Batgirl's origins

[Maxie Zeus]

Can anyone tell me what Batgirl's origins are in the comics, and in the Sixties' TV show? Who is she in each, and why did she put on the costume and go out and start kicking criminal butt?

[The Guitar Slayer]

Barbara Gordon was the first Batgirl. In both, she's a relative of Jim Gordon. There was a conversation on this board that mentioned that in the comics, she was Gordon's niece, but then he adopted her. :shrugs: No comics out here in Nowhere, NJ, so everything I know is secondhand.

I'm not as sure about the 1960s series; way, way, way, before my time. Probably Gordon's daughter.

I don't know about her reasons in either scenario ...I'm thinking the same reason she got involved in it in TAS.

If you're referring to the new Batgirl, I know nothing. :confused:

Peace and Rock 'n' Roll
The Guitar Slayer :cool:

[Barb Gordon]

Well I know that in the cartoons she donned the costume in order to help her dad, uncle, whatever,lol. In the comics, to my understanding, she made a Batgirl costume to wear to a costume ball, and on the way saw a girl in trouble. She beat up the bad guys and saved the girl, and boom...another hero was born. For Babs' background, her parents were killed when she was little, car crash, too much drinking, something like that, and she was placed in the custody of her uncle and moved to Gotham City.

Barb^-^

[Panther]

In the wicked old comic series first there was Batwoman - Kathy Kane, I think her name was - who was faboulouy wealthy, used to do acrobating and trick motorcycle riding in the circus and she was always flirting with Batman. Then her niece showed up, Alexandra Kane (I think) and became Batgirl and flirted a lot with Robin.

Then in a later but still old series of comics Barbara Gordon shows up and there is no mention of the Kanes. She is a few years older than Robin and working as a libriarian in Gothom. She dresses up as 'batgirl' for a costume party and plans on giving her father, Commish James Gordon, a surprise at the midnight unmasking. But on the road to the party she comes across Batman fighting Mothman - or Moth something, I forget what exactly, maybe it was some other inscet, NEway - Barbara kicks butt, and Batgirl as we know her is born. Even the costume hasn't changed much since then.

At that point she tries to go back to just being a mild mandered librina, but its so frightfully dull she repairs teh costume, sets herself a training program, eats a strictly high protein diet (not kidding) and continue being Batgirl. She made this cool thing where her skirt turned into her cape and her makeup into weapons. At the end of her first adventure she's on the news and her father asks why Barbara can't act more outgoing like this Batgirl. :D

On the old 1960's tv show she had an extrely girlish motorcycle, was still a librairian and still the daughter of Commish, and only Alfred knew her double identity - so he always let her know when trouble was brewing so she could get in on the action. No idea why she started.

In the current series comics eveyone thought she was the daughter of James Gordon - then she did some test and some sleuthing and it turns out she's his neice - daughter of James dead brother - and James had adopted her when she was really litttle. I think the brother was an alcoholic who died in a car crash.

Long live Oracle and Nightwing!

[Barb Gordon]

lol, that's the history I knew...but couldn't explain well. Ever have it where you know that you know something...but you just forget everything when trying to explain it? or maybe its just me,lol. The villain that Batgirl stops on the way to that part is Killer Moth. Actually, Babs's history of becoming Batgirl has changed a few times, but the one that stand is that one that's already been told by myself and Panther. Also, Babs had, for a long time, wanted to be a partner for Batman when she was little, and even trained for it till college when real life goals become more important. And then the whole Killer Moth thingy happened. As for her parents, originally her mom was killed in an auto accident, and her father died from abuse of alcohol and grief when she was a preteen. Then the writers changed it so that both her parents died in a car crash due to her father's drunkeness when she was a preteen. And yes Panther, Nightwing and Oracle all the way!!!! :D I recommend Mickey's Batgirl/Oracle page for whatever you wanna know concerning Batgirl and Babs' history:

http://www.theatremania.org/batgirl/index.html

Barb^-^

Wooo!!! This is my hundredth post, wooo!!!!

[Karkull]

According to the new issue of Wizard DC is doing a Batgirl: Year One sometime soon.

And get this--the news blurb said that Killer Moth and Firefly actually started out as Batgirl's enemies!

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,


Originally posted by Maxie Zeus
Can anyone tell me what Batgirl's origins are in the comics, and in the Sixties' TV show? Who is she in each, and why did she put on the costume and go out and start kicking criminal butt?

The comics Batgirl incarnations have been covered pretty thoroughly. Batgirl in the 60's TV show put on the costume (BTW, oooh, that costume =8^) and started kicking criminal butt to try and boost the ratings of the show. A valiant effort which ultimately failed, as Batgirl's debut was the show's last season. I vaguely recall an "introduction" story, but they never explained why she put on the costume, why she can hold her own with Batman & Robin, or why Alfred knows her secret. I'm sure there's a Batman TV episode guide.

If I remember correctly, the comic incarnation of Batgirl as Barbara Gordon was inspired by the TV show, and not the other way around. At least something good came out of the TV show (other than lots of still photos of Yvonne Craig in the costume).

-- Ed/Ace

[Doc Savage]

Betty Kane was the first Bat-Girl.
Neice of Kathy Kane...Batwoman.

In Post-Crisis DCU Betty was never Bat-Girl.
But she calls herself Flamebird and has been seen in Titans.
Kathy has been mention once but never has been seen.

[Ricochet]

Originally posted by Doc Savage
Kathy has been mention once but never has been seen.

Cept for The Kingdom, but that probably doesn't count .