Barbara Gordon
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Barbara Gordon is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics and related media. From 1967 to 1988 she was the superhero known as Batgirl; since 1988 she has been known as Oracle.
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[edit] Character History
[edit] Origin
The librarian-by-day Barbara Gordon debuted in Detective Comics #359 (1967) as the daughter of Gotham City's Police Commissioner James Gordon. On her way to a masquerade ball dressed as a female version of Batman, Barbara intervenes in a kidnapping attempt on Bruce Wayne by the villainous Killer Moth, attracting the Dark Knight's attention and leading to a crime-fighting career.
In her original adventures during the Silver Age, Batgirl is depicted as a spirited, if inexperienced, crimefighter. After a handful of guest appearances in Batman stories, she was given her own back-up strip in Detective Comics. This allowed the character to be fleshed out considerably, with the shy, mousey, bookworm version of Barbara Gordon quickly giving way to a more modern, confident character (whom friends call "Babs"). Devoid of her plain-Jane glasses and hair bun, Barbara starts to date what would be a succession of boyfriends, the most popular being Vietnam veteran turned private investigator Jason Bard.
Barbara proved to be more popular than her predecessor (Bette Kane, the Bat-Girl) with the readers as well, as they made requests for her to appear in other titles. In addition to her appearances in both Detective Comics and Batman, Batgirl made a guest appearance in World's Finest Comics where she met Superman, Supergirl, Bat-Mite, and Mxyzptlk for the first time. She also fights alongside the Justice League of America against the villainous Queen Bee. She encounters Supergirl again in Adventure Comics #381 when both heroines separately investigate a female criminal gang.
[edit] Batgirl in the 1970s and 1980s
Her back-up stories ran sporadically in Detective Comics until the mid 1970s. During this time, Barbara reveals her secret identity to her father (who has already discovered it on his own), and both ran and won an election to the U.S. House of Representatives. She moves to Washington, D.C., and intends to give up her career as Batgirl forever.
Editor Julius Schwartz brought her back in Superman #268, where she has a blind date with Clark Kent, establishing their friendship, and allowing Batgirl to fight alongside Superman. Batgirl and Superman team up twice more in Superman #279 and DC Comics Presents #19. She also teams up with Supergirl in Superman Family #171, and the two become close friends, with Batgirl speaking at Supergirl's eulogy during the Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline.
In 1975 DC created the Batman Family comic book, which ran for 20 issues. Batgirl became one of the main features in the book, frequently teaming with Robin. Dick Grayson (Robin's alter ego) serves as Barbara's summer intern, building a friendship between the two. Soon they discover each other's alternate identities as well. During this time Barbara dates Senator Tom Cleary. Dick, who is dating fellow college student Lori Elton, has a crush on Barbara that is not returned. The Dynamite Duo teaming of Batgirl and Robin fight the criminal organization M.A.Z.E., supervillains Huntress, Sportsmaster, and the Outsider, and Duela Dent, who later plagues Gotham as the super-criminal Harlequin.
Barbara meets Batwoman in Batman Family #10 when the superheroine returns to her crime-fighting career. The two fight Killer Moth and Cavalier, and learn each other's secret identities. They form a close friendship and team again twice more in Batman Family and again alongside the Freedom Fighters.
Barbara also meets Helena Wayne, the Huntress and daughter of the Batman and Catwoman in the parallel universe "Earth-Two," in Batman Family #17.
When Batman Family ended at issue #20, the concept of the comic merged with Detective Comics, beginning with issue #481 in 1979, and Batgirl continued her adventures. Even after the "Batman Family" concept left Detective Comics, Batgirl continued as the back-up feature through issue #519 (October 1982). She returns to Gotham City and takes a social worker job, fighting villains including Lady Snake and the Velvet Tiger. Supergirl visits Gotham and shared an adventure with her. She is shot and nearly killed by a criminal called the Commorant; while recovering, she has a serious crisis of faith and briefly retires. After a talk with Batman, however, she returns to face down and capture Commorant, and returns to crimefighting.
