View source for Batgirl

{{Short description|DC Comics superheroine}}
{{Distinguish|text= [[Batwoman]], another DC Comics superheroine with a similar name}}
{{about|the DC Comics character from the Batman fictional milieu|other uses|Batgirl (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox comics set and title
<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
<!--Character section-->
| image = File:Batgirls1variant.jpeg
| caption = Barbara Gordon (top), Cassandra Cain (left) and Stephanie Brown on a variant cover for ''Batgirls'' #1 (February 2022) by Alex Garner; in this current continuity, they share the Batgirl monicker as a crime-fighting trio.
| publisher = [[DC Comics]]
| debut = ''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' #139
| debutyr = 1961
| debutmo = April
| debutyr1 = 1967
| debutyr2 = <!-- Helena, Cassandra, & Stephanie weren't introduced as Batgirl -->
| debutyr3 = 2006
| writer1 = [[Bill Finger]]
| artist1 = [[Sheldon Moldoff]]
| characters = {{ubl|[[Bette Kane|Betty Kane]] ("Bat-Girl")|[[Barbara Gordon]]|[[Huntress (Helena Bertinelli)|Helena Bertinelli]]|[[Cassandra Cain]]|[[Stephanie Brown (character)|Stephanie Brown]]|Barbara Wilson}}
| seealso =
<!--Series section-->
| title = Batgirl
| cvr_image = Batgirl v1 1.jpg
| cvr_caption = ''Batgirl'' #1 (April 2000)<br>featuring the Cassandra Cain version of the character,<br>art by [[Damion Scott (comics)|Damion Scott]]
| schedule = Monthly
| format = {{collapsible list|'''(vol. 1, 3–6, Batgirls)'''<br>[[Ongoing series]]|'''(vol. 2)'''<br>[[Limited series (comics)|Limited series]]}}
| limited = Y
| ongoing = Y
| Superhero = Y
| pub_series = DC Comics
| 1stishhead =  
| 1stishyr =  
| 1stishmo = 
| endishyr = 
| endishmo = 
| date = {{collapsible list| '''(vol. 1)'''<br>April 2000 – April 2006|'''(vol. 2)'''<br>September 2008 – February 2009|'''(vol. 3)'''<br>October 2009 – October 2011|'''(vol. 4)'''<br>November 2011 – July 2016|'''(vol. 5)'''<br>September 2016 – December 2020|'''(Batgirls)'''<br>February 2022 – August 2023|'''(vol. 6)'''<br>November 2024 – present}}
| issues = {{collapsible list| '''(vol. 1)''': 73 + 1 ''Annual''|'''(vol. 2)''': 6|'''(vol. 3)''': 24|'''(vol. 4)''': 53 (#1–52, 0) + 3 Annuals|'''(vol. 5)''': 50 + 2 Annuals and a ''DC Rebirth'' one-shot|'''(Batgirls)''': 19 + 1 Annual|'''(vol. 6)''': 1}}
| main_char_team = {{collapsible list|'''(vol. 1–2, 6)'''{{ubl|[[Cassandra Cain]]}}|'''(vol. 3)'''{{ubl|[[Cassandra Cain]]|[[Stephanie Brown (character)|Stephanie Brown]]}}|'''(vol. 4, 5)'''{{ubl|[[Barbara Gordon]]}}|'''(Batgirls)'''{{ubl|[[Barbara Gordon]]}}|[[Cassandra Cain]]|[[Stephanie Brown (character)|Stephanie Brown]]}}
| writers = {{collapsible list| '''(vol. 1)'''{{ubl|[[Kelley Puckett]]|[[Dylan Horrocks]]|[[Andersen Gabrych]]}}|'''(vol. 2)'''{{ubl|[[Adam Beechen]]}}|'''(vol. 3)'''{{ubl|[[Bryan Q. Miller]]}}|'''(vol. 4)'''{{ubl|[[Gail Simone]]|[[Cameron Stewart]]|[[Brenden Fletcher]]}}|'''(vol. 5)'''{{ubl|[[Hope Larson]]|[[Mairghread Scott]]|[[Cecil Castellucci]]}}|'''(Batgirls)'''{{ubl|[[Becky Cloonan]]|[[Michael Conrad]]}}|'''(vol. 6)'''{{ubl|Tate Brombal}}}}
| artists = 
| pencillers = {{collapsible list| '''(vol. 1)'''{{ubl|[[Damion Scott (comics)|Damion Scott]]|Adrian Sibar|[[Rick Leonardi]]|[[Ale Garza]]|[[Pop Mhan]]}}|'''(vol. 2)'''{{ubl|[[Jim Calafiore]]}}|'''(vol. 3)'''{{ubl|[[Lee Garbett]]|Pere Perez|[[Dustin Nguyen (comics)|Dustin Nguyen]]}}|'''(vol. 4)'''{{ubl|[[Ardian Syaf]]|[[Ed Benes]]|Daniel Sampere|Fernando Pasarin|[[Babs Tarr]]}}|'''(vol. 5)'''{{ubl|[[Rafael Albuquerque (artist)|Rafael Albuquerque]]|Christian Wildgoose|[[Paul Pelletier]]}}|'''(Batgirls)'''{{ubl|[[Jorge Corona]]}}|'''(vol. 6)'''{{ubl|[[Takeshi Miyazawa]]}}}}
| inkers = {{collapsible list|'''(vol. 1)'''{{ubl|Robert Campanella|Andy Owens|Jesse Delperdang}}|'''(vol. 3)'''{{ubl|Trevor Scott|Dereck Fridolfs}}|'''(vol. 4)'''{{ubl|Vicente Cifuentes|Jonathan Glapion}}}}
| letterers =
| colorists = {{collapsible list| '''(vol. 1)'''{{ubl|Jason Wright}}|'''(vol. 2)'''{{ubl|Nathan Eyring}}|'''(vol. 3)'''{{ubl|Guy Major}}|'''(vol. 4)'''{{ubl|Ulises Arreola|Kevin Senft|Maris Wicks}}'''(vol. 5)'''{{ubl|[[Dave McCaig]]}}|'''(vol. 6)'''{{ubl|Mike Spicer}}}}
| editors =
| creative_team_month =
| creative_team_year =
| creators_series =
| TPB =
| ISBN =
| nonUS =
| cat = super
| hero = y
| villain =
| sortkey = Batgirl
| sort_title = Batgirl
}}
'''Batgirl''' is the name of several [[superheroines]] appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[DC Comics]], depicted as female counterparts and allies to the superhero [[Batman]]. The character [[Bette Kane|Betty Kane]] was introduced into publication in 1961 by [[Bill Finger]] and [[Sheldon Moldoff]] as '''Bat-Girl''', and was replaced in 1967 by [[Barbara Gordon]], who became the most iconic Batgirl.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |last3= |first3= |title=Batgirl Reading Order: Your Guide to Batman's ally (from Barbara Gordon to Cassandra Cain) |url=https://www.comicbooktreasury.com/batgirl-reading-order/ |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=Comic Book Treasury |date= July 2022|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Barco |first=Mandalit del |date=2022-08-06 |title=New studio execs slay 'Batgirl,' but she's been through tougher fights |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/08/05/1115641261/batgirl-origin-story |access-date=2022-11-01}}</ref> The character debuted in ''[[Detective Comics]]'' #359 (January 1967) by writer [[Gardner Fox]] and artist [[Carmine Infantino]], introduced as the niece/adoptive daughter of police commissioner [[Jim Gordon (character)|James Gordon]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Comments |first=Mark Seifert {{!}} |date=2021-07-11 |title=The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl, Up for Auction |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/the-million-dollar-debut-of-batgirl-up-for-auction/ |access-date=2025-08-27 |website=bleedingcool.com |language=en}}</ref>

Batgirl operates in [[Gotham City]], allying herself with Batman and the original [[Robin (character)|Robin]], [[Dick Grayson]], along with other [[List of Batman supporting characters#Bat-Family|masked vigilantes]]. The character appeared regularly in ''Detective Comics'', ''[[Batman Family]]'', and several other books produced by DC until 1988. That year, Barbara Gordon appeared in [[Barbara Kesel]]'s ''Batgirl Special'' #1, in which she retires from crime-fighting. She subsequently appeared in [[Alan Moore]]'s graphic novel ''[[Batman: The Killing Joke]]'' where, in her civilian identity, she is shot by the [[Joker (character)|Joker]] and left [[paraplegia|paraplegic]]. Although she is reimagined as the computer expert and information broker Oracle by editor [[Kim Yale]] and writer [[John Ostrander]] the following year, her paralysis sparked debate about the [[portrayal of women in comics]], particularly violence depicted toward female characters.

In the 1999 storyline "[[No Man's Land (comics)|No Man's Land]]", the character [[Huntress (Helena Bertinelli)|Helena Bertinelli]], known as [[Huntress (DC Comics)|Huntress]], briefly assumes the role of Batgirl until she is stripped of the identity by Batman for violating his stringent codes. Within the same storyline, the character [[Cassandra Cain]] is introduced. Cain is written as the daughter of assassins [[David Cain (character)|David Cain]] and [[Lady Shiva]] and takes the mantle of Batgirl under the guidance of Batman and Oracle. In 2000, she became the first Batgirl to star in an eponymous monthly comic book series, in addition to becoming one of the most prominent characters of Asian descent to appear in American comics. The series was canceled in 2006, at which point during the company-wide storyline "[[One Year Later (comics)|One Year Later]]", she is established as a villain and head of the [[League of Assassins]]. After receiving harsh feedback from readership, she is later restored to her original conception. However, the character [[Stephanie Brown (character)|Stephanie Brown]], originally known as Spoiler and later Robin, succeeds her as Batgirl after Cassandra Cain abandons the role.

Stephanie Brown became the featured character of the ''Batgirl'' series from 2009 to 2011, prior to DC's [[The New 52]] relaunch, which established Barbara Gordon recovering from her paralysis following a surgical procedure and starring as the title character of ''Batgirl'' once again. Barbara later returned to the Oracle role with [[Infinite Frontier]] in 2020, and currently operates as both Batgirl and Oracle, with Cassandra and Stephanie also serving as Batgirls. The Barbara Gordon version of Batgirl has been adapted into various media relating to the [[Batman franchise media|Batman franchise]], including television, film, animation, video games, and other merchandise. [[Dan DiDio]], co-publisher of DC Comics, expressed that Barbara is the best-known version of the character.

== Publication history ==
{{Overly detailed|date=May 2017|section=yes}}

===''Detective Comics'', ''Batman Family'', and other appearances (1961–1988)===
[[File:Batgirl (Barbara Gordon - post-Zero Hour version).png|thumb|upright|Barbara Gordon as Batgirl: art by [[Brian Stelfreeze]]]]
Following the accusations of a homoerotic subtext in the depiction of the relationship between Batman and [[Dick Grayson|Robin]] as described in [[Fredric Wertham]]'s book ''[[Seduction of the Innocent]]'' (1954), a female character, Kathy Kane the [[Batwoman]], appeared in 1956 as a [[love interest]] for Batman.{{sfn|Daniels|2004|p=93}} In 1961, DC Comics introduced a second female character as a love interest for Robin.{{sfn|Daniels|2004|p=93}} Betty Kane as "Bat-Girl" arrived as the niece of, and Robin-like sidekick to, Batwoman, first appearing in ''Batman'' #139 (April 1961).<ref>
{{Cite comic
|writer=[[Bill Finger]]
|penciller=[[Sheldon Moldoff]]
|inker=[[Charles Paris]]
|story=Bat-Girl!
|title=[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]
|issue=#139
|date=April 1961
|publisher=[[DC Comics]]
|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/16178/#128166
}}
</ref> The creation of the [[List of Batman supporting characters#Bat-Family|Batman family]], which included Batman and Batwoman depicted as parents, Robin and Bat-Girl depicted as their children, the [[Extraterrestrials in fiction|extraterrestrial]] [[imp]] [[Bat-Mite]] and the "family pet" [[Ace the Bat-Hound]], caused the Batman-related comic books to take "a wrong turn, switching from superheroes to situational comedy".{{sfn|Daniels|2004|p=93}}

