The Batman's Batgirl

[Young Justice]

I know it will be a controversy commentary, but after seeing the first episodes (I've watched until Fleurs du Mal) of Season 3 of The Batman, I discovered why I don't like Batgirl.

To me a good hero is a combination of serious will to do the good thing with a touch of personal tragedy. And Batgirl lacks the both.

Why? Batgirl was never a tragic character. What made her interesting was that she was doing what she did not because of a personal tragedy. Batgirl has never been a dark character(not counting Cassandra Cain) which makes her more interesting then "Oh it's the female version of Batman who also has a tragic background." She didn't have to have a tragic background if she took her job about crime fighting more seriously. But that's just me. I tend to like heroes that are 1.More serious about doing their jobs, even if he or she can be funny sometimes or 2.Have a personal tragedy to fuel his quest against the criminals.

What I don't like about Batgirl, and this was especially stressed in The Batman is that she is just careless for what she is doing. She is not humble at all, and she didn't consider training and improving herself while she was being a superhero. She was the typical teenager in an adult world trying to prove herself just for the sake of it. I don't like characters like that at all, and I didn't even when I was a child or teenager. If they could only give her a personality similar to comics Tim Drake, she would be much more interesting.

About personal tragedy, Batgirl has become a much more powerful character, in my personal opinion, when she became Oracle. She had a much more intersting motivation for what she does and she became a unique character and not a merely female version of Batman.

[Link]

I know I'll most likely be the only person in this thread who's defending Batgirl, but oh well.

I really don't see the big deal on having a motivation to become a crimefighter. She just wanted to help Batman and fight crime, just like Batgirl in TNBA/BTAS.

Another thing is I hate it when people constantly dog on Batgirl but praise and worship Robin. Robin's cool and all, but honestly, he can be pretty annoying at times. Just because he's a new character and Batman's long time partner fighting crime doesn't make him some superly awesome perfect character. I personally think the Teen Titans and TNBA versions of Robin are both better than The Batman's version of Robin. He's got cool moves and some nice dialogue, but personally I think he can act like a cocky snob at times. I couldn't believe that was the same Robin in "Team Penguin" as "A Matter of Family." Not to mention his voice can be real annoying at times.

Batgirl, on the other hand, I feel is way underrated. I'm not directing this towards all of you, but the way I see it according to the season three talkbacks is that everyone was dogging on her just because she appears alot. I actually think Batgirl is better than Robin. For one, she seems alot more entertaining and she seems to have more of a personality whereas Robin is just some kid who has cool moves.

Although there are plenty bad things about Batgirl, since there are plenty (ie her whining about not being in the loop in "Thunder"), I will say that I think she should be cut a little slack after how hard she's tried to help Batman, even if she does tend to get in the way at times.

I could go a lot further but I'm just not in the mood. I'm not saying there's a problem with you disliking Batgirl, and I understand why you do, but here's my take on it anyways.

[Azrael24]

Actually i agree w/link. batgirl is underrated. even though she got in the way she always pulled through. in season 4 she really showed how she had progressed. i also find robin to be just as annoying ( if not more) as batgirl. at least to me batgirl has a more likable personality whereas robin came off as pretentious and cocky. i can see why someone would not like batgirl but if you dont like her i dont see how ppl like robin any better (personality wise). i think ppl like robin better b/c of his comic history, which to me isnt a very good reason to like him over batgirl

[Bat_Girl]

Come on, if you lived in that universe wouldn't you want to join Batman? What more motication do you need?

[Robin2099]

She didn't have to have a tragic background if she took her job about crime fighting more seriously. But that's just me. I tend to like heroes that are 1.More serious about doing their jobs, even if he or she can be funny sometimes or 2.Have a personal tragedy to fuel his quest against the criminals.

What I don't like about Batgirl, and this was especially stressed in The Batman is that she is just careless for what she is doing. She is not humble at all, and she didn't consider training and improving herself while she was being a superhero. She was the typical teenager in an adult world trying to prove herself just for the sake of it. I don't like characters like that at all, and I didn't even when I was a child or teenager. If they could only give her a personality similar to comics Tim Drake, she would be much more interesting.

About personal tragedy, Batgirl has become a much more powerful character, in my personal opinion, when she became Oracle. She had a much more intersting motivation for what she does and she became a unique character and not a merely female version of Batman. But she's also a 16 year old girl, and acts exactly like s sixteen year old would if they were in the same position.

[Young Justice]

But she's also a 16 year old girl, and acts exactly like s sixteen year old would if they were in the same position.

I think not all 16 year old girls behave in the same manner. There are similarities in teenager behaviour but there are differences as well.

Tim Drake from the comics for instance was a early teenager when he first started training for Robin and he did not behave like a cliché teenager boy. The writers got to explore these nuances of his personality.

I think they could have done that with Batgirl. I think their motivations could be similar. It would be more interesting if Barbara decides to join Batman because she saw that Batman needed help, needed a sidekick so he didn't become a lone vigilante and turned the wrong path. But I think this is all too deep for a kid's show...