After her back-up series of stories ended, Barbara continues to be Batgirl, but increasingly feels useless in a world filled with super-powered heroes and villains. She expresses these doubts to Supergirl during the Crisis on Infinite Earths. Finally, after capturing the Commorant again in Batgirl Special #1 (1988), Barbara retires her Batgirl persona (although later stories revealed she occasionally put the costume back on for special cases).
[edit] Crisis On Infinite Earths
The Crisis on Infinite Earths changed DC Universe continuity in many ways.
In the new continuity, Barbara was born to Roger and Thelma Gordon, and is Jim Gordon's niece.
(In Batman: Gotham Knights #6, Batman discovered a letter that Barbara had been keeping in a safe deposit box that had been stolen. The letter revealed that Barbara knew Jim Gordon had dated her mother Thelma before she married Roger, and that there is a chance that Jim Gordon might be her biological father, although he is not aware of that. Barbara has stated that she has not confronted Jim about this, not because she is afraid it might be true, but because she is afraid it might not be).
She showed interest at a young age in superheroes, often dressing up as one. Barbara's mother and aunt were killed in a car accident, partly caused by her father's drinking. Roger began drinking heavily and started taking his aggression out on Barbara. Barbara took on a great deal of responsibilities to cover for her father, consoling herself by thinking her father was not the same man she had once known. Eventually Roger's drinking and self-abuse caused his death.
James Gordon adopted his orphaned niece. James "Jim" Gordon, his wife (also named Barbara), and their son lived in Gotham City, where he worked as the commissioner of police. Although James and young Barbara initially did not get along, with time they grew close (Secret Origins #20) - Barbara came to think of him as her father (which he already was, legally).
Barbara was a highly gifted child, hard working in martial arts, and graduated from High School at an early age. In college she accepted a position as a research assistant at the Gotham Public Library, although she dreamed of one day workin in law enforcement. This was a source of conflict between her and Jim, as she didn't even meet the height requirements and he felt she needed a less dangerous life. She attempted to enroll in the FBI as a field agent, but they dismissed her, mostly for her physical build.
Angry at her father, Barbara crashed the Gotham City Police Department's annual Ball dressed in feminine version of Batman's costume. However, Killer Moth, a costumed criminal, attempted to rob the event, and Barbara now found herself taking on the "Batgirl" persona she was dressed as to defeat him. This proved to be the start of a successful crime fighting career for her. Batman and Robin soon took active role in training Barbara once she became Batgirl. Much of this training was covered in the 9-issue mini-series Batgirl: Year One, which updated her origin. The only mention of Barbara's time as a Congresswoman was in a guest appearance in Hawk and Dove #22-24 (1991) and it has not been mentioned since. [1]
Post-Crisis Supergirl does not arrive on Earth until Barbara has already established herself as Oracle. Many of her earlier adventures (including some shared with Batgirl) were retroactively participated in by Power Girl instead. In addition, Barbara and Dick Grayson had been lovers at some time in the past, and she had once been engaged to Jason Bard, who is no longer a Vietnam veteran but is still a private investigator (and former Gotham City policeman).
[edit] Oracle
In Batman: The Killing Joke, a graphic novel by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland, the Joker, as part of his plan to drive James Gordon into madness, shoots Barbara through the spine, paralyzing her and ending her career as Batgirl forever.
Initially, Barbara's paralysis led her to a period of despondency. However, she realized that, in a world becoming more centered on technology and information, she had a tremendous repository of skills which could be potentially useful to fight crime – a genius-level intellect, photographic memory, a vast knowledge of computers and electronics, expert skills as a hacker, and her training as a librarian.
After having a dream where Barbara (in her previous Batgirl persona) sees an all-knowing woman (similar to Oracle at Delphi of Greek mythology), she adopts Oracle as her new codename. She now acts as an information broker, gathering and disseminating intelligence to law enforcement organizations and members of the superhero community. She has also trained under the tutelege of Richard Dragon, one of the world's premier martial artists, who has trained some superheroes, to engage in combat (usually escrima) from her wheelchair should the need arise.