DC Comics abandoned these characters in 1964 when newly appointed Batman-editor [[Julius Schwartz]] judged them too silly and therefore inappropriate.<ref name=1stBatwoman>{{cite news
|url=http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batwoman/BatwomanHistory.htm
|title=Remembering Kathy Kane: The First Batwoman
|author=Grandinetti, Fred
|work=Newsarama
|access-date=2007-09-19
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929132840/http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Batwoman/BatwomanHistory.htm
|archive-date=September 29, 2007
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> Schwartz had asserted that these characters should be removed, considering the Batman related comic books had steadily declined in sales, and restored the Batman mythology to its original conception of heroic vigilantism.{{sfn|Daniels|2004|p=93}} Bat-Girl, along with other characters in the Batman Family, were [[Retroactive continuity|retcon]]ned out of existence following the 1985 limited series ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]''.<ref>{{Cite comic
|writer=[[Marv Wolfman]]
|artist=[[George Pérez]]
|title=[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]
|issue=#1–12
|date=April 1985 – March 1986
|publisher=DC Comics
}}<!--is this in a specific issue or a text piece in a specific collection--></ref> However, even though Bat-Girl did not exist in the Post-''Crisis'' continuity, a modified version of the character, Mary Elizabeth "Bette" Kane, introduced as the superhero [[Flamebird]], continues to appear in DC Comics publications.<ref>{{Cite comic
|writer=George Pérez
|artist=Various
|story=Pieces of the Puzzle
|title=Secret Origins Annual
|issue=#3
|date=1989
|publisher=DC Comics
|url=http://www.comics.org/details.lasso?id=45557
}}</ref>

Schwartz stated that he had been asked to develop a new female character to attract a female viewership to the [[Batman (TV series)|''Batman'' television series of the 1960s]].{{sfn|Daniels|2004|p=113, 115}} Executive producer [[William Dozier]] suggested that the new character would be the daughter of Gotham City's Police Commissioner James Gordon, and that she would adopt the identity of Batgirl.<ref name="Back38">{{cite journal|last= Cassell|first= Dewey|date= February 2010|title = Growing Up Gordon: The Early Years of Batgirl|journal= [[Back Issue!]]|issue= #38|pages= 65–70|publisher= [[TwoMorrows Publishing]]}}</ref> When Dozier and producer Howie Horowitz saw rough concept artwork of the new Batgirl by artist [[Carmine Infantino]] during a visit to DC offices, they optioned the character in a bid to help sell a third season to the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] television network. Infantino reflected on the creation of Batgirl, stating "Bob Kane had had a Bat-Girl for about three stories in the ’50s but she had nothing to do with a bat. She was like a pesky girl version of Robin. I knew we could do a lot better, so Julie and I came up with the real Batgirl, who was so popular she almost got her own TV show."<ref>{{cite web
|author=Fitzgerald, Michael
|title=Carmine infantino: Decades at DC and Beyond
|year=2007
|url=http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/004812442.cfm
|access-date=2007-11-23
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071124223127/http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/004812442.cfm |archive-date=November 24, 2007
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> [[Yvonne Craig]] portrayed the character in the show's third season.<ref>{{cite book
|last=Daniels
|first=Les
|title= DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes
|year= 1995
|publisher= Bulfinch
|page= 141
|isbn= 0-8212-2076-4}}</ref> Barbara Gordon and her alter ego Batgirl debuted in ''Detective Comics'' #359, "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl" (1967). In the debut story, while driving to a costume ball dressed as a female version of Batman, Barbara Gordon intervenes in a kidnapping attempt on Bruce Wayne by the supervillain [[Killer Moth]], attracting Batman's attention and leading to a crimefighting career. Although Batman insists she give up crimefighting because of her gender, Batgirl disregards his objections.<ref name=supergirls>{{cite book
|author=Madrid, Mike
|title=The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines
|publisher=Exterminating Angel Press
|year=2009
|pages=[https://archive.org/details/supergirlsfashio00mike/page/136 136–138]
|isbn=978-1-935259-03-9
|url=https://archive.org/details/supergirlsfashio00mike/page/136
}}</ref>

In her civilian identity, Dr. Barbara Gordon is a career woman with a doctorate in library science, as well as being head of the Gotham City Public Library, "presumably one of the largest public libraries in the DC Comics version of reality."<ref name=LibrarianRole>{{cite book
|author=Arant, Wendi
|author2=Benefiel, Candace
|title=The Image and Role of the Librarian
|publisher=Haworth Press
|year=2002
|pages=[https://archive.org/details/imageroleoflibra0000unse/page/77 77–80]
|isbn=0-7890-2099-8
|url=https://archive.org/details/imageroleoflibra0000unse/page/77
}}</ref> She was given a regular back-up slot in ''Detective Comics'' starting with issue #384 (February 1969), alternating issues with Robin until issue #404, after which she had the back-up slot to herself. [[Frank Robbins]] wrote nearly all of these back-ups, which were penciled first by [[Gil Kane]] and later by [[Don Heck]].<ref name="Back38"/> Barbara Gordon's Batgirl exceeded the earlier Bat-Girl and Batwoman characters in popularity, and readers requested for her to appear in other titles. Although some readers requested that Batwoman also continue to appear in publication, DC responded to the fan-based acclaim and criticism of the new character in an open letter in ''Detective Comics'' #417 (1971),<ref>{{cite comic
|title=[[Detective Comics]]
|issue=#417
|date=November 1971
|publisher= DC Comics
}}</ref> stating: "I'd like to say a few words about the reaction some readers have to Batgirl. These are readers who remember Batwoman and the other Bat-girls from years back&nbsp;... They were there because romance seemed to be needed in Batman's life. But thanks to the big change and a foresighted editor, these hapless females are gone for good. In their place stands a girl who is a capable crime-fighter, a far cry from Batwoman who constantly had to be rescued [by] Batman."<ref name=1stBatwoman/>

Batgirl continued to appear in DC Comics publications throughout the late 1960s and 1970s as a supporting character in ''Detective Comics'', in addition to guest appearances in various titles such as ''[[Justice League|Justice League of America]]'',<ref>
{{cite comic
|writer=[[Gardner Fox]]
|penciller=[[Mike Sekowsky]]
|inker=[[Sid Greene]]
|story=Winged Warriors of the Immortal Queen!
|title=[[Justice League of America]]
|issue=#60
|date=February 1968
|publisher= DC Comics
|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/21641/
}}</ref> ''[[World's Finest Comics]]'',<ref>{{cite comic
|writer=[[Cary Bates]]
|penciller=[[Neal Adams]]
|inker=[[Dick Giordano]]
|story=The Superman-Batman Split!
|title=[[World's Finest Comics]]
|issue=#176
|date=June 1968
|publisher= DC Comics
|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/21924/#156369
}}</ref> 
''[[The Brave and the Bold]]'',<ref>
{{cite comic
|writer=[[Bob Haney]]
|artist=[[Bob Brown (comics)|Bob Brown]]
|story=In the Coils of Copperhead!
|title=[[The Brave and the Bold]]
|issue=#78
|date=June–July 1968
|publisher=DC Comics
|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/21907/#156307
}}</ref> ''[[Adventure Comics]]'',<ref>{{cite comic
|writer=Carry Bated
|penciller=[[Win Mortimer]]
|inker=[[Jack Abel]]
|story=The Supergirl Gang
|title=[[Adventure Comics]]
|issue=#381
|date=June 1969
|publisher= DC Comics
|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/22800/#160617
}}</ref> and ''[[Superman (comic book)|Superman]]''.<ref name=Superman368>{{cite comic
|writer=[[Elliot S! Maggin]]
|penciller=[[Curt Swan]]
|inker=[[Bob Oksner]]
|story=Wild Week-End in Washington!
|title=[[Superman (comic book)|Superman]]
|issue=#268
|date=October 1973
|publisher= DC Comics
|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/26740/#178708
}}
</ref> 
In the early-1970s, Batgirl reveals her [[secret identity]] to her father (who had already discovered it on his own) and serves as a member of the [[United States House of Representatives]]. She moves to [[Washington, D.C.]], intending to give up her career as Batgirl, and in June 1972 appeared in a story entitled "Batgirl's Last Case."<ref>
{{cite comic
|writer=[[Frank Robbins]]
|artist=[[Don Heck]]
|story=Batgirl's Last Case
|title=Detective Comics
|issue=#424
|date=June 1972
|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/25212/#171745
}}</ref> Julius Schwartz brought her back a year later in ''Superman'' #268 (1973)<ref name=Superman368/> in which she has a blind date with [[Clark Kent]], establishing their friendship, and fights alongside [[Superman]]. Batgirl and Superman team up twice more, in ''Superman'' #279 and ''[[DC Comics Presents]]'' #19. Batgirl also guest-starred in other Superman related titles, such as #453 of ''Adventure Comics'' and in ''[[Superman Family]]'' #171, where she teams up with [[Supergirl]].

The character is given a starring role in DC's ''[[Batman Family]]'' comic book which debuted in 1975.<ref>{{cite comic
|writer=Elliot S! Maggin
|artist=[[Mike Grell]]
|story=The Invader from Hell!
|title=[[Batman Family]]
|issue=#1
|date=September–October 1975
|publisher= DC Comics
|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/29063/#188138}}
</ref> The original Robin, [[Dick Grayson]], became her partner in the series, with the two frequently referred to as the "Dynamite Duo: Batgirl & Robin". Batgirl meets Batwoman in ''Batman Family'' #10, when the retired superhero briefly returns to crimefighting (before the [[Bronze Tiger]] murders Kane). The two fight Killer Moth and the [[Cavalier (character)|Cavalier]], and learn each other's secret identities. Batwoman retires once again at the conclusion of the story, leaving Batgirl to continue crimefighting.<ref>{{cite comic
|writer=[[Bob Rozakis]]
|penciller=Bob Brown
|inker=[[Vince Colletta]]
|story=Those Were the Bad Old Days!
|title=Batman Family
|issue=#10
|date=March–April 1977
|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/30812/#194159
}}</ref> Although this series ended after three years of publication,<ref>{{cite comic
|title=Batman Family
|issue=#20
|date=October–November 1978
}}</ref> Batgirl continued to appear in back-up stories published in ''Detective Comics'' through issue #519 (October 1982).

''Crisis on Infinite Earths'', a limited series published in 1985, was written to reduce the complex history of DC Comics to a single [[Continuity (fiction)|continuity]]. Although Batgirl is a featured character, her role is relatively small—she delivers Supergirl's eulogy in issue #7 of the 12-part series.<ref>{{Cite comic
|writer=[[Marv Wolfman]]
|artist=[[George Pérez]]
|story=Beyond the Silent Night
|title=[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]
|issue=#7
|page=<!--page from rthe original comic?-->
|date=April 1985 – March 1986
|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/40485/
}}</ref> The conclusion of ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' changed [[DC Universe]] continuity in many ways. Following the [[Reboot (fiction)|reboot]], Barbara Gordon is born to Roger and Thelma Gordon, and she is Jim Gordon's niece and adopted daughter in post - crisis continuity. Post-''Crisis'', Supergirl does not arrive on Earth until after Gordon has established herself as Oracle, and many of the adventures she shared with Batgirl are retroactively described as having been experienced by [[Power Girl]]. In ''[[Secret Origins]]'' (vol. 2) #20 (1987),<ref>{{cite comic
|writer=[[Barbara Kesel|Barbara Randall]]
|penciller=[[Rick Leonardi]]
|inker=Dick Giordano
|story=Flawed Gems
|title=[[Secret Origins]]
|volume=2
|issue=#20
|date=November 1987
|publisher=DC Comics
|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/43650/#243946
}}</ref> Barbara Gordon's origin is rebooted by author Barbara Randal. Within the storyline, Gordon recounts the series of events that led to her career as Batgirl, including her first encounter with Batman as a child, studying [[martial arts]] under the tutelage of a [[sensei]], memorizing maps and blueprints of the city, excelling in academics to skip grades, and pushing herself to become a star athlete.