About Robin, I have a tendency to like him better than Batgirl because of his motivation and his personality in comics. Both Dick Grayson and Tim Drake. I didn't like Jason Todd at all. But I never saw any episodes of The Batman with Robin, so I can't have an opinion on him yet.

[adoptedBatpuppy]

I think both Batgirl and Robin can be annoying at times. :shrug:

[Bat_Girl]

No way is she sixteen, I thought she was thirteen.

[Aldrius]

I hate it when Batgirl is REWARDED for being impudent. "Oh look, you completely disobeyed me! But we stopped the bad guy anyway so oh well!" I *REALLY* hate that... but that doesn't seem to happen too often in TB anyway, so eh, that's okay. (It was really bad in B:TAS. Seriously, Catwoman complimenting Batgirl WTF?)

I don't mind Batgirl when she actually shows some maturity, and as if she's growing... but otherwise... eh.

[creativerealms]

No way is she sixteen, I thought she was thirteen.

The art style makes her look younger then she actually is. However since she was learning how to drive in the episode RPM (The closest we have to them giving her an offical age in the show) she has to be at least 16.

[Nightwing]

I was never against Batgirl, but I do agree that bringing her in at a younger age could trigger some annoying results, and that's why I don't really love the The Batman Batgirl like I do any other version of Barbara.

Truly, getting rewarded for being annoying and disobedient is the worst part.

In the BTAS/TNBSA Batgirl, she showed being a shoot-from-the-hip young person, but she's also a very impressive and intelligent independent woman.

They balanced that well.

- "Don't lose that signal."
- "As if."

I think The Batman's Robin is less liked because what he has going for him isn't accented. They started off with just the 'get younger audiences' aspect.

Furthermore, because of introduction order, Robin is in the Batgirl slot, having come second in the sidekick lineup. So if he doesn't get his Dick Grayson attributes brought to his front and showcased, then he'll just stay in the back seat of the batmobile.

[Link]

The art style makes her look younger then she actually is. However since she was learning how to drive in the episode RPM (The closest we have to them giving her an offical age in the show) she has to be at least 16.

I'm pretty sure it was even said in an interview that she's 16.


I hate it when Batgirl is REWARDED for being impudent. "Oh look, you completely disobeyed me! But we stopped the bad guy anyway so oh well!" I *REALLY* hate that... but that doesn't seem to happen too often in TB anyway, so eh, that's okay. (It was really bad in B:TAS. Seriously, Catwoman complimenting Batgirl WTF?)Well I kind of agree but she never is really rewarded when she is rewarded (on The Batman). Even if Batman gives her a prop every now and then (ie the end of "Brawn" and "The Laughing Cats"), it still doesn't change the fact that he could care less about her and he's not letting her be his partner.

[Bat_Girl]

Now I have always believed that Batman works best alone but if they appear in the comics or on the show every now and then it's okay.
I can understand him having a sidekick as he does need an apprentice to keep him from going over the edge. Between each Robin it seems Batman becomes depressed and more agressive.

Now Batgirl seems like a bit of a Mary Sue for the most part and an unneccesary character. She was created in the sixties and was basically the female version of Batman.

I also believe you either have Robin or Batgirl in a story, not both.
I think Barbara works best as the Oracle and the best Batgirl is Cassandra Cain because she is actually capable of her job and is helpful to Batman.

[Aldrius]

Well I kind of agree but she never is really rewarded when she is rewarded (on The Batman). Even if Batman gives her a prop every now and then (ie the end of "Brawn" and "The Laughing Cats"), it still doesn't change the fact that he could care less about her and he's not letting her be his partner.

Couldn't care less. :P

And yeah, I was talking about B:TAS' Batgirl really.

(Boy, am I gonna get a lot of flack for that...)

[jv2k]

The art style makes her look younger then she actually is. However since she was learning how to drive in the episode RPM (The closest we have to them giving her an offical age in the show) she has to be at least 16.
There are plenty of 16 year old gymnast white girls who are as skinny as her.

[AdamYJ]

I like Batgirl. She's fun and spunky and just wants to help people and be a detective.

[batgirl2007]

Batgirl herself is an important part of the The Batman.Cause while Bruce is learning to be a crimefighter at the same time he's learning to be a coach and a team player. I like that they made Barbara younger because that way it's easier to show her growing mature in personality.Because by the end of season 4 she became Robin's older sister in a way. "DON'T CALL ME BABS"

Barbara Gordon herself is a strong character in any interpretation.I think her happy-go-lucky-attitude brightens up The Batman.

[Link]

Couldn't care less. :P

And yeah, I was talking about B:TAS' Batgirl really.

(Boy, am I gonna get a lot of flack for that...)

Yeah, well this thread was kind of titled The Batman's Batgirl so... I figured you were referring to some points in The Batman as well. I respect your opinion, so I'm not going to comment on the other part.

[Spider-Man]

I don't see how this Batgirl is really different from any of the others. While I'll admit my knowledge ont he character isn't much it seems that every incarnation had the basic happy-go-lucky attitude when they started the crime-fighting gig. Plus none of them really had any traumatic event to put them into costume. For one reason or another whether it was to bust her dad out of jail or defeat a loony friend all her reasons weren't steeped in darkness.