Batgirl is a comic book superhero who has been a part of the Batman mythos for over 50 years. She is one of the most popular female superheroes in comics and has had a number of different incarnations over the years. In this blog post, we will take a look at the history of Batgirl, her various incarnations, and her impact on the comic book industry.
The Original Batgirl:
The original Batgirl, Barbara Gordon, made her debut in 1967 in the comic book “Detective Comics” #359. She was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Carmine Infantino as a way to introduce a strong female character into the Batman mythos. Barbara Gordon is the daughter of Gotham City police commissioner James Gordon, and she decides to become a crime-fighter after being inspired by Batman and Robin. She creates the identity of Batgirl and starts fighting crime in Gotham City.
Barbara Gordon as Batgirl quickly became a fan favorite and appeared in numerous comics, television shows, and movies. She was known for her intelligence, physical prowess, and dedication to justice. She was also known for her strong sense of morality and her unwavering determination to fight crime.
The New 52 Batgirl:
In 2011, DC Comics relaunched their entire comic book line with the “New 52” initiative. As part of this reboot, Barbara Gordon was retired as Batgirl and a new character, named Barbara Gordon, took up the mantle. This new version of Batgirl was physically disabled and used a wheelchair, but she was still a strong, capable character who fought crime with the help of her advanced technology.
This new version of Batgirl was met with mixed reactions from fans and critics. Some praised the character for being a positive representation of a physically disabled person, while others criticized the decision to retire the original Barbara Gordon as Batgirl.
Batgirl Today
In 2016, DC Comics launched a new Batgirl comic book series, written by Hope Larson and illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque. This series focuses on Barbara Gordon as she tries to balance her life as a college student with her duties as Batgirl. The series is known for its positive representation of women and its focus on Barbara Gordon’s personal growth and development.