"Out of the super-star studded firmament of Gotham City, where Batman and Robin shine supreme as masked manhunters -- bursts a brand-new luminary -- Batgirl! And like that very Batman after whom she models herself -- she too battles crime and injustice in a manner wondrous enough for newspapers to proclaim in banner headlines -- The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!"
The first time I read this story I was sitting in my junior high school library (because the book wasn't allowed to be checked out) reading Batman: From the 30s to the 70s. It has been reprinted so many times since than I couldn't tell you the first time I read it in color. I has been reprinted so many times, in fact, I doubt there's anyone here unfamiliar with the story: Barbara Gordon, costume party, Killer Moth, rescues Batman & Robin, becaome crimefighter. As I understand it, although "Batgirl" appeared in the comics some nine prior to her first appearance on television, she was introduced at the suggestion of TV executives who were eager to have a character that would appeal to female viewers.
Skipping ahead a bit, the first Batgirl story I ever read new off the shelf was "Surprise! This'll Kill You!" from Detective Comics #388. Unfortunately, it was a two-part story and I wasn't to read the conclusion, "Batgirl's Bag of Tricks," for another 30 years, until it was reprinted in Batman in the Sixties in 1999. That's all right. I just made up my own ending to the story. By the time I read the actual conclusion, I realized that my five-year-old self completely misinterpreted what happened in the first part... either that or my 35-year-old self simply misremembered it.
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THE BRONZE AGE BATGIRL Vol. 2:
Batman Family #12: Captain Aero steals the Spirit of St. Louis from the Smithsonian. St. Louisans are well aware that that's where Charles Lindbergh's famous plane is housed. There are two aircraft on display at Lambert Field: Lindbergh's personal airlplane, and a replica of the Spirit of St, Louis. This story (re-)introduces Commisioner Gordon's son (and Babs' brother), Tony Gordon, whose only previous appearance was World's Finest #53 (1951). Never having read World's Finest #53 (or Batman Family #12, for that matter), this revelation came as a complete surprise to me. (Interestingly, Barbabra Gordon appears in the flashback, looking not that much younger than she does in 1977.) Tony was a spy whose hot air balloon was shot down over Red China. He escaped, but now must maintain an assumed identity lest he be the cause of an international incident.
Batman Family #13: [A reprint of] "Inside Story of the Outsider" was one of my seminal "Batman" stories. I never expected (or wanted) to see the Outsider again after that. Would that that status quo remained constant. Robin confesses to Batgirl that he has fallen in love with her, but she has fallen asleep and doesn't hear.
Batman Family #14: Batwoman apparently dies of a virus that causes victims to disintigrate. Batgirl becomes infected and must wear a plastic containment suit throughout the story. Batgirl and robin trace thr outbreak to circus performers Mr. Brain and Dr. Brawn. It is determined that the virus actually causes living tissue to shribnk, and Batwoman is restored. Kid Flash appears. Dick Grayson's girlfriend is Lori Elton.
Batman Family #15: A rematch with Killer Moth and the Cavalier. Their goal is to get either Batgirl or Robin to reveal the location of the Batcave. Robin sets up a fake lair in a tree, complete with a "nourishment dispenser" anc communications link to the planet "Nimbor" (you figure it out). When the Cavalier finds an enormous birdnest, he leaps to the following outlandish conclusion: "There can be no doubt about it--Robin... and undoubtedly the Batman as well... are aliens! They--like Superman--have come to Earth from another world! And though he has assumed human form... Robin is in reality a bird...!" I question every word of that conclusion, starting with, "There can be no doubt about it!"
Batman Family #16: While out on patrol, Robin and harlequin (formerly "the Joker's daughter") encounter a villain in the first of five identities, which include Lumberjack, Galloping Ghost, Johnny G.I. and Laser Razer. (He is color blind, a condition which leads to his downfall.) Lori Elton takes a job as an aide to Congresswoman Gordon, which doesn't stop Robin from hitting on Batgirl. The original Bat-Girl, Kathy Kane, appearas, as does President Jimmy Carter.
