Barbara "Babs" Gordon AKA Batgirl is the daughter of Gotham City's Police Commissioner James Gordon. She later took on the mantle of Batgirl and became Batman's partner and protégé for many years.
History
Early Adventures
Barbara lived in a private townhouse near Gotham's trendy Park Ridge. In her daily life, she was a student at Gotham State University.
When the renegade artificial intelligence, H.A.R.D.A.C.,[1] , attempted to replace the most influential members of Gotham (including her father, Hamilton Hill, and Harvey Bullock), Barbara was one of the few who initially felt something was wrong. Knowing that the robot wasn't her father, she activated the Bat-signal and called in Batman. When Batman arrived and she shared her suspicions with him, an incredibly strong robot Bullock showed up and attacked Batman. With the help of Barbara, Batman decapitated it with a shuriken.
Later, Bruce went to the Gotham Club to meet up with Mayor Hill who told him he'd be part of "a very exclusive club." There Bruce finds several elite members of Gotham, all of whom have glowing red eyes. Randa arrived with a taser, but Bruce wasn't ready to give up and escaped his captors. The robots give chase, and he dashes into an elevator where he changes into Batman. Four of the robots, however, manage to break into the elevator, only to find that Batman isn't inside and is cutting the cable. Unable to stop him in time, the robots fall and are destroyed.
Having deduced where her father should be, Barbara gathered some equipment and went to Cybertron (ignoring Batman's orders) and actually managed to sneak into the lab, but was captured by Rossum and Randa, who assured her that she'd be joining her father. Outside, Batman arrived and snuck into the lab. After everyone was freed, Gordon groaned that he was getting too old for this sort of thing while Barbara claimed she enjoyed herself.[2]
Barbara was then seen when her father was shot by Jazzman on the anniversary of the deaths of Bruce Wayne's parents. A sorrowful Batman visits Gordon in Gotham City Hospital, where Barbara tells him not to blame himself. Batman takes heart and captures Jazzman, while Gordon recovers.[3]
Enter Batgirl
Barbara becomes Batgirl
Barbara took after her father, James Gordon. Like him, Barbara was a skilled crime fighter dedicated to wiping out Gotham City's lawbreakers, but not necessarily as a police officer. When Commissioner Gordon was framed by the notorious villain Two-Face, Barbara donned a Bat-costume in an attempt to get him released from jail. Robin ripped the cowl from the back when he tried to stop her from running away from him. Whether they liked it or not, Batman and Robin soon realized that they have a new redheaded ally in the form of Batgirl. She gave subtle hints towards her identity at the time, but they would fail to reach the ears of the two.[4][5]
Batgirl and Catwoman
Barbara studying
Barbara was not as active as Dick and Bruce were as Robin and Batman. Despite this, she experienced her first run-in with Catwoman. The two briefly fought but Catwoman claimed she was innocent and proved that the crime wasn't her style. In spite of this, Catwoman refused to go with Batgirl to the police. Batgirl insisted and a fight was about to ensue before Robin arrived causing Catwoman to flee. Robin and Batgirl gave chase, but Catwoman managed to escape. Batgirl then explained that Catwoman was innocent and scolded Robin for rushing in. Robin angrily left telling Batgirl to stay out of the way. The next day, Barbara found a message for "The Winged Mouse" and learns of where Catwoman will be later that night. Batgirl arrived at the Bayshore pier and found Catwoman waiting for her. Catwoman offered a truce and proposed a partnership. Batgirl agreed on the condition that Catwoman gives herself up if she's lying. Batgirl and Catwoman went to the Stacked Deck to find information.
The girl duo
They interrogated "the chemist" to find out who melted the padlock into the university, but he ran before revealing where it was made. A fight ensued in the bar forcing the two to flee. They stole a motorcycle and were chased by the police. The duo managed to escape and judged by the Chemist's reaction Catwoman deduced who was behind the Jade Cat robbery. Catwoman took Batgirl to Roland Daggett's laboratory, the same one used to make the Renuyu cream that turned Matt Hagen into Clayface and the virus that infected Isis. Looking around they found the cat, but it was a trap. Dagget and his goons captured Catwoman and Batgirl and took them to vats of hot chemicals. Daggett explained that he stole the cat because it was what Catwoman would have stolen, and he needed the money to start over as he was left broke after his last encounter with Batman. Daggett continued by saying he'd have Batgirl and Catwoman shot and then thrown into the acid vats to destroy the evidence. Fortunately, Robin arrived and dealt with the thugs before they could execute Daggett's plan. The trio beat Daggett's thugs and Catwoman went after Daggett.
Looking for revenge over the virus incident Catwoman prepared to drop Daggett into the acid but Batgirl caught the chain and saved him. However, Catwoman made a break for it and Batgirl was not strong enough to pull Daggett up. Robin arrived and took over for Batgirl allowing her to go after Catwoman. Using a bola, she managed to catch Catwoman who confessed she always intended to steal the Jade Cat. Catwoman then offered to team up, but Batgirl refused. The police arrived and took Catwoman into custody who claimed Batgirl is innocent. Unfortunately, Catwoman escaped the police and took their car. Dick wanted to go after Catwoman but Batgirl assured him there would be another time.[6]
Kidnapped by Mr. Freeze
Barbara and Robin
A short time later, Barbara started a relationship with Dick Grayson, but before they could get serious, Barbara was picked as an organ donor to Nora Fries by Mr. Freeze, who kidnapped Barbara to sacrifice her in order to save his wife. Barbara endured as Freeze's prisoner long enough for Batman and Robin to come rescue her. The fight that followed caused Freeze's lair to explode. Batman, Robin, and Barbara were able to evacuate Nora and Freeze's Inuit ward Koonak in time, but Freeze had fallen into the fiery blast and was assumed dead. In actuality, he and his pet polar bears had survived. Back in Gotham, Nora was cured, much to Freeze's delight.[7]
Powers and Abilities
During her time as a superheroine, Batgirl had excellent detective skills, often solving difficult cases independently or with little help.
Barbara's academic skills were matched only by her gymnastic ability and natural reflexes, which she utilized to her full advantage as Batgirl.
Equipment
Batgirl has the same equipment as Batman.
- Batgirl suit - standard costume.
- Batarangs - of differing size and effect.
- Grapple Gun - This item assisted Batgirl in scaling the various buildings of Gotham City.
- Utility Belt - Batgirl's Utility Belt has compartments to hold several items, the contents of which change according to her needs, and often include items such as flashlights, bolas and binoculars.
Trivia
- Batgirl's costume is based on the Batgirl costume from the Bronze Age comics in the 1970s and 1980s, but with blue gloves and boots to resemble Batman's costume, as opposed to yellow gloves and boots.
- Barbara's teddy bear Woobie, looks somewhat similar to Mr. Bean's teddy bear, Teddy.
- In Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, Barbara's height was 5' 3" and she weighs 110 lbs. (50 kg).
- Batgirl's voice actress Melissa Gilbert gave Barbara a high voice and Batgirl a deep voice.
Appearances
- I Am the Night (as Barbara Gordon)
- Heart of Steel Part I (as Barbara Gordon)
- Heart of Steel Part II (as Barbara Gordon)
- Shadow of the Bat Part I
- Shadow of the Bat Part II
- Batgirl Returns
Feature Films
Video Games
- The Adventures of Batman & Robin (SNES) (as Barbara Gordon)