Batgirl (DC)

**Batgirl** (real name **Barbara Joan Gordon**) is a main character in the DC Comics as a supporting character in the *Batman* franchise. She is the daughter of Police Comissioner Jim Gordon (adopted daughter/niece in pre-Flashpoint comics), the second sidekick of Batman and one of the love interest and childhood friend of Dick Grayson/ Nightwing. She is a mentor of Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown, the best friend of Dinah Lance aka the Black Canary, and has also been a member of the Bat Family, the Justice League, and the Birds of Prey.

The character was created by television producer William Dozier, editor Julius Schwartz, writer Gardner Fox, and artist Carmine Infantino. She was portrayed by the late actress Yvonne Craig in the 1960s *Batman* series. She was later portrayed by Dina Meyer and Jeté Laurence, and has been voiced by Melissa Gilbert, Tara Strong, Danielle Judovits, Alyson Stoner, Mae Whitman, Kimberly Brooks and Briana Cuoco among others. She will make her DC extended Universe debut in the 2023 *Batgirl* movie, played by Leslie Grace.

## History

### Pre-Flashpoint

#### Early Life

Barbara Gordon always wanted to be a vigilante and protect the Gotham City. Her parents were killed in an automobile accident and she was adopted by her uncle Jim Gordon and his wife, also named Barbara. She was inspired by Batman to becoming her own superhero.

#### Becoming Batgirl

After graduating high school at age 16 and continued learning jiu-jitsu, Barbara got a job at the Gotham City public library. She tried applying for a position in the Gotham City police department but her adoptive father and the FBI turned her down for the occupations she wanted due to height restrictions. Out to spite her dad, Barbara constructed a Bat Girl outfit and later used this attempt to save Bruce Wayne from Killer Moth. However, Killer Moth got the better of her and nearly bested her in their fight until Bruce came back as Batman and saved her. Batman chided her for Barbara's recklessness and told her she was not ready to become a Vigilante. Despite the warning, Barbara continues to fight in Gotham City as Batgirl in order to gain the Batman's trust, with assistance from Robin. Eventually, befriended each other and revealed their secret identities to one another.

Barbara's actions as Batgirl eventually won Bruce over and he accepted her into the Batman Family as one of his protégés. Barbara's actions as Batgirl eventually won Bruce over and he accepted her into the Batman Family as one of his protégés.

#### Paralyzed by the Joker

During the events of "The Killing Joke," The Joker paralyzed Barbara Gordon from the waist down by shooting her in the abdomen, all attempting to rescue her father. The incident left Barbara traumatized, her father grief stricken and Batman guilty. However, she created a network of artificial intelligence for the Batman family, operating as Oracle.

### The Birds of Prey

When Black Canary refounded the Birds of Prey, Barbara initially refused but decided to join her old friend and getting her confidence in fighting as a vigilante again. However, she assisted them on a mission when they went after the super-villain Choke, who later erased the Birds' memory of the team up.

### New 52

In the new continuity, Barbara is Jim Gordon's biological daughter with his wife, also named Barbara and she had a brother also named James

## Other Versions

### Earth-One

Barbara Gordon is depicted as James Gordon's daughter with another woman, Thelma. Like her mainstream counterpart, she has a brother, except his name is Tony as opposed to James, like their father.

### Elseworld's Finest

On Earth-1098, Barbara's parents are murdered by Joe Chill instead of Bruce Wayne's parents when he tried to kill the young Bruce Wayne. Barbara was adopted by Thomas and Martha Wayne, becoming the tyrannical furor of Gotham, ruling it with an iron fist. Despite hating metas, she joins Supergirl. After solving the case and defeating Lex Luthor and the Joker, Barbara and Kara become best friends.

### Zero Hour

Barbara's father was killed in the confrontation of the Joker during the Killing Joke. She was seduced by Parallax but broken out of the illusion by Oliver Queen/Green Arrow. She saved the superhero, Damage, and died a hero.

## Close Relationships

### Dick Grayson

Dick Grayson has been one of Barbara's best friends, romantic interest and on/off boyfriend. The two guest met when Dick was Robin and Barbara was Batgirl. As Robin, he helped her with her vigilante activities disobeying his adoptive father's, Bruce Wayne's, orders and developed a crush on her. Though she didn't see it as romantic, Barbara loved him in a platonic way but eventually, Barbara realized her feelings for him and they became a couple. However, Dick and Barbara broke up when he was retired as Robin and joined the Teen Titans and becoming romantically involved with Starfire, a princess from the planet Tameran. His on/off relationship with both Barbara and Koriand'r started a love triangle that would continue for decades.

### Dinah Lance

Black Canary is one of Batgirl's closest allies, as well as one of her best friends.

Impressed with Barbara's skills as Oracle, Dinah tried recruiting her into becoming a member of the birds of prey. Though she initially refused, Barbara eventually helped her and the other birds take down Choke. The girls had a strained relationship with one another due to their major differences. However, Barbara and Dinah eventually learned to get along and became best friends. When a group of thugs were after Barbara and against her best friend's wishes, Dinah pretended to be the Oracle to protect her friend.