Batman Family #17: Batgirl, Batwoman and the Huntress team-up to fight Poison Ivy, Catwoman and Madame Zodiac. I wish DC would have teamed these pre-"Birds of Prey" more often.
Batman Family #18: Madame Zodiac leads an "Assault on the Pentagon!"
Batman Family #19: Batgirl and Robin vs. "The Sino-Supermen" (racist). Batgirl gets a lead that her brother (see #12) is still alive.
Batman Family #20: Batgirl and Robin vs. the "Power Sower." Red Tornado and the Elongated Man also appear.
DETECTIVE COMICS: Batman Family came to an end with #20, but it was folded into Detective Comics starting with #481.
#481: Senator Tom Cleary, Congresswoman Barbara Gordon and journalist Leslie Tauburn are sent to China as part of goodwill tour, but Barbara is also there to investigate the "Sino-Supermen" (Batman Family #19) for Lewis Ephram of the National Security Bureau. Wo Fong, the leader of the Sino-Supermen, sends an assassin to greet them at the airport, but it is Leslie Tauburn, not Barbara Gordon, who thwarts them. Later, Wo Fong sends the SIno-Supermen to capture the women. They find Batgirl's costume and, mistakenly, assume Tauburn is Batgirl.
#482: Tony Gordon, Barbara's brother (Batman Family #12), sees on the news that his sister has been kidnapped, and sets out to free her. (Actually, Barbara Gordon was Wo Fong's target all along, specifically to draw Tony out of hiding.) Tony frees his sister and Leslie, but is apparently killed himself in an explosion.
#483: The story opens with the siege of the Lincoln Memorial by members of the S.A.E. (Squadron for the Advancement of Everybody). The military S.W.A.T. team allows Batgirl to take the lead to avoid damage to the landmark. Batgirl and the soldiers capture five of the terroists, but the leaders gets away. As they are being led away, one of the members quips that the aodds are "16 to 1" against the authorities figuring out the organization's next target before they strike. Now that the site is secure, one of the soldiers, Sgt. Rod Stromer, nervously asks Batgirls oput on a date. To his surprise, she accepts.
They meet later on the steps of the Capitol building, then go out to dinner followed by a dance at the base. As they are driving past the Washington Monument, Batgirl suddenly realizes the significance of the "16 to 1" clue (and if you can figure that one out, you're a better man than I). acfter defeating the S.A.E. for the second time that night, they continue their date.
#484: One of Barbara Gordon's political rivals and an ex-con with a grudge conspire to kill Commissioner Gordon.
#485: Congresswoman Gordon (and Batgirl) exposes Congressman's Cartwright's graft.
#486: Batgirl's first adversary, Killer Moth, returns.
#487: Della Zigler runs against Babs Gordon for her seat in Congress.
#488: Babs loses the election, resolves a conflict between the Gotham gangs the Dark Lords and the Invaders.
#489: Thanks largely to DC Comics, I was pretty much unclear as to the meaning of the word "novel" until I actually started reading them. This particular "novel-length" Robin-Batgirl story is 15 pages. Hell, that's not even comic book length AFAIAC. Batgirl loses her memory of Batman & Robin's secret identities in this story.
#490: Intrigue in the world of ballet.
#491: Barbara starts a new job as head of the social services department at the Humanities and Research Development Center. Intro: Richard Bender and Robert Barton, co-workers; also Tracy Dover.
#492: Batgirl fakes her own death; loses confidence in herself; gives up being Batgirl; regains her confidence; resumes being Batgirl.
#493: Barbara Gordon gets to know her new co-workers; Batgirl saves Tracy, now paralyzed, from a burning building. Intro: Jim Dover, Tracy's father.
#494: Two crimelords vie for turf; Batgirl defeats one of them. Intro: Jeff Cotton, Barbara's long-time friend, Batgirl's mechanic.
#495: Batgirl defeats the second crimelord; supporting cast developed.
#496: Batgirls defeats "Dr. Voodoo"; Barbara develops a romantic interest in the father of the girl whose life she saved.
#497: This issue's "novel-length" opus is just ten pages long; it is, however, continued in the next issue. Intro: Doreen Gray.