===''Batgirl Special'' #1 and ''Batman: The Killing Joke'' (1988)===
{{Main|Batman: The Killing Joke}}

DC officially retired the hero in the one-shot comic ''Batgirl Special'' #1 (July 1988), written by [[Barbara Kesel]].<ref>{{cite comic
|writer=Barbara Randall
|penciller=[[Barry Kitson]]
|inker=Bruce Patterson
|story=The Last Batgirl Story
|title=Batgirl Special
|issue=#1
|date=1988
|publisher= DC Comics
|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/69291/
}}</ref> Later that year, she appears in Alan Moore's ''Batman: The Killing Joke''. In this graphic novel, the [[Joker (character)|Joker]] shoots and paralyzes Barbara Gordon in an attempt to drive her father insane, thereby proving to Batman that anyone can lose their minds after having "one bad day".<ref>{{cite comic|writer=[[Alan Moore]]|artist=[[Brian Bolland]]|title=[[Batman: The Killing Joke]]|date=1988|publisher= DC Comics|id={{ISBN|978-0-930289-45-4}} }}</ref> She is deployed as a [[plot device]] to cement the Joker's vendetta against Commissioner Gordon and Batman. In 2006, during an interview with ''[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]]'', Moore expressed regret over his treatment of the character, calling it "shallow and ill-conceived".<ref name=bitch>{{cite journal|first=Shannon|last=Cochrane|title=The Cold Shoulder: Saving Superheroines from Comic-book Violence|journal=[[Bitch (magazine)|Bitch]]|publisher=Bitch Media|location=Portland, Oregon|date=2007}}</ref> He stated prior to writing the graphic novel, "I asked DC if they had any problem with me crippling Barbara Gordon—who was Batgirl at the time—and if I remember, I spoke to [[Len Wein]], who was our editor on the project", and following a discussion with then-Executive Editorial Director Dick Giordano, Len got back onto the phone and said, "Yeah, okay, cripple the bitch."<ref name=bitch/>

Although there has been speculation as to whether or not editors at DC specifically intended to have the character's paralysis become permanent, Brian Cronin, author of ''Was Superman A Spy?: And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed'' (2009) noted that DC had hired Barbara Kesel to write the ''Batgirl Special'' specifically to retire the character and set her in place for ''The Killing Joke''.<ref name=Spy>{{cite book|first=Brian|last=Cronin|title=Was Superman A Spy? and Other Comic Book Legends Revealed|publisher=[[Penguin Books]]|location=New York City|date=2009|pages=45, 47|isbn=978-0-452-29532-2}}</ref> [[Gail Simone]] included the character's paralysis in a list of "major female characters that had been killed, mutilated, and depowered", dubbing the phenomenon "[[Women in Refrigerators]]" in reference to a 1994 [[Green Lantern]] story where the title character discovers his girlfriend's mutilated body in his refrigerator.{{sfn|Brown|2011|p=175}} Following the release of the graphic novel, comic book editor and writer [[Kim Yale]] discussed how distasteful she found the treatment of Barbara Gordon with her husband, fellow comic writer [[John Ostrander]]. Rather than allow the character to fall into obscurity, the two decided to revive her as a character living with a disability—the information broker called the Oracle.<ref>{{cite web|first=Brian|last=Cronin|title=A (Perhaps Unnecessary) Guide to Oracle's Formative Years|url=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/02/15/a-perhaps-unnecessary-guide-to-oracles-formative-years|website=Comic Book Resources|date=2007
|access-date=September 11, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071011220128/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/02/15/a-perhaps-unnecessary-guide-to-oracles-formative-years| archive-date= October 11, 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>

==="No Man's Land" (1999)===
Eleven years after the editorial retirement of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl, a new version of the character was introduced in ''Batman: Shadow of the Bat'' #83 during the multi-title story arc "No Man's Land" (1999).<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Bob Gale]]|penciller=[[Alex Maleev]]|inker=[[Wayne Faucher]]|story=No Law and a New Order Part Two: Strategy|title=[[Batman: Shadow of the Bat]]|issue=#83|date=March 1999|publisher=DC Comics|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/95220/}}</ref> In ''[[Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight]]'' #120 (1999), the new Batgirl is revealed to be Helena Bertinelli, an established DC comics superhero alternatively known as the Huntress.<ref>{{Cite book|first=Will|last=Brooker|title=Batman Unmasked: Analyzing a Cultural Icon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GNRreYO91ogC|date=2001|publisher=[[Continuum International Publishing Group]]|location=New York City|pages=187, 151, 319|isbn=0-8264-1343-9}}</ref> Bertinelli is eventually forced to abandon the mantle by Batgirl.<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Greg Rucka]]|cowriters=[[Jordan B. Gorfinkel]]|penciller=[[Greg Land]]|inker=Drew Geraci|story=Ground Zero|title=Batman: No Man's Land|issue=#0|date=December 1999|publisher=DC Comics|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/95798/}}</ref> ''No Man's Land'' also marks the introduction of Cassandra Cain in ''Batman'' #567 (1999).<ref>{{Cite book|first=Mike|last=Conroy|title=500 Great Comicbook Action Heroes|publisher=ChrysalisPublishing Group|location=Natick, Massachusetts|date=2002|isbn=1-84411-004-4}}</ref> Depicted as a [[martial arts]] [[child prodigy]], Cassandra Cain is written as a young woman of partly [[Asian people|Asian]] descent who succeeds Helena Bertinelli as Batgirl, with the approval of both Batman and the Oracle.

===''Batgirl'' and other appearances (2000–2011)===

The first ''Batgirl'' monthly comic was published in 2000, with Cassandra Cain as the title character. Raised by assassin [[David Cain (character)|David Cain]], Cassandra Cain was not taught spoken language, but instead was taught to "read" physical movement. Subsequently, Cain's only form of communication was body language.<ref name="NatureNurture?">{{cite web
|last=Richards
|first=Dave
|title=Nature or Nurture? Andersen Gabrych talks ''Batgirl''
|date=March 4, 2005
|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=4907
|work=[[Comic Book Resources]]
|access-date=February 17, 2008
|archive-date=December 21, 2008
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221131822/http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=4907
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> The parts of the character's brain normally used for speech were trained so Cain could read other people's body language and predict, with uncanny accuracy, their next move. This also caused her brain to develop learning functions different from most, a form of dyslexia that hampers her abilities to read and write.

Despite Cain's disability, author Andersen Gabrych describes the character's unique form of language as the key factor in what makes Cain an excellent detective; the ability to walk into a room and "know" something is wrong based on body language.<ref name="NatureNurture?"/> During "Silent Running", the first arc of the ''Batgirl'' comic book series, Cassandra Cain encounters a psychic who "reprograms" her brain, enabling her to comprehend verbal language while losing the ability to predict movements.<ref>{{Cite comic
|writer=[[Scott Peterson (comics)|Scott Peterson]]
|cowriters=[[Kelley Puckett]]
|penciller=[[Damion Scott (comics)|Damion Scott]]
|inker=Robert Campanella
|story=Silent Running<!--based on the subtitle of the collected edition-->
|title=Batgirl
|issue=#1–6
|date=April–September 2000
|publisher=DC Comics
}}</ref> This issue is resolved during the second arc of the series, "A Knight Alone", when Batgirl encounters the assassin [[Lady Shiva]] who agrees to teach her how to predict movement once again.<ref>{{Cite comic
|writer=Various
|artist=Various
|story=A Knight Alone<!--based on the subtitle of the collected edition-->
|title=Batgirl
|issue=#7–14
|date=October 2000 – May 2001
}}</ref> Six years after its debut, DC Comics cancelled the ''Batgirl'' comic book series with issue #73 (2006), ending with Cain relinquishing her role as Batgirl.<ref>{{Cite comic
|writer=[[Andersen Gabrych]]
|penciller=[[Pop Mhan]]
|inker=Jesse Delperdang
|coinkers=Adam DeKraker
|story=Blood Matters Conclusion: Revelations
|title=Batgirl
|issue=#73
|date=April 2006
|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/265573/
}}</ref>

When DC Comics continuity skipped forward [[One Year Later (comics)|one year]] after the events of the limited series ''[[Infinite Crisis]]'', Cassandra Cain is revived as the leader of the [[League of Assassins]], having abandoned her previous characterization as an [[altruist]]. The character's progression from hero to villain angered some of her fans and was accompanied by heavy criticism.<ref name=TalkRobin>{{cite web
|last=Taylor
|first=Robert
|title=Reflections: Talking ''Robin'' (And Batgirl) With Adam Beechen
|work=Comic Book Resources
|date=November 5, 2006
|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=8802
|access-date=February 19, 2008
|archive-date=October 12, 2007
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012140405/http://comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=8802
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> Cain reprised her role as Batgirl in the "[[Titans East]]" (2007) storyline of ''[[Teen Titans]]'',<ref>{{Cite comic
|writer=[[Geoff Johns]]
|penciller=[[Tony Daniel]]
|inker=Jonathan Glapion
|story=Titans East Part 1
|title=[[Teen Titans]]
|issue=#43
|volume=3
|date=March 2007
|publisher=DC Comics
|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/329916/
}}</ref> where it was discovered that she had been influenced by a mind-altering drug administered by [[supervillain]] [[Deathstroke|Deathstroke the Terminator]]. Following the conclusion of the storyline, DC Comics has restored Cain's original characterization as a superhero and the character has been given a supporting role in the comic book series ''[[Outsiders (comics)|Batman and the Outsiders]]''.

Following the events of [[Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne|Batman's disappearance]], Cassandra, acting under her mentor's orders in the event of his death, handed over the Batgirl mantle to Stephanie Brown, the former Spoiler and the fourth Robin.<ref name=RoadHome>{{Cite comic
|writer=[[Bryan Q. Miller]]
|artist=Pere Perez
|title=Bruce Wayne: The Road Home: Batgirl
|date=December 2010
|publisher=DC Comics
}}</ref> After declining an offer from Tim Drake to reclaim the Batgirl mantle from Stephanie,<ref>{{cite comic
|writer=[[Fabian Nicieza]]
|penciller=[[Marcus To]]
|inker=Ray McCarthy
|story=The Hit List, Epilogue: Back to Front
|title=[[Red Robin (comic book)|Red Robin]]
|issue=#17
|date=January 2011
|publisher=DC Comics
|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/785638/
}}</ref> Cassandra rejoined the Batman Family under the new identity of the Blackbat.<ref>{{Cite comic
|writer=[[Grant Morrison]]
|artist=[[Chris Burnham]]
|story=Nyktomorph
|title=[[Batman Inc.]]
|issue=#6
|date=June 2011
|publisher=DC Comics
|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/832933/
}}</ref> She currently acts as the Hong Kong representative of [[Batman Inc.]]

Stephanie Brown does take the mantle of Batgirl after Cassandra Cain gives Brown her costume under Batman's orders.<ref name=RoadHome/> Eventually, Barbara Gordon approves of Brown as her newest successor — and she gives Brown her own Batgirl costume and becomes her mentor for a period. Brown is the fourth in-continuity Batgirl and the second Batgirl to star in her own ongoing ''Batgirl'' comic book series.