### Helena Bertinelli

At first, Helena and Barbara didn't get along, both fighting each other when they first met. Helena discovered that Barbara was Batgirl because she unmasked her when they saw the bat signal. However, the women learned to work together as the Birds of Prey and became secondary best friends.

## Possessions

### Weapons

**Utility Belt:** Because she relies on gadgetry rather than on powers, Barbara owns a utility belt filled with many gadgets that aid in her fighting criminals, as a vigilante.

### Transportation

**Batcycle:** Barbara uses Batman's motorcycle to get from place to place or whenever she is chasing a villain.

## Connections

### Family

#### **New Earth**

* Roger Gordon † - Father
* Thelma Gordon † - Mother
* Jim Gordon - Uncle/Adoptive Father
* Barbara Eileen Gordon - Aunt/Adoptive Mother
* Jim Gordon Jr. - Cousin/Adoptive Brother
* Maternal Aunt

#### **Prime Earth**

* Jim Gordon - Father
* Barbara Eileen Gordon - Mother
* Jim Gordon Jr. - Brother and Enemy

### Allies

* Katarina Armstrong - Former Classmate
* Batman Family - Teammates
	+ Bruce Wayne/Batman - Mentor and Teammate
	+ Dick Grayson/Nightwing - Childhood Friend and Love Interest
	+ Cassandra Cain/Orphan - Protégé and Sister Figure
	+ Stephanie Brown/Spoiler - Protégé and Sister Figure
	+ Luke Fox/Batwing - Love Interest
	+ Damian Wayne/Robin
	+ Alfred Pennyworth † - Grandfather Figure
	+ Jason Todd/Red Hood - Former Enemy, Love Interest & Close Friend
	+ Tim Drake/Red Robin - Brother Figure and Close Friend
	+ Kate Kane/Batwoman
	+ Ace/Bat-Hound
	+ Selina Kyle/Catwoman
	+ Kate Kane/Batwoman
	+ Jean-Paul Valley/Azrael
	+ Duke Thomas/The Signal
	+ Harper Row/Bluebird
	+ Renee Montoya/Question
	+ Victor Sage/Question
	+ Ryan Wilder/Batwoman
	+ Basil Karlo/Clayface - Former Enemy
* Kate Spencer/Manhunter - former teammate
* Leslie Thompkins
* Gotham City Police Department
	+ Harvey Bullock
	+ Crispus Allen
	+ Marcus Driver
* Outsiders
	+ Emily Briggs/Looker
	+ Onyx Adams/Onyx
	+ Rex Mason/Metamorpho
* Sirens of Gotham
	+ Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy
	+ Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn
* Crystal Brown
* Haley
* Jason Bard
* Flo Crowley - Close Friend
* Adam Cray - Close Friend
* Cheese Fiend
* Chaos Larry
* Chase Meridian
* David Zavimbe
* Darla Aquista
* Birds of Prey
	+ Dinah Lance/Black Canary - Best Friend
	+ Helena Bertinelli/Huntress - Second Best Friend
	+ Big Barda
	+ Scott Free/Mr. Miracle
* Gus Yale
* Orion
* Francine Charles/Operator - Former Classmate and Good Friend
* The Terrifics
	+ Michael Holt/Mr. Terrific
* Savant - Former Teammate
* Infinity
* Ice
* Team Arrow
	+ Connor Hawke/Green Arrow
	+ Mia Dearden/Speedy
	+ Sin
* Mary Marvel - good friend
* Teen Titans/Titans
	+ Koriand'r/Starfire
	+ Karen Beecher/Bumblebee
	+ Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle
	+ Victor Stone/Cyborg
	+ Dawn Granger/Dove - former teammate
	+ Roy Harper/Arsenal
	+ Hank Hall/Hawkman
	+ M'gann M'orzz/Miss Martian
* Amazons of Themyscira
	+ Queen Hippolyta
* Caitlin Fairchild
* Ricky Gutierrez
* Santa Clause
* Sonia Sato/Judomaster
* Flash Family
	+ Wally West/The Flash - Close Friend
	+ Linda Park-West - Friend
* Superman Family
	+ J'onn J'onzz/Martian Manhunter
	+ Lois Lane - good friend
	+ Kara Danvers/Supergirl
	+ Chloe Sullivan
	+ Kon-El/Superboy
* Justice League
	+ Tatsu Yamashiro - former teammate
	+ Cynthia Reynolds/Gypsy - former teammate
	+ Arthur Curry/Aquaman
	+ Barry Allen/The Flash
	+ Oliver Queen/Green Arrow - Savior
	+ Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning
	+ Hal Jordan/Green Lantern
	+ Billy Batson/Shazam
	+ Diana Prince/Wonder Woman
	+ Ray Palmer/Atom
	+ Red Tornado
	+ Booster Gold
		- Skeets
	+ Justice League Dark
		- Zatanna - close friend
		- Boston Brand/Deadman