#498: Eight pages this time...
#499: ...and another eight pages for a grand total of 26. Some "novel"! Barbara Gordon is framed for murder.
#501-502: Dr. Voodoo returns. Jeff Cotton injured in blast meant for Batgirl.
#505-506: Batgirl pursues the "Hunchback Killer," reveals her identity to Jeff Cotton.
#508-510: Teams up with Supergirl against the "Annihilator."
#512-513: Batgirl and Barbara Gordon vs. the "Demon Riders" motorcycle gang.
#514: Batgirl's fight against Lady Viper, Queen of the Serpents stretches into four issues. Easily the worst story in this collection, both collections.
#518-519: The worst story in this collection is followed by one of the best, as a new creative team, Barbara Randall and Trevor Von Eeden, breathes new life into the feature. Unfortunately, it's a case of "too little too late" as the "Batgirl" back-up feature comes to an end. the story iteself deals with computer crime and introduces a new femme fatale, Lani Gilbert, the Velvet Tiger.
BATGIRL SPECIAL #1:
Batgirl Special #1 was the fifth "Batgirl" comic I bought new off the stands.
It was by Barbara Randall and Barry Kitson, and came out six years after Detective Comics #519. It was well-publicized in advance that this would be the last appearance of Batgirl before... well, you know. I read it at the time but didn't remember much about it. I wouldn't have known at the time that this issue's backstory reaches back to Detective Comics #491, eight years prior in real time, but four years storytime. I was able to appreciate that aspect of the story my second time through, but other aspects of the six year gap between appearances (in this collection) threw me. For example, I don't know what Barbara Gordon/Batgirl had been up to in the meantime, but there is now a character named "Marcy" who is privy to all her secrets. Also, Barbara is now a librarian again.
When Barbara Randall was hired, by Dick Giordano, to write the "Batgirl" feature in Detective Comics, she was instructed to "write like Cary Burkett." She made a study not only of Burkett's writing style, but also of Jose Delbo's art style and wrote to his strengths. It wasn't until her first story was released that she found out Delbo had been replaced by Trevor Von Eeden. She had done a year's worth of outlines, then Giordano was promoted and was replaced by Len Wein, who replaced Batgirl with Catwoman in Detective and all of Randall's plots were scrapped.
According to Randall: "Meanwhile, Alan Moore ahd turned in the script for The Killing Joke long before, and Brian Bolland was drawing the horrifying end of Batgirl, and Denny [O'Neil] decided the outcome would be canon. I got handed a new set of assignments: to rework Batgirl's origin story for Secret Origins, and a swan song Batgirl Special. 'We're gong to blow her spine out,' said Dick. 'Make people care.'" What Randall did was to write a plot consistant with earlier stories that allowed Barbara Gordon to step down by choice rather than due to her crippling injury.
NEXT: Back to the beginning.
BATGIRL: YEAR ONE:
#1-2 is a non-linear retelling of "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!" (Detective Comics #359) which fleshes out her background and motivations. Her applications to the GCPD as well as the FBI have been rejected (because she didn't meet the height requirements in both cases, but for other rrasons as well). She breaks into JSA headquarters and leaves an "application" to be the Black Canary's sidekick, but it is Wildcat who responds. The story intersperses scenes of her spersonal life and supporting cast with scenes of her preparing to become Batgirl with scenes of her debut encounter with Killer Moth.
In #3, Batman and Robin become involved. Alfred expresses, in no uncertain terms, his disapproval of taking on another young protege. Commissioner Gordon may or my not have figured out that this new "Bargirl" is his daughter Barbara. Issue #4 is (loosely) based on Detective Comics #363, Batgirl's second appearance, in which she is taken to the Batcave for the first time. In this version, Batman and Robin set up a "good cop/bad cop" scenariio in which Robin pumps her for information. She fails her "audition" with Batman. It is Robin, not Batman, who figures out Batgirl's secret identity and cladestinely provides her with crime-fighting paraphernalia.