Barbara first uses the Oracle identity to assist her father on an extremely difficult murder investigation, and later takes it to the Suicide Squad. For a time, she relocates to Belle Reve prison in Louisiana to work with the team under the alias of "Amy Beddoes". After leaving the Suicide Squad, she returned to Gotham City and begins aiding Batman and his protegés frequently, as well as many other heroes. Just after her debut as Oracle in the pages of the Suicide Squad, Barbara appeared in the twelve issue mini-series The Hacker Files. This was her second appearance as a hacker in the DC Comics universe.
Later she joins the Justice League and was an active member for some time, serving as both an information and communications resource. She is currently on inactive status with the JLA.
[edit] Birds of Prey
Barbara founds the Birds of Prey, a team of female heroes, whom she employs as agents. Her first agent is Power Girl. When an early case goes wrong and several deaths resulted from it, Power Girl quits working with Oracle on a regular basis. While she helps out Oracle occasionally afterwards, after the events of Infinite Crisis, when Power Girl is invited to rejoin the team she replies she would do so "when Hell freezes over".)
Barbara regroups and joins forces with superheroine Black Canary. The two, who shared a similar background – both having lost their original abilities while fighting crime, yet managing to overcome – would later meet and become best friends (Birds of Prey #29), and form the nucleus of the Birds of Prey.
In time, the Huntress (Helena Bertinelli) joins the team as a full-time agent, as do Lady Blackhawk and Gypsy.
During the "No Man's Land" storyline, Barbara keeps a record of what is happening in Gotham City by employing various teenagers to be her eyes and ears on the street. One of these teenaged agents is Cassandra Cain, who later saves Jim Gordon's life. Realizing that Cassandra is one of the world's top martial artists, and knowing that Batman needs as many allies as possible during this time, Barbara gives her blessing for Cassandra to become the new Batgirl. Barbara becomes Cassandra's guardian/mentor for a lengthy time period, teaching her how to become more human, since her father, David Cain, had only trained her to be a weapon.
[edit] Metropolis
After Batman usurps her computers and satellites during his battle with Black Mask in the "War Games" story line, which result in the destruction of her home and headquarters in the clock tower, Barbara decides that it is time for her to move on, and leaves Gotham. She cuts ties with Batman, and after a temporary world trip with her team, moves to Metropolis.
Barbara becomes infected with a virus from Brainiac and discovers that she has cyberpathic powers and can psychically interact with computer systems. After she kills the virus, she loses those abilities. As a side effect of the virus, when she is operated on by Doctor Mid-Nite with the help of Superman and Cyborg, she discovers she can now move her toes (Birds of Prey #85). She underwent some rehabilitation subsequently, but as of issue #100 is still confined to her wheelchair.
At long last, Barbara and Dick Grayson (who is now the superhero Nightwing) re-ignite their love affair, and it is carried out in the pages of Birds of Prey and Nightwing. Barbara later ends the relationship when she feels Dick is being over-protective of her. In truth, Dick is being attacked in all areas of his life by the Blockbuster. She and Dick still love each other and remain in each other's lives. After the destruction of Blüdhaven by The Society, Dick proposes to her and Barbara accepts.
Their romantic reunion is cut short by the Infinite Crisis storyline. Alexander Luthor's master plan of recreating the Multiverse relies in part on keeping the heroes of the world preoccupied with mass breakouts from every prison and mental institution in the country. In opposition, Oracle serves as a communication link between as many heroes as possible, assembling teams with the help of the Martian Manhunter. As the battle rages on in the heart of Metropolis, Oracle and the Martian Manhunter organize their counter-attacks until the rest of their allies arrive.
[edit] One Year Later
A year after the events of Infinite Crisis, Oracle and her team continue to work in Metropolis and while Dick and Barbara's engagement was broken off for unknown reasons, she is again working with Batman although not on a regular basis as before. Instead she perfers to work primarily with her agents. Oracle is not immediately aware of Cassandra's retirement as Batgirl, nor her subsequent actions of taking over the League of Assassins. Cassandra becomes a touchy subject with Oracle shortly there after, to the point that she slaps a girl pretending to be Batgirl, for merely mentioning Cassandra's name.
With the departure of Black Canary from the Birds of Prey, Oracle (in Issue #100) sent invitations to several candidates as potential new additions.