===''The New 52'': ''Batgirl'', ''Birds of Prey'', and other appearances (2011–2016)===
In September 2011, following the company-wide relaunch, Barbara Gordon stars in a new ''Batgirl'' series—one of ''[[The New 52]]'' titles featuring the company's most iconic characters. The conclusion of the limited series ''[[Flashpoint (comics)|Flashpoint]]'' (2011) establishes a new continuity within the DC Universe, with all characters regressing to an earlier age and stage in their careers, while remaining in a modern timeline. DC Senior VP of Sales, Bob Wayne, explained that with each of their titles reverting to issue #1, "our creative teams have the ability to take a more modern approach—not only with each character, but with how the characters interact with one another and the universe as a whole, and focus on the earlier part of the careers of each of our iconic characters."<ref name=New52>{{cite news
|author=Doran, Michael
|title=DC Releases New "The New 52" Info & Answers to Retailers
|url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dcnu-the-new-52-retailer-info-110701.html
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129182607/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dcnu-the-new-52-retailer-info-110701.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=January 29, 2013
|work=Newsarama
|date=2011-07-01
|access-date=2011-07-07}}</ref> Barbara Gordon is biological daughter of James Gordon and Barbara Eileen Gordon in this continuity. Wayne also stated that "''The Killing Joke'' still happened and she was Oracle. Now she will go through physical rehabilitation and become a more seasoned and nuanced character because she had these incredible and diverse experiences.<ref name=New52/> [[Dan DiDio]], Co-Publisher of DC Comics explained the decision by stating that "she'll always be the most recognizable [Batgirl]."<ref>{{cite news
|first=Jen|last=Doll|title= Comic Fans to Gather in Times Square at Midnight for Launch of 'The New 52'|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/08/dc_comics_new_52.php|newspaper = [[The Village Voice]]|publisher=VF Corp.|location=New York City|date= August 30, 2011 |access-date =September 3, 2011|url-status= dead|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120214191053/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/08/dc_comics_new_52.php |archive-date =February 14, 2012 }}</ref> Series writer Gail Simone stated: "For many years, I got to write the character as Oracle, and there is to this day, no character who means more to me. This is classic Barbara as she was originally conceived, with a few big surprises. It's a bit of a shock, to be sure, but we’re doing everything we can to be respectful to this character's amazing legacy, while presenting something thrilling that a generation of comics readers will be experiencing for the first time&nbsp;...Barbara Gordon leaping, fighting, and swinging over Gotham. Now, when citizens of that city look up, they are going to see BATGIRL. And that is absolutely thrilling."<ref>{{cite web
|first=Michael|last=Doran|title=UPDATE 7: More DCnU BATMAN Reveals, BATMAN, INC. Info|url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dcnu-detective-batman-titles-110606.html|work=Newsarama|date=June 6, 2011|access-date=July 7, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110623042058/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dcnu-detective-batman-titles-110606.html| archive-date= 23 June 2011 | url-status= dead}}</ref>

In the new, revised continuity, the events of ''The Killing Joke'' took place three years before the current storyline, and while it is established she was paraplegic during that time, Barbara Gordon is written as having regained her mobility after undergoing experimental surgery at a [[South Africa]]n clinic.<ref name=background>{{cite news|first=Vaneta|last=Ross|title=GAIL SIMONE on Revelations About BATGIRL's Miraculous Cure|url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/gail-simone-batgirl-cure-revelations-120111.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130111063058/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/gail-simone-batgirl-cure-revelations-120111.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 11, 2013|work=Newsarama|date=January 12, 2012|access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref> Although she resumes her work as Batgirl one year after her recovery, she continues to suffer from [[post-traumatic stress disorder]], causing her to hesitate in battle when exposed to gunfire that could result in suffering new spinal damage.<ref name=background/> The character also exhibits [[survivor guilt]] due to the fact she has made a full recovery from her paralysis while others have not.<ref name=background/> Series writer Gail Simone stated that while the character is "one of the smartest and toughest women in comics&nbsp;...One thing the book is truly about, is that the after-effects of something like PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or other trauma-related syndromes, can strike even very smart, very intellectually tough people, even soldiers and cops", a subject that is generally overlooked in comic books.<ref name=background/> She also explained the method of the character's recovery is based upon real life experiences in that "some of the best real world work in the field of mobility rehabilitation is coming from South Africa. People have been talking about this as if it's some sort of mystical thing like returning from the dead, but there are treatments and surgeries that can restore mobility in some cases. Barbara's spine was not severed. That makes her a candidate."<ref name=background/>

Prior to its release, ''Batgirl'' #1 sold out at the distribution level with over 100,000 copies printed in its first run according to [[Diamond Comic Distributors]]. Along with ''Action Comics'' #1, ''Justice League'' #1, ''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' #1, ''[[Batman and Robin (comic book)|Batman and Robin]]'' #1, ''[[Batman: The Dark Knight]]'' #1, ''Detective Comics'' #1, ''[[The Flash (comic book)|Flash]]'' #1, ''[[Green Lantern (comic book)|Green Lantern]]'' #1, and ''[[Superman (comic book)|Superman]]'' #1, retailers were required to order a second printing.<ref>{{cite news|first=Vaneta|last=Rogers|title=Ten NEW 52 Titles Exceed 100k, DC Touts Sales Success|url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dc-touts-new-52-sales-success-110912.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129184310/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dc-touts-new-52-sales-success-110912.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 29, 2013|work=Newsarama|date=September 12, 2011|access-date=September 12, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Mark|last=Langshaw|title='Action Comics' #1, 'Batgirl' #1 sell out at distribution level|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/comics/news/a338458/action-comics-1-batgirl-1-sell-out-at-distribution-level.html|work=[[Digital Spy]]|publisher=[[Hearst Magazines UK]]|location=London, England|date=September 2, 2011|access-date=September 2, 2011}}</ref> Calvin Reid of ''[[Publishers Weekly]]'' states in a review of the first issue: "The artwork is okay though conventional, while Simone's script tries to tie up of the end of the previous Barbara Gordon/Oracle storyline and setup up the new Batgirl. Her formula: murderous villains, blood splattering violence and high flying superheroics mixed with single-white-female bonding&nbsp;...plus a cliffhanger ending to the first issue that offers a nifty [segue] into the new world of Barbara Gordon and Batgirl."<ref>{{cite news
|author=Reid, Calvin|title=The New 52: 'PW Comics World' Reviews DC Comics' New Series
|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/book-news/comics/article/48604-the-new-52--pw-comics-world-reviews-dc-comics-new-series.html
|newspaper=[[Publishers Weekly]]
|date=2011-09-08
|access-date=2011-09-08
}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' critic George Gene Gustines wrote: "Unlike some of the other DC comics I read this week, Batgirl achieves a deft [[wikt:hat trick|hat trick]]: a well-shaped reintroduction to a character, an elegant acknowledgement of fundamental history and the establishment of a new status quo. This is a must-buy series."<ref>{{cite news
|author=Gustines, George Gene
|author2=Kepler, Adam W.
|title=Rating the No. 1's: 'Batgirl' and More
|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/08/rating-the-no-1s-batgirl-and-more/
|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]
|date=2011-09-08
|access-date=2011-09-08
}}</ref> Earning a B+ rating in a review from ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', Ken Tucker writes that Simone "[takes] her Birds of Prey storytelling powers and focuses them on the newly revived Barbara Gordon as Batgirl. The result is a burst of exhilaration, as Barbara/Batgirl revels in her new freedom even as she encounters a so-far not-terribly-chilling villain called Mirror."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Ken|last=Tucker|title=Comic-book consumer guide: Grading the new DC #1s, 'Batgirl,' 'Detective Comics,' and more|url=http://shelf-life.ew.com/2011/09/07/batgirl-batman-detective-comics-dc-superman/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|publisher=[[Meredith Corporation]]|location=New York City|date=September 7, 2011|access-date=September 7, 2011}}</ref>

Since the series relaunch in September 2011, ''Batgirl'' has remained within the top 30 of the 300 best-selling monthly comic book publications sold in North America. Monthly estimated sales figures are as follows: ''Batgirl'' #1 with 81,489 copies (ranked 12th overall),<ref>{{cite web
|author=Miller, John Jackson
|title=September 2011 Comic Book Sales Figures
|url=http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2011/2011-09.html
|publisher=comichron.com|date=September 2011
|access-date=2012-03-07
}}</ref> ''Batgirl'' #2 with 75,227 (ranked 14th),<ref>{{cite web
|author=Miller, John Jackson
|title=October 2011 Comic Book Sales Figures
|url=http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2011/2011-10.html
|publisher=comichron.com
|date=October 2011
|access-date=2012-03-07
}}</ref> ''Batgirl'' #3 with 62,974 (ranked 18th),<ref>{{cite web
|author=Miller, John Jackson
|title=November 2011 Comic Book Sales Figures
|url=http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2011/2011-11.html
|publisher=comichron.com
|date=November 2011
|access-date=2012-03-07
}}</ref> ''Batgirl'' #4 with 53,975 (ranked 23rd),<ref>{{cite web
|author=Miller, John Jackson
|title=December 2011 Comic Book Sales Figures
|url=http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2011/2011-12.html
|publisher=comichron.com
|date=December 2011
|access-date=2012-03-07
}}</ref> ''Batgirl'' #5 with 51,327 (ranked 26th),<ref>{{cite web
|author=Miller, John Jackson
|title=January 2012 Comic Book Sales Figures
|url=http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2012/2012-01.html
|publisher=comichron.com
|date=January 2012
|access-date=2012-03-07
}}</ref> and ''Batgirl'' #6 with 47,836 (ranked 30th).<ref>{{cite web
|author=Miller, John Jackson
|title=February 2012 Comic Book Sales Figures
|url=http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2012/2012-02.html
|publisher=comichron.com
|date=February 2012
|access-date=2012-03-07
}}</ref> The hardcover edition of volume 1, ''Batgirl: The Darkest Reflection'', which collects issues #1–6, made [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]], alongside ''Animal Man: The Hunt'', ''Batman & Robin: Born to Kill'', ''Batman: Detective Comics'', ''Wonder Woman: Blood'', ''Batwoman: Hydrology'', ''Green Lantern: Sinestro''.<ref>{{citation|author=Calvin Reid|title=DC Comics' 'New 52' Drives Graphic Novel Sales|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/book-news/comics/article/53451-dc-comics----new-52--drives-graphic-novel-sales.html|publisher=Publishers Weekly|date=2012-08-06|access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref>

Additionally, Barbara Gordon makes an appearance in ''Birds of Prey'' #1, where Black Canary offers her a spot on the new Birds of Prey roster. She declines Canary's invitation, suggesting that [[Katana (DC Comics)|Katana]] take her place instead.<ref>{{Cite comic
|writer=Duane Swiercynski
|artist=Jesús Saiz
|story=Let Us Prey
|title=[[Birds of Prey (team)|Birds of Prey]]
|volume=3
|issue=#1
|date=November 2011
|publisher=DC Comics
|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/878145/
}}</ref> Series writer Duane Swierczynski stated that Batgirl would join the team in issue #4.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Swierczynski, Duane
|title=3 Things to Know About the Birds of Prey
|url=http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2011/11/18/3-things-to-know-about-the-birds-of-prey/
|publisher=DC Comics
|date=November 18, 2011
|access-date=November 18, 2011}}</ref> He commented that while she "is an essential part of this team", she is not the focus of the series, as she is hesitant to be associated with the other characters because of their status as outlaws.<ref>{{cite web
|author=Campbell, Josie
|title=The Bat Signal: Swierczynski Discusses Crime, Batgirl & "Birds Of Prey"
|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36637
|website=Comic Book Resources
|date=January 30, 2012
|access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref>

In October 2014, the monthly Batgirl title underwent a soft [[Reboot (fiction)|reboot]] with the new creative team Brenden Fletcher (writer) [[Cameron Stewart]] (writer, layouts), [[Babs Tarr]] (artist) and Maris Wicks (colors). The first six-issue story explored Barbara Gordon's attempt to start a new life as a PhD student in the hip Gotham borough of Burnside. While seemingly light and engaging compared to Gail Simone's darker preceding run, the new arc ultimately dealt with Babs' inability to fully escape her [[Batman: The Killing Joke|earlier trauma]] and the villain was revealed as her own brain scans, an algorithm similar to the Pre-''New 52'' Oracle.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brooker|first1=Will|last2=LeBas|first2=Samantha|title=The Burnside HOOQ-Up: Special Edition – I Made A Backup (The Oracle Theory)|url=http://multiversitycomics.com/annotations/the-burnside-hooq-up-special-edition-i-made-a-backup-the-oracle-theory/|website=Multiversity Comics|access-date=9 March 2015|date=2015-02-05|archive-date=2015-05-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512043537/http://multiversitycomics.com/annotations/the-burnside-hooq-up-special-edition-i-made-a-backup-the-oracle-theory|url-status=dead}}</ref> While the reboot was highly praised for its fun, energy, innovative use of social media, and particularly for Tarr's art,<ref>{{cite web|last1=CBR News|title=Batgirl 36 Review|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=user_review&id=7993|website=Comic Book Resources|access-date=9 March 2015|date=2014-11-17}}</ref> issue #37 caused controversy with its depiction of a villain named Dagger Type, which some critics saw as a transphobic caricature.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Stevens|first1=Rachel|title=Disappointment Again: Batgirl 37 is Transphobic|url=http://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/2014/12/12/disappointment-again-batgirl-37-is-transphobic/|website=Women Write About Comics|access-date=9 March 2015|date=2014-12-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=J. Skyler |title=Batgirl And The Perpetual State Of Transphobia In Media |url=http://comicsalliance.com/batgirl-and-the-perpetual-state-of-transphobia-in-media/ |publisher=[[Townsquare Media]] |date=16 December 2014 |access-date=6 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302043015/http://comicsalliance.com/batgirl-and-the-perpetual-state-of-transphobia-in-media/ |archive-date=2 March 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Jessica Lachenal|title=Why the Batgirl #37 Controversy is the Conversation We Need Right Now|url=http://www.themarysue.com/batgirl-37-controversy-conversation/|publisher=[[Dan Abrams|Abrams Media]]|date=15 December 2014|access-date=6 February 2016}}</ref> In response, the creative team issued a joint apology and revised the issue for the subsequent collected edition, ''Batgirl Vol. 1: The Batgirl of Burnside''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ira Madison III|title="Batgirl" Creative Team Issues Apology After Transphobia Allegations|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/iramadison/batgirl-creative-team-issues-apology-after-transphobia-alleg#.wx0PlxypJx|publisher=[[BuzzFeed]]|date=13 December 2014|access-date=6 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Aja Romano|title=DC Comics' Batgirl writers are rewriting one of their issues to remove transphobic art|url=http://www.dailydot.com/geek/batgirl-issue-37-rewriting-transphobic-panels/|newspaper=[[The Daily Dot]]|date=12 June 2015|access-date=6 February 2016}}</ref>

On March 13, 2015, DC Comics released 25 Joker-themed variant covers for its various monthly series for release that June, in celebration of the character's 75th anniversary. Among them was a cover to ''Batgirl'' #41 by artist [[Rafael Albuquerque (artist)|Rafael Albuquerque]] that took its inspiration from ''The Killing Joke''. The cover depicts the Joker standing next to a tearful Batgirl, who has a red smile painted across her mouth. The Joker has one hand holding a revolver draped over Batgirl's shoulder and is pointing to her cheek with the other hand, as if gesturing to shoot her.

