead, he succumbs later to alcohol-related illness.

Retirement Wasn’t Enough, Apparently: Barbara Gordon meets The killing Joke

image by means of DC

A year later, it wouldn’t really matter, because in 1988’s Batgirl special #1, DC retired Barbara Gordon. despite her retirement, though, she appeared a few days later in Alan Moore’s landmark Batman: The killing Joke. The graphic novel tells an origin story for the Joker. one of the most controversial aspects of the story, however, is when the Joker shoots and paralyzes Barbara Gordon. just in case that wasn’t enough, the Joker and his goons then photograph her naked body, so Joker can use the photos to torment Jim Gordon.

And in case it wasn’t clear, Barbara Gordon–Batgirl–is only crucial to the story insofar as an object. Her feelings and her thoughts don’t matter–at least, not as much as Batman’s or her father’s. She’s just a tool, an emotional cudgel. Unsurprisingly, this storyline, notorious in Batgirl history, didn’t sit well with a lot of readers. In fact, today, even Moore regrets it, telling Wizard magazine: “It was probably one of the areas where should’ve reined me in, but they didn’t.”

But Barbara didn’t stay down for long. Comic writer Kim Yale and her husband, fellow writer John Ostrander, did not care for the storyline and wrote a new one, making Barbara the Oracle, an information broker who supplies intel to other DC characters. Her a lot of crucial alliance would be with the Birds of Prey, DC’s all-female superhero team. She would also be part of “The new 52,” DC’s 2011 relaunch of its a lot of famous characters. With that, she would return to being Batgirl.

In Gail Simone’s best run series, Batgirl, Barbara regained the use of her legs thanks to an experimental surgery, but she’s hardly all better. She struggles with both PTSD and a form of survivor’s guilt. She’s a real person again, though, with her own ambitions and agency.

Batgirl goes to Burnside and Returns To The Birds

In 2014, that idea would continue on with yet another reboot of the Barbara Gordon story. This time, she was a hipster PhD student living in the Brooklyn-alike Gotham borough Burnside. That storyline would continue even as Batgirl (the series) was included as part of DC’s 2016 “Rebirth,” aka yet another excuse for them to reboot their properties. This version of the Barbara Gordon Batgirl continues to this day.

At the same time as the Rebirth, Batgirl resumed her previous alliance with the lady Birds in Batgirl and the Birds of Prey. launched in July 2016, the series ran through may 2018.

More Than One Batgirl With History

images by means of DC

First appearing in 1999’s Batman #567, Cassandra Cain is the child of assassins lady Shiva and David Cain. For comic book reasons, they deprived her of normal conditioning in buy to shape her into a world-class assassin. You know, villain parenting. That worked about as well as you might imagine, in that she’s a fearsome fighter, but can hardly read, communicate, or socialize.

For 1999’s “No Man’s Land” storyline, Cain assumes the mantle of Batgirl under the aegis of both Batman and Oracle (Barbara Gordon). She is actually the second Batgirl in the storyline; Helena Bertinelli briefly became Batgirl first. However, after her style clashed with the original Batperson–the Batman–she went back to being Huntress.

Cassandra Cain, on the other hand, is probably the character a lot of associated with Batgirl history after Barbara Gordon. After her appearance in the “No Man’s Land” series, she would then go on to be the first Batgirl to have her own monthly series. She was also the first Asian Batgirl, as well as one of the most significant Asian comic book characters period.

In the Batgirl series, Cain actually gives up her cowl to go undercover. Stephanie Brown, the first female Robin, then takes on the role. After Cain returns, brown gives it up and returns to her vigilante alter-ego, the Spoiler.

After Cain assumes her father’s persona, Orphan, Charlotte “Charlie” Gage-Radcliffe becomes the blink-and-you-might-miss-her next Batgirl. recognizing her talent, but knowing how prone she is as a young girl, Barbara talks her out of being the Batgirl. Charlie fights as Misfit, instead.

Note: These are the canon Batgirls and claimants in the history of Batgirl. This list does not include alternate timeline/history Batgirls like Lucius Fox’s daughter, Tiffany. Or the vigilante group of Batgirls in DC Comics Bombshells. Or the version of Barbara Gordon in that series who’s apparently a vampire Batgirl.

The film history Of Batgirl

Yvonne Craig as