[edit] Powers and Abilities
As Oracle, Barbara has a tremendous repository of skills which fit perfectly in a world becoming more dominated by technology and information – a genius-level intellect, photographic memory, a vast knowledge of computers and electronics, expert skills as a hacker, and her training as a librarian. Oracle's skills and knowledge are used not only by the Birds of Prey team she heads, but by many members of the DC Universe. Even Batman, who himself has a wide knowledge base and access to vast information resources, routinely consults Oracle for assistance.
Oracle has also received training in escrima, useful when she is confronted by intruders (see below).
However, Oracle has been prone to manipulating her operatives in achieving her desired results. This has caused tension with the other BoP members, most notably Huntress, who left BoP for a time after discovering this (and which resulted in a major argument between Oracle and best friend Black Canary).
[edit] Alternate versions
[edit] Amalgam Comics
In the Amalgam Comics title Bruce Wayne, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., Barbara Gordon and Black Cat are merged together as Black Bat.
[edit] Elseworlds
In Batgirl and Robin: Thrillkiller, Barbara Gordon is a rebellious teenager in the early 1960s who becomes a thrillseeking vigilante with her boyfriend, a circus acrobat named Richard Greystark, who used the alias Dick Grayson. A sequel, Thrillkiller '62, teamed her with Bruce Wayne as Batman.
In Superman & Batman: Generations, Barbara is James Gordon's granddaughter.
The Lovecraftian Elseworld The Doom That Came To Gotham features a version of Oracle. Completely paralyzed following an undisclosed accident, Barbara Gordon's artificial voicebox also gives her the power to speak to the dead.
In the one-shot comic "Elseworld's Finest: Supergirl and Batgirl," Barbara Gordon, as a wealthy novelist, is depicted as a take-no-prisoners Batgirl in a world where Batman and Superman never existed. Other heroes fear and respect Batgirl, but eventually she and Supergirl become crimefighting partners and friends. Bruce Wayne's playboy act in the world is not an act as his parents are very much alive and have taken Babs in, he is not only her foster brother but also serves somewhat as her "Alfred".
[edit] All-Star Batgirl
Wizard Entertainment announced that Geoff Johns will team with J.G. Jones in an All-Star Batgirl series. In his interview with Wizard, Johns on the series says, "We’re doing the first six issues, the first of which will hit in late 2007 well after J.G. and I are done with 52, so it’s monthly. It’s a mystery revolving around Barbara Gordon and Arkham Asylum, why she’s become Batgirl and more importantly why she remains Batgirl. It’s essentially our Batman: The Long Halloween or Superman For All Seasons for Batgirl."
[edit] In other media
Barbara Gordon and Batgirl were portrayed by Yvonne Craig in the third season of the Batman television series in 1967-1968. Craig once again appeared as Batgirl in a 1972 television commercial supporting women's rights.
The Barbara Gordon version of Batgirl made her first animated appearance in the 1968 Batman Saturday morning series that was part of The Batman/Superman Hour. Jane Webb provided her voice.
Barbara Gordon, this time working in the District Attorney's office, made several appearances in both her civilian persona and as her alter ego in the 1977 Saturday morning animated series The New Adventures of Batman. Despite the fact that Adam West and Burt Ward reprised their roles as Batman and Robin respectively, the role of Batgirl went to Melendy Britt. [2]
The Barbara Gordon Batgirl was the inspiration for the Barbara Wilson version that was portrayed by actress Alicia Silverstone in the 1997 movie Batman and Robin. In the movie, Barbara is the niece of Alfred Pennyworth.
Barbara Gordon has also appeared in the DC Animated Universe. As Batgirl, in Batman: The Animated Series, she was voiced by Melissa Gilbert, while in The New Batman Adventures she was voiced by Tara Strong. Mary Kay Bergman also provided her voice in the animated movie Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, which was made between the two series. Although Barbara is initially shown to be having a relationship with Dick Grayson, it is later revealed that their relationship was just "puppy love". It is implied that she thenafter developed a relationship with Batman himself. After making only a few appearances in Batman: The Animated Series, Batman allows her into the Batcave and she becomes a main character during The New Batman Adventures.