The cover quickly drew criticism for highlighting a dark period in the character's history, especially when juxtaposed with the youthful, more optimistic direction of the series at the time. The [[hashtag]] #changethecover drew dozens of posts on Twitter and Tumblr asking DC to not release the variant. DC ultimately withdrew the cover from publication at the request of Albuquerque, who stated, "My intention was never to hurt or upset anyone through my art...For that reason, I have recommended to DC that the variant cover be pulled."<ref>Ching, Albert (March 16, 2015). [http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/dc-comics-cancels-batgirl-joker-variant-at-artists-request "DC Comics Cancels 'Batgirl' Joker Variant Cover at Artist's Request"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224014233/http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/dc-comics-cancels-batgirl-joker-variant-at-artists-request |date=2016-02-24 }}. Comic Book Resources.</ref>

===''DC Rebirth'': ''Batgirl'' and ''Batgirl and the Birds of Prey'' (2016–2020)===
In March 2016, DC Comics announced it would be re-launching all of its monthly titles under the ''[[DC Rebirth]]'' event. The relaunch restores elements of the Pre-''[[Flashpoint (comics)|Flashpoint]]'' DC continuity while maintaining elements of ''The New 52'' as well.<ref>{{cite web|author=Borys Kit|title=WonderCon: DC Relaunching Comics With Rebirth, Dropping Price of Comics|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/wondercon-dc-relaunching-comics-rebirth-878493|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|publisher=[[Eldridge Media]]|date=2016-03-26|access-date=2016-03-29}}</ref> Among the new titles and creative teams announced, volume 5 of ''Batgirl'' written by [[Hope Larson]] and volume 1 of ''Batgirl and the Birds of Prey'' written by Julie Benson and Shawna Benson were included.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jevon|last=Phillips|title=DC bets big on Rebirth: A re-centering of characters, and the Joker's real name|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-dc-bets-rebirth-jokers-real-name-20160326-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|location=Los Angeles, California|date=March 27, 2016|access-date=March 29, 2016}}</ref> In the critically celebrated fifth volume of ''Batgirl'', Barbara Gordon is a student attending Burnside College in the trendy Burnside neighborhood of [[Gotham City]]. The comic was praised for its fun, fresh approach to the character and for Batgirl's realistic new costume design.<ref>{{cite comic | title = Batgirl | volume = 5 | issue = 7 | date = March 2017}}</ref>

===''Infinite Frontier'': ''Batgirls'' (2021–present)===
In 2021, DC's [[Infinite Frontier]] relaunch presented a new status quo, where Barbara has returned to the role of Oracle, suiting up as Batgirl only occasionally. For the most part, she supports [[Cassandra Cain]] and [[Stephanie Brown (character)|Stephanie Brown]] to operate as Batgirls, sharing the title.

===Alternative versions===
Various alterations of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl have appeared in storylines published in and out of mainstream continuity titles. Variants of the character within continuity often appear in stories which involve time travel, such as the crossover limited series ''[[Zero Hour (comics)|Zero Hour: Crisis in Time]]'', a follow-up story preceded by the 1985 limited series ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'' which altered mainstream continuity. Notable imprints of DC Comics such as ''[[Elseworlds]]'' and ''[[All Star DC Comics]]'' have also featured alternate versions of the character.

The ''Elseworlds'' imprint takes the company's iconic characters and places them in alternate timelines, places and events making heroes "as familiar as yesterday seem as fresh as tomorrow".<ref>{{cite book|author=Booker, M. Keith|title=Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2010|page=53|isbn=978-0-313-35746-6}}</ref> As Batgirl, Barbara Gordon has made several appearances in ''Elseworlds'' comics since 1997. The character is given starring roles in the [[Film noir|noir]]-style storyline ''Thrillkiller'' (1997),<ref>{{cite comic|writer=[[Howard Chaykin]]|artist=[[Dan Brereton]]|title=Thrillkiller|issue=#1–3|date=January–March 1997|publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> its sequel ''Thrillkiller '62'' (1998),<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Howard Chaykin|artist=Dan Brereton|title=Thrillkiller '62|date=1998|publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> and the one-shot comic ''[[Elseworld's Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl]]'' (1998).<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Barbara Kesel|cowriters=[[Matt Haley]], [[Tom Simmons (comics)|Tom Simmons]]|penciller=Matt Haley|inker=Tom Simmons|title=Elseworld's Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl|date=September 1998|publisher=DC Comics}}</ref>
[[File:Barbara Gordon Batgirl.jpg|thumb|upright|An alternate version of [[Barbara Gordon]] on the cover of ''Batgirl: Futures End'' #1 (Nov. 2014), art by [[Clay Mann]].]]
In 2005, DC Comics launched its ''All Star'' imprint—an ongoing series of comics designed to pair the company's most iconic characters with the most acclaimed writers and artists in the industry. Similar to ''Elseworlds'', ''All Star'' is not restricted to mainstream continuity and establishes a fresh perspective for the latest generation of readership. According to [[Dan DiDio]], "[t]hese books are created to literally reach the widest audience possible, and not just the comic book audience, but anyone who has ever wanted to read or see anything about Superman or Batman."<ref>{{cite web|last=Offenberger|first=Rik|author-link=Rik Offenberger|title=Dan DiDio: DC Comics' All Star|publisher=Silver Bullet Comics|year=2007|url=http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/features/111605849050665.htm|access-date=2007-09-11|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011204926/http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/features/111605849050665.htm|archive-date=2007-10-11}}</ref>

An alternate Barbara Gordon was adapted into [[Frank Miller|Frank Miller's]] ''[[All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder]]'' (2005) as a teenage Batgirl. In addition, another variation of the character had been set to star in an eponymous ''All Star Batgirl'' title, written by [[Geoff Johns]]; however, the series was cancelled prior to publication.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Morse|first=Ben|title=HEY NOW, YOU'RE AN ALL STAR|magazine=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]]|year=2006|url=http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/001559179.cfm|access-date=2007-11-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012141004/http://wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/001559179.cfm<!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archive-date=2007-10-12}}</ref>

Alternate versions of Batgirl aside from Barbara Gordon have also appeared in publications by DC Comics. In ''Batman Beyond Unlimited'' #18 (set in the continuity of the animated series ''[[Batman Beyond]]''), the new Batgirl is a 15-year-old girl named '''Nissa'''.<ref>{{cite comic | title = Batman Beyond Unlimited | issue = 18 | date = September 2013}}</ref> In ''[[The New 52: Futures End|Batgirl: Future's End]]'' #1 (Nov. 2014), set in an alternate future, a trio of Batgirls include Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown and newcomer '''Tiffany Fox'''—the daughter of [[Lucius Fox]] and the first African American character to be portrayed as Batgirl.<ref>{{cite web|author=Matt Santori-Griffith|title=Review: BATGIRL: FUTURES END #1|work=Comicosity &#124; Comic Book News, Reviews, Previews, and Interviews|url=http://www.comicosity.com/review-batgirl-futures-end-1/|publisher=Comicosity|date=2014-09-10|access-date=2016-03-30|archive-date=2017-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023064133/http://www.comicosity.com/review-batgirl-futures-end-1/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the [[alternate history]] ''[[DC Comics Bombshells]]'' universe, there is no singular Batgirl. Instead, there exists a group of young female vigilantes known as "{{vanchor|the Batgirls}}", whose ranks consist of a Batwoman fan named [[Harper Row]], an African American mechanic named Kathy Duquesne, a young Caucasian girl named Nell Little, and a Singaporean-American dancer named [[Alysia Yeoh]].<ref>{{cite comic | title = DC Comics Bombshells | issue = 19 | date = January 2017}}</ref> In Digital Issue #42 (collected in Print Issue #14), Harley Quinn tells Pamela Isley about encountering "the {{vanchor|Belle of the Bog}}", who appears to be a [[vampire]] version of Batgirl.<ref>{{cite comic|publisher=DC Comics | title = Bombshells |
 issue = 14|url=http://www.dccomics.com/comics/dc-comics-bombshells-2015/dc-comics-bombshells-14|date=June 1, 2016 | writer = Bennett, Marguerite | artist = Andolfo, Mirka | coartists = Laura Braga}}</ref> ''DC Comics Bombshells Annual'' #1, published on 31 August 2016, reveals that {{vanchor|Barbara Gourdon}} was a French fighter pilot during World War I. After she lost her boyfriend during the war, she traveled to Louisiana and did indeed become a vampire.<ref>{{cite comic|title=DC Comics Bombshells Annual | issue = 1 |url=http://www.dccomics.com/comics/dc-comics-bombshells-2015/dc-comics-bombshells-annual-1|date=August 31st, 2016 | writer = Bennett, Marguerite | artist = Charretier, Elsa}}</ref>

In 2021, Barbara Gordon is one of the main protagonists in ''[[Batman '89  (comic book)|Batman '89]]''. While working in Gotham's police department, she dates [[Two-Face|Harvey Dent]]. She assumes the role of Batgirl in the second series, ''Echoes''.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Matthew Aguilar |date=2023-08-17 |title=DC Reveals Sequels to Batman '89 and Superman '78 (Exclusive) |url= https://comicbook.com/comics/news/dc-reveals-sequels-to-batman-89-and-superman-78-exclusive/ |access-date=2023-08-18 |website=Comicbook.com |language=en}}</ref>

In 2022 [[Daphne Blake]] from ''[[Scooby-Doo]]'' became a temporary Batgirl in ''The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/batman-recruits-scooby-doo-daphne-new-batgirl/ |title=Batman Has Drafted Scooby-Doo's Daphne to Be a New Batgirl |date= November 23, 2022 |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=Comic Book Resources |last=Dominguez |first=Noah}}</ref>

==Characterization==
Batgirl has officially been represented by four different characters – and two claimants – beginning with her introduction in 1961.

===Betty Kane===
{{main|Bette Kane}}
During the Silver Age, a female character was introduced as a love interest for Robin. Betty Kane as "Bat-Girl" was depicted as the niece of, and Robin-like sidekick to, the original Batwoman. In 1964, however, editor Julius Schwartz asserted that Bat-Girl and other characters in the Bat-Family should be removed considering the decline in sales and restored the Batman mythology to its original conception of heroic vigilantism. During the ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' storyline, Betty Kane was retconned out of existence.
 
