Huntress (Helena Bertenelli)

The Huntress (real name Helena Rosa Bertinelli) is a fictional character and superheroine from DC Comics, appearing as a major character in the Batman comics.
Helena was born into a family who had strong ties with the mafia in Gotham City, and witnessed the death of her family. She decided to exact revenge after being trained by her uncle and cousin in Sicily, and became a vigilante after being inspired by Batman. She later became an ally of the Dark Knight himself, and became a member of the Batman Family and the Birds of Prey alongside Oracle and Black Canary.
She was created by Joey Cavalieri and Joe Staton, and first appeared in The Huntress #1 in April of 1989.
In the DC Extended Universe, she is portrayed by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who also played Ramona Flowers, Wendy Christensen, Michelle and Lucy McClane. On CWs Arrow, she was portrayed by Jessica De Gouw, who also played Mina Harker in NBC's Dracula.
==Biography==
===Background===
Being born into a family with strong ties to the mafia, Helena Bertinelli was ultimately left orphaned when her parents and brother were murdered in front of her by a trigger-man from a rival gang. Deeply traumatized by the incident, Helena vowed to strike back against the mafia world, rejecting her ties to it and transforming herself into a vigilante known as the Huntress.
Though initially bitter, ruthless, and cynical, Huntress was able to temper her violent tendencies a bit as time wore on, and has managed to find some measure of peace as a long-time member of the Birds of Prey. She has also spent time as a member of the Justice League.
In spite of her violent tendencies, she is a devout Catholic, and her faith has helped provide her with further peace and guidance.
===Early life===
Helena Rosa Bertinelli is the daughter of Santo Cassamento and Maria Bertinelli, having had an affair due to Maria's husband, Franco, constantly beating her. Franco also would abuse Maria when she was pregnant with Helena, knowing that the child was his. In addition, Helena would become the half-sister to Franco and Maria's son, Pino.
When she was eight years old, she witnessed the death of Franco, Maria, and her half-brother Pino, who were killed by Stefano Mandragora who ordered the hit on the family. However, Helena was meant to be killed, as her biological father wanted the "sister" to be spared (meaning Maria), but the gunman was confused.
===Vowing Revenge===
Helena was placed under her Uncle Tomasso's nephew, Salvatore Asaro, and was taken to Sicily to be kept safe. She stayed many years in Sicily, and was eventually trained by her cousin to fight against those who had murdered her family. She was trained until the age of fifteen, having been to a boarding school in Switzerland due to the Italian authorities tracking down mafia's. Helena eventually learned that the mafia were corrupt and evil, and that her family were part it when before their deaths in Gotham City.
At the age of sixteen, she returned to Gotham City to spend time with uncle around Christmas, but she hated everyone there (due to them being criminals). The vigilante Batman crashed the party, and defeated the criminals. Being inspired by how Batman fought, and caused them great fear, she decided to follow his example. She returned to Switzerland, and plotted her revenge by getting the crossbow from her uncle and cousin's home (as the place was empty due to them being arrested).
Helena enrolled in a university in Palermo, she learned all about the mafia, and constructed herself a costume. Helena thought herself to be a nun, devoting her life to exact her revenge against the mafia, and returned to Gotham as the vigilante Huntress. During her adventures, she succeeded in stopping the Riddler's henchmen, and killed Mandragora and the assassin that killed her family. In addition, she began a romantic relationship with Nigthwing while working murder cases tied to the mafia.
==Portrayals==
===Films===
*In the DC Extended Universe, she is portrayed by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who also played Wendy Christensen in Final Destination 3, Lucy McClane in the Die Hard films, Kate Lloyd in The Thing (2011), and Michelle in 10 Cloverfield Lane.
===Television===
*In Justice League Unlimited, she was voiced by Amy Acker.
*In Batman: The Brave and the Bold, she was voiced by Tara Strong, who also voiced Timmy Turner in The Fairly OddParents, Raven in Teen Titans and Teen Titans Go!, Ben Tennyson in Ben 10 and its 2016 reboot, and Harley Quinn in numerous media.
*In the Arrowverse, she was portrayed by Jessica De Gouw.
===Video Games===
*In Justice League Heroes, she was voiced by Vanessa Marshall, who also voiced Irwin Dracula in The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Hera Syndulla in Star Wars Rebels, and Black Canary in Young Justice and Injustice 2.
*In DC Universe Online, she was voiced by Claire Hamilton.
*In Lego DC Super Villains, she was voiced by Sumalee Montano.
==Trivia==
*According to Alexander Luthor, Jr. from Earth-Three, Helena would have originally been a resident of Earth-Eight if the Crisis on Infinite Earths didn't occur.
==Navigation==
Category:Comic Book Heroes
Category:DC Heroes
Category:Batman Heroes
Category:Justice League Heroes
Category:Female
Category:Fighters
Category:Martial Artists
Category:Jerks
Category:In Love
Category:Tragic
Category:Orphans
Category:Arrogant
Category:Chaotic Neutral
Category:Amazons
Category:Rescuers
Category:Protectors
Category:On & Off
Category:One-Man Army
Category:Vigilantes
Category:Keeper of Secret Identity
Category:Live Action Heroes
Category:Successful
Category:Hope Bringers
Category:Determinators
Category:Animals
Category:Philanthropists
Category:Wealthy
Category:Cartoon Heroes
Category:TV Show Heroes
Category:Martyr
Category:Legacy
Category:Strategists
Category:Injustice Heroes
Category:Dreaded
Category:Mentally Ill
Category:Archenemy
Category:Counterparts
Category:Antagonists
Category:Last of Kind
Category:Superheroes
Category:Seductress
Category:Lethal
Category:Anti-Heroes
Category:Protectors of Innocence
Category:Localized Protection
Category:Pragmatists
Category:Wrathful
Category:Vengeful
Category:Arrogant
Category:Failure-Intolerant
Category:Good Vs. Good
Category:Assassins
Category:Criminals
Category:Extremists
Category:One-Man Army
Category:Wealthy
Category:Aristocrats
Category:Provokers
Category:True Neutral
Category:Fortune Hunters
Category:Thrill-Seekers
Category:Right-Hand
Category:Liars
Category:Freedom Fighters
Category:Victims