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Robert Greenberger
by Robert Greenberger
Detective Comics #359
In 1967, ABC saw how quickly the Batmania trend was fading and held discussions with DC Comics regarding ways to resuscitate interest in the series. It was decided he needed a new female sidekick, possibly to replace the boy Wonder, and a way to attract girls to watch. Editor Julius Schwartz sat down with Detective Comics artist Carmine Infantino and they produced a brand new Batgirl, ignoring a previous 1961 incarnation. It was decided to make her Commissioner Gordon’s daughter to more easily in shape her into the series’ premise and so Barbara Gordon was born. “The “Million dollar Debut of Batgirl” in issue #359, released in November 1966 during the show’s second season, produced a stir. Under the Infantino-Murphy Anderson cover, we met Babs, a librarian on her way to a costume party, who was nearly robbed by killer Moth, an obscure old Batman foe, and a heroine was born in a story from Gardner Fox.
Batgirl: A celebration of 50 Years
DC Comics is releasing Batgirl: A celebration of 50 Years but more appropriately, it celebrates the character and heroism of Barbara Gordon, who has withstood much over five decades. The fat volume does pay tribute to her predecessor with “Bat-Girl” from Batman #139 (1961) in a typical tale from bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff, and Charles Paris.
The new, improved Batgirl fought together with the dynamic Duo in a few Detective features – such as #371’s “Batgirl’s costume Cut-Ups” from Fox, Gil Kane, and Sid Greene — before she earned her own backup series and we get a smattering of stories from her first solo run.
Detective Comics #422
Early on, Frank Robbins and Don Heck handled the series, which featured continued storylines and sub-plots as seen in a three-parter from ‘Tec #422-424, when Babs exposes her identity to her dad (who already knew). In time, she left that title and was partnered typically with Robin in the result in Batman family yet, every now and then, she had a solo feature such as issue #9’s “Startling secret of the Devilish Daughters” from Bob Rozakis, Irv Novick, and Vince Colletta, noteworthy only for Duela Dent appearing not only as the Joker’s daughter but as the Riddler and Penguin’s offspring, too.
Batgirl special #1
Batgirl regained her berth in Detective in the 1980s and was briefly written by Barbara Randall, impressing Editor Dick Giordano enough to invite her east and join the editorial team. Her run is best recalled for the two-parter “He with tricks fears the Sound/When velvet Paws Caress the Ground” from #518-519, with nice art from Trevor Von Eeden. By that point, her place in the Batman family was being questioned by editorial. Marv Wolfman characterized her as being in doubt of her effectiveness in crisis on unlimited Earths, setting her as much as retire. Randall, now writing as Barbara Kesel, was fond of the character and drew the assignment to tell that last case in 1988’s Batgirl special #1, with art by Barry Kitson and Bruce Patterson. By then, it had been decided her crippling in that year’s The killing Joke would be integrated in the continuity so this was a fond farewell to the hero.
Of course, Babs wouldn’t give up the good fight and under John Ostrander and Kim Yale, she embraced her Oracle persona. After her surprise arrival in suicide Squad, the team came back to tell of her start in “Oracle–Year One”, printed in Batman Chronicles #5, with terrific art from Brian Stelfreeze and Karl Story.
By this point, Barbara had become a cherished figure in the DC universe so others took the opportunity to look back as well. One example is culled from the excellent Batgirl Year One miniseries as Chuck Dixon, Scott Beatty, Marcos Martin, and Alvaro Lopez told, in issue #4, of when Batman and Robin abducted the Dominoed Daredoll to test her and see if she’s really ready to fight crime.
Birds of Prey #8
The romance between Babs and Dick Grayson was one of the terrific love stories of the ‘80s and ‘90s and perhaps the best instance of that is found in Birds of Prey #8, a story that was skipped in the BOP collections and has a well-deserved place here in this one-off from Dixon, Greg Land, and Drew Geraci.
In time, though, Babs provided the Batgirl to Cassandra Cain, who ended up being the silent Batgirl and played a prominent role in the No Man’s Land event prior to earning her own monthly series. Greg Rucka, Mike Deodato, and Sean Parsons explore her during NML in “Assembly” from Legends of the Dark Knight #120.
Batgirl #45
The Batgirl ongoing had excellent stores from Kelley Puckett and later Dylan Horrocks. There are two examples included here starting with issue #8 with art by Damion Scott and Robert Campanella; then “Soul” from #45, with art by Rick Leonardi and Jesse Delperdang, depicting the time Cassandra donned Babs’ original uniform.
Batgirl #13
Stephanie brown served for a time as Robin and as Batgirl, a accomplishment accomplished by no other, and Bryan Q. Miller composed a short-lived series with “Batgirl Rising: field Test” representing that run here with art by Lee Garbett and Trevor Scott along with “Batgirl: Trust”, from #13, where she fights Clayface in a story from Miller and Pere Prez.
Batgirl #35
In the new 52 reality, Babs’ handicap was short-lived and her revised background was exposed in Batgirl #0 from Gail Simone and Ed Benes. The run was not as well-received as really hoped so a new creative team arrived with issue #35, as Cameron Stewart, Brendan Fletcher, and Babs Tarr revised her backstory, deaged her, and added a fresh tone. That first issue got people’s attention and it closes out the volume.
Purchase
Batgirl: A celebration of 50 Years
Classic covers from the Grand Comics Database.