Mary Elizabeth "Bette" Kane is a reinvented version of the Betty Kane character during the Silver Age. As her original characterization was retconned out of existence during the ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' storyline, a discrepancy arose where her Bat-Girl character had joined the West Coast version of the Teen Titans, but simply disappeared. The character was reintroduced as Bette Kane and the alias of [[Flamebird]]. Following ''Infinite Crisis'', the character's past as Batgirl was hinted at as being a part of continuity. As of ''[[Dark Nights: Death Metal]]'' her history as Bat-Girl is restored.<ref>''Dark Nights: Death Metal - The Last Stories of the DC Universe'' #1 (December 2020)</ref>

===Barbara Gordon===
{{main|Barbara Gordon}}
[[Image:Batgirls.jpg|thumb|upright|Barbara Gordon and Cassandra Cain as Batgirl, art by Matt Haley and David Hahn]]
During the run of the Batman television series, DC editorial was approached about adding a female character back into the Batman family. Revising the character history and motivation, Julius Schwartz created Barbara Gordon. This character held the role of Batgirl from 1967 to 1988 when she was retired by DC editorial decision. The character's role was changed to a [[paraplegic]] source of information for all members of the Batman family and codenamed the "Oracle". She was later restored as Batgirl during ''The New 52'' relaunch of the entire DC publication line in 2011. This was also the case with the DC Rebirth (2016). After the suicide of her psychopathic brother James Gordon Jr., Barbara ponders her role as Batgirl, becomes Oracle and continues to support the Batman family behind the computer screen, with the option to occasionally return to the role of Batgirl. Above all, she takes on the role of mentor for Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown, who now share the title of Batgirl.

===Cassandra Cain===
{{main|Cassandra Cain}}
During the ''[[Batman: No Man's Land|No Man's Land]]'' storyline, Cassandra Cain was given the role of Batgirl under the guidance of Batman and Oracle. Written as the daughter of assassins David Cain and Lady Shiva, she is trained from early childhood to read human body language instead of developing verbal and written communication skills as part of her father's conditioning to mold her into the world's deadliest assassin. However, after committing her first murder, she vows to never again use her martial-arts prowess to kill. In 2000, she became the first Batgirl to star in an eponymous monthly comic book series, as well as one of the most prominent characters of Asian descent to appear in American comics. The series was cancelled in 2006 and Cassandra Cain abandoned the role of Batgirl shortly thereafter. Years later, Cassandra rejoined the Batman family under the moniker the Blackbat. In ''The New 52'', Cassandra reappeared in the comic series ''[[Batman and Robin Eternal]]'' with a slightly different history. Here she is also the murderer of Harper Row's mother, an ally of Batman. She called herself Orphan for a while and became part of the Batman family as well as the Outsiders. She later shares the name Batgirl with her friend Stephanie Brown.

===Stephanie Brown===
{{main|Stephanie Brown (character)}}
Stephanie Brown was formerly known as the Spoiler and then as the first in-continuity female Robin until her apparent death in 2006. Following her return to comics in 2009, she assumed the role of Batgirl. She maintained this position until 2011, the relaunch of the DC imprint under ''The New 52''. The character reappeared in the DCU in ''Batman'' (vol. 3) #28, as the Spoiler. Stephanie reappears in the series ''[[Batman Eternal]]'', where she again goes by Spoiler in an attempt to thwart her father's machinations. After ''[[DC Rebirth]]'', she joined Batman's new team of vigilantes where she became the girlfriend of Tim Drake aka Red Robin before they break up. Eventually she shares the title Batgirl with her friend Cassandra Cain.

===Claimants===
====Helena Bertinelli====
{{main|Huntress (Helena Bertinelli)}} 
For a brief time during 1999's ''No Man's Land'' storyline, Helena Bertinelli assumed the mantle of Batgirl. After violating Batman's code against extreme violence, she was stripped of the mantle and returned to her alias of the Huntress.

====Charlotte "Charlie" Gage-Radcliffe====
{{main|Misfit (DC Comics)}}
After Cassandra Cain abandoned the role, a mystery character appeared as the new Batgirl in the ''Birds of Prey'' comic. Possessing superpowers, the teen claimed the empty mantle in an attempt to honor the character. However, Barbara Gordon quickly dissuaded the teen from continuing in the role. Charlie Gage-Radcliffe acquiesced, but modified her costume and changed her name to the Misfit.

==Cultural impact==
While Barbara Gordon and Cassandra Cain have both been the subject of academic analysis regarding the [[portrayal of women in comics]], commentary on Barbara Gordon's Batgirl has focused on her character's connection to the [[women's liberation movement]], doctoral degree and career as a librarian, while analysis of Cassandra Cain's Batgirl has focused on the character's double minority status as a woman and a [[person of color]]. Since her debut in DC Comics publication, and fueled by her adaptation into the ''Batman'' television series in 1967, Barbara Gordon's Batgirl has been listed among fictional characters that are regarded as cultural icons.<ref name=Early2003>{{cite book
|author=Early, Frances H.
|author2=Kennedy, Kathleen
|title=Athena's Daughters: Television's New Women Warriors
|publisher=[[Syracuse University Press]]
|year=2003
|page=187
|isbn=978-0-313-33589-1
}}</ref> Author Brian Cronin, in ''Was Superman A Spy?: And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed'' (2009) notes that following her 1967 debut, "Batgirl was soon popular enough to appear regularly over the next two decades and [[Yvonne Craig]] certainly made an impression on many viewers with her one season portraying young Ms. Gordon."<ref name=Spy/> In 2011, [[IGN]] ranked Barbara Gordon 17th in the Top 100 Comic Books Heroes.<ref name=Top100IGN>{{cite web
|url=http://www.ign.com/top/comic-book-heroes/17
|title=Top 100 Comic Book Heroes
|publisher=IGN Entertainment
|access-date=2011-07-06
|archive-date=2016-05-24
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160524155300/http://www.ign.com/top/comic-book-heroes/17
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> Cassandra Cain's Batgirl has become one of the most prominent Asian characters to appear in American comic books, and her understated sexuality is notable as being contrary to the common sexual objectification of female characters, especially those of Asian descent.{{sfn|Brown|2011|p=175}}

===Feminist interpretations===

{{quote box|quote=In the late 1950s and early 1960s, before the feminist revolution, Schwartz's leading ladies included a reporter (Iris West in The Flash), a lawyer (Jean Loring in The Atom), and even the head of an aircraft company (Carol Ferris in Green Lantern). Shiera Hall was merely a secretary at the Midway City Museum, but as Hawkgirl she was a police officer on her native planet Thanagar and an equal partner to her husband Hawkman (Carter Hall) in their superheroic exploits. Then there was Zatanna, bravely traversing the dimensions in her search for her missing father (as chronicled in the recent DC trade paperback Zatanna's Quest). Barbara Gordon initially conformed to hackneyed stereotypes as a dowdy librarian, but her transformation into Batgirl could be seen in retrospect as a symbol of the emerging female empowerment movement of the 1960s. (Moreover, by the 1970s Barbara had given herself a makeover even in her "civilian identity" and ran for Congress.)|source=—[[Peter Sanderson]], [[IGN]], 2005<ref name=Sanderson2007>{{cite web |last=Sanderson|first=Peter|author-link=Peter Sanderson
|title=Comics in Context #67: Catch As Cats Can|url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/595/595646p7.html|website=IGN|date=2005-01-07|access-date=2007-11-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501095446/http://comics.ign.com/articles/595/595646p7.html|archive-date=2011-05-01|url-status=dead}}</ref>|width=350px}}

In ''The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines'' (2009), author Mike Madrid states that what set Barbara Gordon as Batgirl apart from other female characters was her motivation for crime-fighting. Unlike Batwoman who preceded her, "she wears his symbol on her chest, but she is not his girlfriend or faithful handmaiden."<ref name=supergirls/> Because of the fact she does not pursue a romantic interest in Batman, "Batgirl is a female Batman can actually regard as a brilliant peer and a partner in the war on crime, the same way he would a male."<ref name=supergirls/> Historian [[Peter Sanderson]] observed that Barbara Gordon's Batgirl reflected the Women's liberation movement of the 1960s.<ref name=Sanderson2007/>

During the 1980s, [[Barbara Kesel]], after writing a complaint to DC Comics over the negative portrayal of female characters, was given the opportunity to write for Barbara Gordon in ''Detective Comics''. [[Robin Anne Reid]], in ''Women in Science Fiction and Fantasy: Overviews'' (2009) wrote that "Kesel's version of Batgirl established her as a character separate from Batman and Robin: a woman motivated to do what men do, but alone and in her own way. Her ''Secret Origins'' (1987) and ''Batgirl Special'' (1988) countered the victimized and objectified presentation of Barbara Gordon/Batgirl in Alan Moore's acclaimed ''The Killing Joke'' (1988)."<ref name=RAR>{{cite book
|author=Reid, Robin Anne
|title=Women in Science Fiction and Fantasy: Overviews
|publisher=ABC-CLIO
|year=2009
|pages=88, 89
|isbn=978-0-313-33591-4
}}</ref> She notes that Kesel's interpretation of the character emphasized her intelligence, technological skill, and ability to overcome fear.

[[Gail Simone]] included the character's paralysis in a list of "major female characters that had been killed, mutilated, and depowered", dubbing the phenomenon "[[Women in Refrigerators]]" in reference to a 1994 [[Green Lantern]] story where the title character discovers his girlfriend's mutilated body in his refrigerator.{{sfn|Brown|2011|p=175}} Simone highlighted the gender difference regarding the treatment of Batman and Batgirl regarding paralysis by stating that "[b]oth had their backs broken [Batman broke his in a dramatic Batcave confrontation with the villain Bane; Batgirl broke hers when she was ambushed in her home and shot in the spine by the Joker, never given a chance to fight]. Less than a year later, Batman was fine. Batgirl—now named Oracle—was in a wheelchair and remained so for many years."<ref name=bitch/>

In ''Superheroes and Superegos: Analyzing the Minds Behind the Masks'' (2010), author Sharon Packer wrote that "[a]nyone who feels that feminist critics overreacted to [Gordon's] accident is advised to consult the source material", calling the work "sadistic to the core".<ref>{{cite book
|author=Packer, Sharon
|title=Superheroes and Superegos: Analyzing the Minds Behind the Masks
|publisher=ABC-CLIO
|year=2010
|page=201
|isbn=978-0-313-35536-3
}}</ref>

Brian Cronin noted that "[many] readers felt the violence towards Barbara Gordon was too much, and even Moore, in retrospect, has expressed his displeasure with how the story turned out."<ref name=Spy/> Jeffrey A. Brown, author of ''Dangerous Curves: Action Heroines, Gender, Fetishism, and Popular Culture'' (2011) noted ''The Killing Joke'' as an example of the "inherent misogyny of the male-dominated comic book industry" in light of the "relatively unequal violence [female characters] are subjected to."{{sfn|Brown|2011|p=175. 180}} While male characters may be critically injured or killed, they are more than likely to be returned to their original conception, while female characters are more likely to receive permanent damage.{{sfn|Brown|2011|p=175. 180}} Reid states that although speculation behind the editorial decision to allow the paralysis of the character to become permanent included the idea she had become outdated, "if audiences had grown tired of Batgirl, it was not because she was a bad character but because she had been written badly."<ref name=RAR/>

Despite views that present the character's Batgirl persona as a symbol of female empowerment, a long-held criticism is that she was originally conceived as an uninspired variation of Batman "rather than standing alone as leader, such as [[Wonder Woman]]" who had no pre-existing male counterpart.<ref name=Culture>{{cite book
|author=Mitchell, Claudia
|author2=Reid-Walsh, Jacqueline
|title=Girl Culture: Studying Girl Culture: A Readers' Guide
|publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]
|year=2008
|page=170
|isbn=978-0-313-33908-0
}}</ref> In analyzing stereotypes in gender, Jackie Marsh noted that male superheroes (such as Batman) are depicted as hyper-masculine and anti-social, "while female superheroes are reduced to a childlike status by their names" such as the Batgirl character.<ref>{{cite book
|author=Francis, Becky
|author2=Skelton, Christine
|title=Reassessing Gender and Achievement: Questioning Contemporary Key Debates
|publisher=[[Psychology Press]]
|year=2005
|page=146
|isbn=978-0-415-33324-5
}}</ref>

===Representation for librarians===
In ''The Image and Role of the Librarian'' (2002), Wendi Arant and Candace R. Benefiel argue that Batgirl's portrayal as a librarian is considered to be significant to the profession, in that it is represented as a valuable and honorable career. Even in light of the fact that the character abandons it to run for United States Congress, Barbara Gordon is seen as being given a "career switch that even most librarians would consider a step up."<ref name=LibrarianRole/> In the essay "Librarians, Professionalism and Image: Stereotype and Reality" (2007), Abigail Luthmann views the character less favorably, stating that "[t]he unassuming role of librarian is used as a low-visibility disguise for her crime-fighting alter-ego, and while her information-locating skills may have been useful to her extra-curricular activities no direct examples are given."<ref>{{cite journal
|author=Luthmann, Abigail
|title=Librarians, Professionalism and Image: Stereotype and Reality
|journal=Library Review
|volume=56
|issue=#9
|page=773
|doi=10.1108/00242530710831202
}}</ref>

The book ''Drawn to the Stacks: Essays on Libraries, Librarians and Archives in Comics and Graphic Novels'' includes the chapter "Barbara Gordon as Information Literacy Activist in ''Batgirl: Son of Penguin''," which "argues that Gordon’s confrontation with unethical algorithms in the 2017 story arc is a crucial and deeply insightful representation of librarians as an integral part of American society and the pursuit of justice."<ref>Syma, C. K., Weiner, R. G., & Callender, D. (Eds.). (2025). ''Drawn to the stacks: Essays on libraries, librarians and archives in comics and graphic novels''. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers.</ref>

===Representation for Asian Americans===
{{quote box|quote=While many fans were outraged when DC Comics turned Cassandra into a villainess, it does gel with notions of Asian women as not just mysterious and exotic but also as deceitful and dangerous. That Cassandra's turn to villainy is linked with her mother, the sexy and deadly modern Dragon Lady, implicitly aligns her ethnic heritage and her gender with the most negative connotations of Orientalism.|source=—Jeffrey A. Brown, ''Dangerous Curves: Action Heroines, Gender, Fetishism, and Popular Culture'', 2011{{sfn|Brown|2011|p=175. 180}}|width=350px}}
The Cassandra Cain version of Batgirl, depicted as a biracial character (half White and half Chinese), is notable as one of the most prominent characters of Asian descent to appear in American comic books. Jeffrey A. Brown states that while her ethnicity is rarely mentioned in the comic books, Asian women have had a long history in comics of being portrayed as martial artists and are often exploited as sex objects. However, in the case of Batgirl, "Cassandra's racial identity is treated more implicitly than explicitly. Her costume design actually conceals her entire body so that while in her guise as Batgirl her ethnicity is completely unapparent."{{sfn|Brown|2011|p=175. 180}} The fact that her sexuality is also understated represents a shift away from the typical portrayals of women, and Asian women in particular.{{sfn|Brown|2011|p=175. 180}} The most controversial aspect of her character came about during the ''One Year Later'' event, when she is reintroduced as a villain. The abrupt shift in her character brought about negative criticism from readership.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=8704
|title=Adam Beechen Forms A Dynamic Duo With 'Robin'
|last=Singh
|first=Arune
|work=Comic Book Resources
|date=October 24, 2006
|access-date=December 29, 2010
|archive-date=January 11, 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111065931/http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=8704
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> When questioned about the change in characterization, writer Adam Beechen stated: "They didn't present me with a rationale as to why Cassandra was going to change, or a motivating factor. That was left for me to come up with and them to approve. And we did that. But as far as to why the editors and writers and whoever else made the decision decided that was a good direction, I honestly couldn't answer."<ref name=TalkRobin/>

==In other media==
{{See also|Barbara Gordon in other media}}
[[File:Yvonne Craig Batgirl.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Yvonne Craig]] as Batgirl|alt=Yvonne Craig poses in the Batgirl costume from the 1960s television show]]
Portrayed by [[Yvonne Craig]], the character's first adaptation outside of comic books took place in the third season of ''Batman'' (1967), Barbara Gordon having been discussed months earlier by her father and Batman in the second-season episodes "Batman's Waterloo" and "The Duo Defy". Les Daniels, in ''Batman: The Complete History'' (2004), wrote that the goal of [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] was to "attract new audience members, especially idealistic young girls and less high-minded older men."{{sfn|Daniels|2004|p=113, 115}} According to Craig: "I used to think the reason they hired me was because they knew I could ride my own motorcycle&nbsp;... I realized they hired me because I had a cartoon voice."{{sfn|Daniels|2004|p=113, 115}} A shared criticism of Batgirl and other female superheroes in television that came later (such as Wonder Woman and the [[The Bionic Woman|Bionic Woman]]), is that she was not allowed to engage in hand-to-hand combat on screen.<ref name=Early2003/> As such, "her fights were choreographed carefully to imitate the moves of a Broadway showgirl through the use of a straight kick to her opponent's face rather than the type of kick a martial artist would use."<ref name=Early2003/> However, Craig has also stated: "I meet young women who say Batgirl was their role model&nbsp;... They say it's because it was the first time they ever felt girls could do the same things guys could do, and sometimes better. I think that's lovely."<ref>{{cite web|author=McAllister, Ashley|title=From the Library: Batgirl!|url=http://bitchmagazine.org/post/from-the-library-batgirl|publisher=Bitch Media|date=2010-08-15|access-date=2011-09-14|archive-date=2011-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916140647/http://bitchmagazine.org/post/from-the-library-batgirl|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the early 1970s, Craig portrayed Batgirl once again in a public service announcement to advocate [[equal pay for women]].<ref name=Culture/>

Since ''Batman'', the character has had a long history of appearances in television and other media.<ref name=Culture/> As Batgirl, Barbara Gordon plays a supporting role in a string of animated series, voiced by [[Jane Webb]] in ''[[The Batman/Superman Hour]]'' (1968), [[Melendy Britt]] in ''[[The New Adventures of Batman]]'' (1977), [[Melissa Gilbert]] in ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'' (1992), [[Tara Strong]] in ''[[The New Batman Adventures]]'' (1997), Danielle Judovits in ''[[The Batman (TV series)|The Batman]]'' (2004), [[Mae Whitman]] in ''[[Batman: The Brave and the Bold]]'' (2008),<ref name=Culture/> and [[Briana Cuoco]] in ''[[Harley Quinn (TV series)|Harley Quinn]]'' (2019).<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/streaming/harley-quinn-comes-out-swinging-in-full-trailer/|title=Harley Quinn Comes Out Swinging in Full Trailer|first=Mercedes|last=Milligan|work=Animation Magazine|date=November 12, 2019}}</ref> In 2012, Batgirl starred alongside [[Supergirl]] and [[Wonder Girl]] in ''Super Best Friends Forever'', a series of shorts developed by [[Lauren Faust]] for the ''[[DC Nation Shorts|DC Nation]]'' block on [[Cartoon Network]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Chris Sims |url=http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/02/21/super-best-friends-forever-dc-nation-lauren-faust/ |title='Super Best Friends Forever': Art from the Supergirl, Batgirl & Wonder Girl DC Nation Short |work=[[ComicsAlliance]] |date=2012-02-12 |access-date=2012-02-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226163644/http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/02/21/super-best-friends-forever-dc-nation-lauren-faust/ |archive-date=2012-02-26 }}</ref>

Barbara Gordon makes two cameo appearances in the first season of the animated series ''[[Young Justice (TV series)|Young Justice]]'', and is added as a recurring character in season two where she has adopted her Batgirl persona. [[Dina Meyer]] starred as Barbara Gordon in the television series ''[[Birds of Prey (TV series)|Birds of Prey]]'' (2002). Although this series focused on her role as the Oracle, the series included flashbacks of the character's history as Batgirl.

In the film ''[[Batman & Robin (film)|Batman & Robin]]'', [[Alicia Silverstone]] played a variation of the character: Barbara Wilson, [[Alfred Pennyworth]]'s niece. She appears in ''[[The Lego Batman Movie]]'' voiced by [[Rosario Dawson]]. The character is introduced as Barbara Gordon taking over from her father Jim Gordon to become the new Police Commissioner of Gotham. Towards the end of the film, she dons her cowl and teams up with Batman as Batgirl in addition to her role as Commissioner.

In ''The Dark Knight'' trilogy, James Gordon's wife is named Barbara Gordon, portrayed by Ilyssa Fradin in ''[[Batman Begins]]'' and Melinda McGraw in ''[[The Dark Knight]]''. This is not a reference to Batgirl Barbara Gordon. It's been long established, most notably in the famous Batman: Year One, that the wife of James Gordon is named Barbara.

In addition to live-action television and animation, the character has appeared in a number of video games included in the Batman franchise. She appears in ''[[The Adventures of Batman & Robin (video game)|The Adventures of Batman & Robin]]'' and ''[[Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu]]'' voiced by Tara Strong. She also appears in ''[[Lego Batman: The Videogame|Lego Batman]]'' for the [[personal computer|PC]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[Xbox 360]], [[Wii]], [[Nintendo DS|DS]], and [[PlayStation Portable]].<ref>''[[Game Informer]]'' features a two-page gallery of the many heroes and villains who appear in the game with a picture for each character and a descriptive paragraph. See "''Lego Batman'': Character Gallery", ''Game Informer'' 186 (October 2008): 92.</ref> In ''[[Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure]]'', The Barbara Gordon incarnation of Batgirl appears when Maxwell heads to Arkham Asylum to battle the [[Scarecrow (DC Comics)|Scarecrow]]. The other three Batgirls (Bette Kane, Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain) also appear as summonable characters. Barbara Gordon has been featured in all four main games of the critically acclaimed [[Batman: Arkham|''Batman: Arkham'' series]], though she is only seen as Batgirl in the "A Matter of Family" [[Downloadable content|DLC]] for the last game, ''[[Batman: Arkham Knight]]'' (2015), in which she is playable. Set before the events of the series' [[Batman: Arkham Asylum|first installment]], the DLC's plot revolves around Batgirl and [[Tim Drake|Robin]] attempting to save the former's father, along with other police officers, from the [[Joker (character)|Joker]] at an abandoned amusement park located on an [[Oil platform|oil rig]]. Barbara Gordon as Batgirl is one of the four main playable characters in the video game ''[[Gotham Knights (video game)|Gotham Knights]]'' (2022).<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Stewart |first=Marcus |title=Batgirl's Controversial Gotham Knights Biography Has Been Reworked |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/05/27/batgirls-controversial-gotham-knights-biography-has-been-reworked |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527231200/https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/05/27/batgirls-controversial-gotham-knights-biography-has-been-reworked |url-status=live |archive-date=May 27, 2022 |access-date=2022-11-01 |magazine=Game Informer |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Characters - Gotham Knights - EIP Gaming |url=https://eip.gg/characters/ |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=eip.gg |date=25 October 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>

A child version of Barbara Gordon made an appearance in the television series ''[[Gotham (TV series)|Gotham]]''. Actor [[Ben McKenzie]] teased about seeing Batgirl as a child in the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://comicbook.com/2016/01/10/-ben-mckenzie-confirms-barbaras-return-on-gotham/|title=Ben McKenzie Confirms Barbara's Return On Gotham|publisher=Comic Book|last=Jayson|first=Jay|date=January 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://comicbook.com/2016/01/09/gotham-star-we-intend-to-deal-with-the-birth-of-batgirl/|title=Gotham Star: We Intend To Deal With the Birth of Batgirl|publisher=Comic Book|last=Burlingame|first=Russ|date=January 9, 2016}}</ref> Film director [[Nicolas Winding Refn]] revealed in an interview with Collider that he would like to direct a Batgirl movie.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/nicolas-winding-refn-batgirl-movie/|title=Nicolas Winding Refn Wants to Direct a Batgirl Movie|website=Collider|last=Cabin|first=Chris|date=June 27, 2016}}</ref>

[[Savannah Welch]] portrays Barbara Gordon in the [[Titans season 3|third season]] of the 2018 live-action television series ''[[Titans (2018 TV series)|Titans]]''.