This series sets up Killer Moth, Batgirl's first foe, as her arch nemesis, and in #5 he takes on a new partner, Firefly. and this has nothing to do with the topic at hand, but I'll never forget that the "red hot & cool" covers of Batgirl: Year One and Captain America #12 coincidentally shipped on the exact same day in 2003.
In #6-7 Batgirl teams up with Black Canary for the first time (but not the one she thinks). They go up against Killer Moth and Firefly to save Commissioner Gordon. We learn that it is actually Batman supplying Batgirl through Robin, but he's only doing so with the intention of keeping her alive "until she wises up and quits." Gordon wants Batman to shut her down.
In #8, Batgirl and Robin team-up to take the Condiment King (don't ask) and Blockbuster while Batman is off having O'Neil/Adams adventures. Robin steals a kiss (from Batgirl, not Blockbuster), but she rejects a second. Commissioner Gordon suspects that Barbara is Batgirl and ransacks her room looking for evidence. He doesn't find any. Meanwhile, Killer Moth and Firefly set fire to the G.C.P.D. Everything comes together in #9: Killer Moth and Firefly are captured; Batgirl proves herself to Batman; Batman reveals his identity to Batgirl and officially swears her in; with Robin's help (masquerading as Batgirl), Batman convinces Commissioner Gordon that Barbara is not Batgirl. (This mini-series also present the post-Crisis Jason Bard.) It ends with several hints as to what the future may hold, but nothing heavy-handed or obvious.
Batgirl: Year One is a worthwhile reboot.
BATMAN: BATGIRL (1997):
Coinciding with Batgirl's big-screen debut in Batman & Robin, this one-shot features a Brian Stelfreeze cover that interconnects with the covers of Batman: Bane, Batman: Mr. Freeze and Batman: Poison Ivy to form a single image. In "continuity" it fits shortly after "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!," but it was written six years before Batgirl: Year One so it doesn't really "fit" very well. It details Batgirl's first meeting with the Joker, forming a sort of "reverse bookend" with The Killing Joke.
LEGENDS OF THE DC UNIVERSE #10-11:
This two-parter is written by Kelley Puckett, so ties to Batman: Batgirl are strong, although it contradicts many aspects of Batgirl: Year One, still five years in the future. The status quo this time: Barbara Gordon is Jim Gordon's niece; he does know she's Batgirl, but pretends he doesn't; Batman does not know, at least not yet. The first half of #10 tells two silent stories simultaneously, one running across the top of the page, the other running across the bottom. It soon becomes clear that the top story tells the death of her parants (car accident), and the bottom one a streetfight Batgirl is involved in.
Later, examining the scene of the streetfight, Batman finds evidence linking Batgirl to Barbara Gordon. He confronts her and demands that she give up her career as Batgirl. She points out that she's 18 years old and offers a counter-proposal: if he agrees to train her, she won't go out again as Batgirl until he says she's ready. Batman agrees to these terms.
Commissioner Gordon and Barbara become involved in a hostage situation. Barbara keeps the deal she made with Batman... until her father is shot. then she becomes Batgirl, but is so upset that she is captured as well. Batgirl "introduces" herself to her wounded father, and he pretends not to know who she is. Ultimately, he unties her so that she can confront the bank robbers holding them hostage. Later, Batman confronts Batgirl about breaking their agreement. Batgirl tells him that her training is through, and Batman objects. She asks if he really thinks she is not ready, and he responds that the shooting of her father shouldn't have ruined her concentration. She considers this and concludes, "Not sure I'd ever want to be that ready," to which he replies, "Good. Take care Batgirl."
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #17-21 - "The Bat and the Cat"
"The Bat and the Cat" (Batman Confidential #17-21) replaces Batman #197 in post-Crisis continuity. It picks up just three weeks after Batgirl "became an 'official' member of Gotham's Bat-family" (Legends of the DC Universe #11 AFAIAC), but it also specifically references events from Batgirl: Year One twice. Scads of "good girl art" by Kevin Maguire thoughout, including a ten-page nude fight scene in #18. Catwoman has stolen commissioner Gordon's coded notebook and Batgirl must get it back. Batgirl's second meeting with the Joker.
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