The character in this continuity also made several brief cameo appearances in the Justice League series. Once in "The Savage Time pt.1", in the alternate timeline where she can be seen kissing an alternate Dick Grayson (this was confirmed by the producers of the show). She was also mentioned briefly in "Comfort and Joy", when Clark Kent asked his mother where Supergirl was. Mrs Kent responded, "She's skiing with Barbara." Batgirl and Supergirl had been established as close friends in the New Batman Adventures episode "Girl's Night Out".
Many fans often interpret the grieving, red-haired attendee of Superman's funeral in the Justice League episode "Hereafter" as Barbara Gordon cameo, but the woman is actually Lana Lang, Superman's high school girlfriend. Originally, Barbara was going to appear in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Double Date". The episode would have her getting injured during a case as Batgirl. Since Bruce forbids her from participating she would recreate herself as Oracle, and get in touch with Black Canary and Huntress to finish her case. Neither of them would meet her in person. Due to the Bat Embargo, the story replaced Batgirl with Green Arrow and The Question.[3]
In Batman Beyond, Barbara (voiced by Stockard Channing, then later by Angie Harmon) was Batgirl and had shared a romance with Bruce Wayne. After the relationship (which was implied to have ended badly) dissolved, she retired as Batgirl and went on to join the Gotham City Police Department, eventually becoming Commissioner, the position once held by her father. Barbara is also shown to be married to the District Attorney Samuel Young. (Curiously, she retained her last name). She at first resents Bruce's training of Terry McGinnis as a new Batman but ultimately becomes more accepting of his presence. Barbara also expresses pity for how lonely Bruce has become in his old age. It is unclear whether Barbara took on the role of the Oracle in the Batman Beyond continuity, as she was shot during her tenure as Batgirl, but there was no mention made of Oracle or any paralysis. Tara Strong provided the voice of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl again in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker.
Oracle (played by Dina Meyer) was adapted as one of the main characters in the WB television series, Birds of Prey. The series was loosely based on the comic book of that name. Meyer also suited up as Batgirl in both flashback scenes and modern-day scenes where technology would allow her to walk.
In 2005, the Barbara Gordon Batgirl began making guest appearances on episodes of the The Batman animated series. Danielle Judovits provided her voice. Barbara will also appear as Oracle in a flash forward episode in season four. [4][5]
Oracle also appeared in the video game Batman: Dark Tomorrow.
In the 2005 movie, Batman Begins, Ilyssa Fradin is credited as Barbara Gordon, although this most likely refers to Jim Gordon's wife of the same name.
| Batman | |
|---|---|
| Creators: | Bob Kane and Bill Finger • Other writers and artists |
| Supporting Characters: | Robin (Tim Drake) • Nightwing (Dick Grayson) • Batgirl • Batwoman • Alfred Pennyworth • Lucius Fox • Barbara Gordon • Commissioner Gordon • Harvey Bullock |
| Villains: | Bane • Catwoman • Clayface • Harley Quinn • Joker • Killer Croc • Mr. Freeze • Penguin • Poison Ivy • Ra's al Ghul • Red Hood (Jason Todd) • Riddler • Scarecrow • Two-Face • Other villains |
| Locations: | Arkham Asylum • Batcave • Gotham City • Wayne Enterprises • Wayne Manor |
| Miscellanea: | Batarang • Batmobile • Batsuit • Popular media • Publications • Storylines • Alternate versions of Batman |
[edit] See also
- Batgirl
- Gotham Girls, an animated series in which the Batgirl version of Barbara appears as a primary character
- Huntress, her unofficial successor
- Cassandra Cain, her official successor
- Catwoman, her arch-rival (Gotham Girls)
- Barbara Gordon in The Batman
[edit] External links
- Canarynoir: Home of Birdwatching - Birds of Prey
- Cosmic Team Profile
- Gotham Girls
- Titans Tower Profile
- TVObscurities.com - Batgirl Promotional Shortfr:Oracle (comics)
Categories: Batman supporting characters | DC Comics heroes, non-superpowered | DC Comics martial artists | Fictional Americans | Fictional characters with spinal disabilities | Fictional detectives | Fictional geniuses | Fictional hackers | Fictional heroines | Fictional librarians | Fictional wheelchair-bound people | Robin supporting characters and villains | Fictional orphans | Fictional adoptees | 1967 introductions
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