In March 2017, it was announced that [[Joss Whedon]] would write, direct and produce a Batgirl film as part of the [[DC Extended Universe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/batgirl-movie-joss-whedon-warner-bros-1202018544/|title='Batgirl' Movie: Joss Whedon to Direct Standalone Film|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Dave|last=McNary|date=March 30, 2017|access-date=March 30, 2017}}</ref> The film would center on [[Barbara Gordon]] as Batgirl, with [[Gail Simone]]'s ''[[The New 52]]'' Batgirl comics used as "a starting point" for the film.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/movies/2017/03/30/joss-whedon-batgirl-movie-barbara-gordon/|title=Joss Whedon will write and direct a Batgirl movie about Barbara Gordon|last=Breznican|first=Anthony|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=March 30, 2017|access-date=March 30, 2017}}</ref> In February 2018, it was announced that Whedon would be leaving the project as writer and director, citing that "[he] didn't really have a story".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/joss-whedon-batgirl-movie-exits-1202708059/|title=Joss Whedon Exits as 'Batgirl' Movie Director|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=2018-02-22|work=Variety|access-date=2018-02-22|language=en-US}}</ref> In April 2018, Warner Bros. announced that screenwriter [[Christina Hodson]] had been tapped to write the screenplay for Batgirl.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/batgirl-movie-back-bumblebee-writer-1101078/|title='Batgirl' Movie Back On, Now With 'Bumblebee' Writer (Exclusive)|work=[[Hollywood Reporter (magazine)|Hollywood Reporter]]|first=Borys|last=Kit|date=April 9, 2018|access-date=April 11, 2018}}</ref> After Whedon's exit, the studio said that it was actively looking for a female director.<ref>{{cite web|first=Mansoor|last=Mithaiwala|url=https://screenrant.com/warner-bros-batgirl-female-director-whedon/|title=Warner Bros. Wants a Female Director for DC's Batgirl Movie|date=February 22, 2018|website=[[Screen Rant]]|access-date=March 13, 2018}}</ref> In May 2021, it was revealed that [[Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah]] had joined the project as co-directors. It was also revealed that the film is going to be an [[List of HBO Max original programming|HBO Max Exclusive]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kit|first=Borys|date=2021-05-19|title='Bad Boys for Life' Filmmakers to Direct 'Batgirl' Movie for Warner Bros. (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bad-boys-for-life-filmmakers-to-direct-batgirl-movie-for-warner-bros-exclusive-1234950696/|access-date=2021-05-19|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref> In July 2021, actress and singer [[Leslie Grace]] was cast as Batgirl.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Couch|first1=Aaron|last2=Kit|first2=Borys|date=2021-07-21|title='Batgirl' Casts 'In The Heights' Star Leslie Grace as Superhero|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/batgirl-movie-casts-leslie-grace-1234985923/|access-date=2021-07-21|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Batgirl (film)|The film]] was subsequently cancelled in August 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Umberto |date=August 2, 2022 |title='Batgirl' Won't Fly: Warner Bros. Discovery Has No Plans to Release Nearly Finished $90 Million Film |url=https://www.thewrap.com/batgirl-movie-dead-warner-bros-discovery-has-no-plans-to-release-nearly-finished-90-million-film/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802202744/https://www.thewrap.com/batgirl-movie-dead-warner-bros-discovery-has-no-plans-to-release-nearly-finished-90-million-film/ |archive-date=August 2, 2022 |access-date=August 2, 2022 |website=[[TheWrap]]}}</ref>

==Collected editions==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Title !! Material collected !! Publication date !! ISBN
|-
! colspan="4" | Barbara Gordon
|-
| '''''Batgirl: Year One'''''
| ''Batgirl: Year One'' #1–9 
| February 2003
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-0080-0}}
|-
| '''''Batman: Batgirl'''''
| One-shot
| July 1997
| {{ISBNT|978-1-5638-9305-6}}
|-
| '''''Batman: The Cat and The Bat'''''
| ''Batman Confidential'' #17–21
| 2009
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-2496-7}}
|-
| '''''Showcase Presents: Batgirl'''''
| Various titles
| July 2007
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-1367-1}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl: The Greatest Stories Ever Told'''''
| Various titles
| December 2010
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-2924-5}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl: A Celebration of 50 Years'''''
| Various titles
| February 2017
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-6816-9}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 1'''''
| ''Detective Comics'' #359, 363, 369, 371, 384–385, 388–389, 392–393, 396–397, 400–401, #404–424; ''Batman'' #197; ''Batman Family'' #1, 3–7, 9–11
| December 2017
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-7640-9}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl: The Bronze Age Omnibus Vol. 2'''''
| ''Batman Family'' #12–20 and ''Detective Comics'' #481–499, 501–502, 505–506, 508–510, 512–519; ''Batgirl Special'' #1
| April 2019
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-8841-9}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl/Robin: Year One'''''
| ''Batgirl: Year One'' #1–9; ''Robin: Year One'' #1–4
| June 2013
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-4033-2}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl: Year One Deluxe Edition'''''
| ''Batgirl: Year One'' #1–9
| February 2019
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-8793-1}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 1: The Darkest Reflection'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 4) #1–6
| July 2012
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-3475-1}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 2: Knightfall Descends'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 4) #7–13; 0
| February 2013
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-3817-9}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 3: Death of the Family'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 4) #14–19, ''Annual'' (vol. 2) #1; ''Batman'' (vol. 2) #17; a story from ''Young Romance'' #1
| October 2013
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-4259-6}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 4: Wanted'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 4) #20–26; ''Batman: The Dark Knight'' #23.1 – ''Ventriloquist''
| May 2014
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-5040-9}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 5: Deadline'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 4) #27–34, ''Annual'' (vol. 2) #2; ''Batgirl: Futures End'' #1
| December 2014
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-5041-6}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 1: Batgirl of Burnside'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 4) #35–40; part of ''Secret Origins'' #10
| June 2015
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-5332-5}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 2: Family Business'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 4) #41–45, ''Annual'' (vol. 2) #3; the Sneak Peek story from ''Convergence: Infinity Inc.'' #2
| February 2016
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-5966-2}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 3: Mindfields''''' 
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 4) #46–52
| August 2016
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-6269-3}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 1: Beyond Burnside''''' 
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 5) #1–6
| March 2017
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-6840-4}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 2: Son of Penguin'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 5) #7–11, ''Annual'' (vol. 3) #1
| October 2017
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-7424-5}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 3: Summer of Lies'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 5) #12–17
| April 2018
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-7890-8}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 4: Strange Loop'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 5) #18–24; stories from #25
| December 2018
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-8465-7}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 5: Art of the Crime'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 5) #26–29, ''Annual'' (vol. 3) #2; a story from #25
| May 2019
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-8946-1}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 6: Old Enemies'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 5) #30–36
| December 2019
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-9538-7}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 7: Oracle Rising'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 5) #37–44
| June 2020
| {{ISBNT|978-1-77950-246-9}} 
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 8: Joker War'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 5) #45–50
| March 2021
| {{ISBNT|978-1-77950-582-8}}
|-
! colspan="4" | Cassandra Cain
|-
| '''''Batgirl: Silent Running'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 1) #1–6
| March 2001
| {{ISBNT|978-1-8402-3266-0}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl: A Knight Alone'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 1) #7–11, 13–14
| November 2001
| {{ISBNT|978-1-5638-9852-5}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl: Death Wish'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 1) #17–20, 22–23, 25
| August 2003
| {{ISBNT|978-1-8402-3707-8}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl: Fists of Fury'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 1) #15–16, 21, 26–28
| May 2004
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-0205-7}}
|-
| '''''Robin/Batgirl: Fresh Blood'''''
| ''Robin'' (vol. 4) #132–133; ''Batgirl'' (vol. 1) #58–59
| October 2005
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-0433-4}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl: Kicking Assassins'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 1) #60–64
| January 2006
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-0439-6}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl: Destruction's Daughter'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 1) #65–73
| September 2006
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-0896-7}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl: Redemption'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 2) #1–6
| June 2009
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-2275-8}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 1: Silent Knight'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 1) #1–12, ''Annual'' #1
| January 2016
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-6627-1}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 2: To The Death'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 1) #13–25
| July 2016
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-6352-2}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 3: Point Blank'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 1) #26–37, a story from ''Batgirl [[Secret Files and Origins]]'' #1
| January 2017
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-6585-4}}
|-
| '''''DC Finest: Batgirl: Nobody Dies Tonight'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 1) #7-27, ''Superboy'' (vol. 4) #85, ''Supergirl'' (vol. 4.) #63
| April 2025
| {{ISBNT|978-1-7995-0104-6}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 1: Mother'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 6) #1-6
| August 2025
| {{ISBNT|978-1-7995-0534-1}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl Vol. 2: Bloodlines'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 6) #7-11
| February 2026
| {{ISBNT|978-1-7995-0608-9}}
|-
! colspan="4" | Stephanie Brown
|-
| '''''Batgirl: Batgirl Rising'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 3) #1–7
| September 2010
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-2723-4}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl: The Flood'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 3) #9–14
| May 2011
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-3142-2}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl: The Lesson'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 3) #15–24
| November 2011
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-3270-2}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl: Stephanie Brown Vol. 1'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 3) #1–12
| August 2017
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-6910-4}}
|-
| '''''Batgirl: Stephanie Brown Vol. 2'''''
| ''Batgirl'' (vol. 3) #13–24; ''Bruce Wayne: The Road Home: Batgirl'' #1 and ''Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes!'' #1
| March 2018
| {{ISBNT|978-1-4012-7788-8}}
|-
! colspan="4" | Batgirls
|-
| '''''Batgirls Vol. 1'''''
| ''Batgirls'' #1–6, Batgirls short stories from ''Batman'' #115-117
| November 2022
| {{ISBNT|978-1-77951-706-7}}
|-
| '''''Batgirls Vol. 2: Bat Girl Summer'''''
| ''Batgirls'' #7–12
| March 2023
| {{ISBNT|978-1-77952-028-9}}
|-
| '''''Batgirls Vol. 3: Girls to the Front'''''
| ''Batgirls'' #13-19
| October 2023
| {{ISBNT|978-1-77952-345-7}}
|}

== See also ==
* [[Barbara Gordon]]
* [[Misfit (DC Comics)|Misfit]]
* [[Batwoman (Kathy Kane)|Batwoman]] 
* [[Gotham Girls]]
* [[List of women warriors in folklore]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book |last=Brown |first=Jeffrey A. |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt2tv6xs |title=Dangerous Curves: Action Heroines, Gender, Fetishism, and Popular Culture |publisher=[[University Press of Mississippi]] |year=2011 |jstor=j.ctt2tv6xs |isbn=978-1-60473-714-1}}
* {{Cite book|last=Daniels|first=Les|author-link=Les Daniels|title=Batman: The Complete History|publisher=[[Chronicle Books]]|year=2004|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=73wknu2cVIkC|isbn=0-8118-4232-0}}

==External links==
{{commons cat}}
* {{official website}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{gcdb|type=character|search=Barbara+Gordon|title=Barbara Gordon}}
*[http://toonopedia.com/batgirl.htm Batgirl] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]. [https://archive.today/20240527115239/https://www.webcitation.org/6b6Zejzwx?url=http://toonopedia.com/batgirl.htm Archived] from the original on August 27, 2015.
* {{comicbookdb|type=character|id=3283|title=Bat-Girl}}
* {{comicbookdb|type=character|id=425|title=Batgirl (Barbara Gordon)}}
* {{comicbookdb|type=character|id=3284|title=Batgirl (Helena Bertinelli)}}
* {{comicbookdb|type=character|id=1747|title=Batgirl (Cassandra Cain)}}
* {{comicbookdb|type=character|id=34596|title=Batgirl (Stephanie Brown)}}
* {{DCdatabase|Batgirl}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170511051605/http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0000178/ Batgirl] on [[IMDb]]

{{Batgirl}}
{{Batman characters}}
{{Batman}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Links to related topics
|list1=
{{Batwoman}}
{{Catwoman}}
{{The Joker}}
{{Robin}}
{{GoldenAge}}
{{The New 52}}
}}
{{Portal bar|Comics|Speculative fiction|Feminism|United States}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Batgirl| ]]
[[Category:Batman characters code names]]
[[Category:Characters created by Sheldon Moldoff]]
[[Category:Comics spinoffs]]
[[Category:DC Comics American superheroes]]
[[Category:DC Comics child superheroes]]
[[Category:DC Comics female superheroes]]
[[Category:DC Comics film characters]]
[[Category:DC Comics teenage superheroes]]
[[Category:DC Comics television characters]]
[[Category:Female characters in animation]]
[[Category:Female characters in television]]
[[Category:Groups of fictional characters]]