* Justice Society of America
	+ Pieter Cross/Doctor Mid-Nite
	+ Ted Grant/Wildcat
	+ Jay Garrick/The Flash
	+ Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl
	+ Matt Tyler/Hourman
	+ Courtney Whitmore/Stargirl
	+ Alan Scott/Green Lantern
	+ Jim Corrigan/The Spectre
	+ Nathaniel Adam/Captain Atom
	+ Jakeem Thunder
* Young Justice
	+ Cassie Sandsmark/Wonder Girl
	+ Kara Zor-L/Power Girl
	+ Lagoon Boy
* Aquaman Family
	+ Mera
* All-Star Squadron
	+ Ted Kord/Blue Beetle
	+ Eel O'Brien/Plastic Man
	+ Buddy Baker/Animal Man
	+ Catalina Flores/Tarantula
	+ Kimiyo Hoshi/Dr. Light
* Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe/Misfit
* New Gods
	+ Zauriel
	+ Metron
	+ Solis/Lightray
	+ The Presence
* Justice Legion A
	+ Aquaman 1000000
	+ Batman 1000000
	+ Wonder Woman 1000000
	+ Farris Knight/Starman
	+ John Fox/The Flash
	+ Kal Kent/Superman
* Superman (Earth-2)
* John Raymond/The Web
* Kitcat
* Batman Inc.
	+ Sheldrake/Knight
* Suicide Squad
	+ Amanda Waller (sometimes)
	+ Tatsu Yamashiro/Katana
* Don Santiago/Gauncho
* Gerard Gardner
* Green Lantern Corp
	+ Jessica Cruz/Green Lantern
	+ John Stewart/Green Lantern
	+ Kyle Rayner
* Zinda Blake/Lady Blackhawk - former teammate and close friend

### Enemies

* Oracle (android) - Former Artificial Intelligence
* Batman Rogues
	+ The Joker
	+ Harvey Dent/Two-Face
	+ The Penguin
	+ Ethan Cobblepot (former love interest)
	+ Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn (sometimes)
	+ Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy (sometimes)
	+ Eddie Nygma/Riddler
	+ Thomas Elliot/Hush
	+ Killer Croc
	+ Killer Moth
	+ Scarecrow
	+ Bane
	+ Batman Who Laughs
	+ Black Mask
	+ Noah Kuttler/Calculator
* Evan Douglas/Grotesque
* League of Assassins
	+ Merlyn
	+ Ra's al Ghul
	+ Talia al Ghul
	+ Sandra Wu-San/Shiva
* Court of Owls
	+ Talons
		- William Cobb/Talon
* Choke - First Opponent
* Joseph Rigger/Firebug
* Royal Flush Gang
	+ Red Queen
* Anti-Monitor
* Legion of Doom
	+ Vandal Savage
	+ Barbara Minerva/Cheetah
	+ Superboy-Prime
* New Gods
	+ Uxas/Darkseid
* Count Vertigo
* Secret Society of Supervillains
	+ Slade Wilson/Deathstroke
	+ Leslie Willis/Livewire
	+ Garfield Lynns/Firefly
* H.I.V.E.
	+ Gizmo
* Sinestro Corps
	+ Parallax
* Starling
* Harley Quinn - Formerly
* Poison Ivy - Sometimes

## Trivia

In both *Titans* and *Batman Beyond*, Barbara becomes the Commissioner of the GCPD in New Gotham.

## Navigation

**Villains**: Mr. Freeze, Talia al Ghul, Nyssa Raatko, Ra's al Ghul, Onomatopoeia, Poison Ivy, Black Adam

Template:Birds of Prey

**Villains**: Mr. Freeze, Talia al Ghul, Nyssa Raatko, Ra's al Ghul, Onomatopoeia, Poison Ivy, Black Adam

Allies
Starfire • Raven • Beast Boy • Cyborg • Donna Troy • Cassie Sandsmark • Batgirl (Barbara Gordon • Cassandra Cain) • Batwoman • Hawkfire • Mary Grayson • John Grayson • Jack Drake • Janet Drake • Renee Montoya • Duke Thomas/Signal • Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn • Dinah Drake/Black Canary • Birds of Prey

*2003 Animated Series*: Robin • Starfire • Raven • Beast Boy • Cyborg • Terra • Batman

**Titans:** Dick Grayson/Robin I/Nightwing • Jason Todd/Robin II/Red Hood • Tim Drake/Robin III • Bruce Wayne/Batman • Barbara Gordon/Batgirl/Commissioner Gordon • Koriand'r/Starfire/Kory Anders • Rachel Roth/Raven • Gar Logan/Beast Boy • Donna Troy/Wonder Girl

Villains
**Comics:** Anarky • Blackfire • Deathstroke • Joker • Neron

***Batman & Robin*:** **Poison Ivy** • **Mr. Freeze** • Bane • Snowy Cones Thugs • Golums • Jason Woodrue
***Batman vs. Robin*:** Court of Owls (Samantha Vanaver • **Talon** • Owls Lieutenant • & Talon Warriors) • Dollmaker

**Teen Titans**: Trigon • Slade

**Titans:** Slade Wilson/Deathstroke • Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow