Give Batgirl the Chair
My comic knowledge is pretty pathetic. I've read quite a few Alan Moore graphic novels, enjoyed Y- The Last Man, and Unwritten, adore Fables... but the mainstream hero-based comics have always intimidated me. I didn't know where to start, and the idea of 50 plus years of stories to catch up on, overwhelmed me, and I'm just not the type who likes to start in the middle... so I just never have. Until recently.
I have a friend who loves and collects a plethora of comics. She overheard me complaining to a friend that there aren't really in female characters in wheelchairs to cosplay as, and she said, "Yes there is! Oracle! And she's seriously bad ass!" Oracle (for the people like me who had no idea) is Barbara Gordon (original Batgirl) who gets shot by the Joker paralyzing her. Instead of giving up, she becomes Oracle computer expert, and information broker for all of the masked vigilante underground (notably the bat crew), and leads the female super hero group Birds of Prey. To say I was EXCITED about this would be a huge understatement. I almost couldn't believe that there was such a character!!!! Not only a female in a wheelchair, but one that was respected, intelligent, independent, AND held her own in a world of supers.
I've complained from time to time about the lack of disabled characters in mainstream entertainment. The vast majority of whom are on Lifetime movie channel stories about miracles, or comic relief (see: Mean Girls). I definitely give props to Glee for Artie. He's the first main character in a popular tv show in a wheelchair that I can ever recall. And from what I've seen of Glee, they treat his disability well.
SO. I jumped on it. I've read 70 issues in the past couple weeks. And I LOVE HER. I'm actually surprised about how much it means to me to read about such a character. She's fierce, intelligent, and absolutely vital to the happenings in Gotham and beyond. And while she spends most of her time in a darkened room wtih computers, she still manages to be compelling. But when she needs to, she kicks ASS with what she has.
The DC reboot that I'm sure most of you have heard of, starts in a day or so. I was excited to learn they'd be rebooting Birds of Prey... but... then I read that the Batgirl reboot was going to Barbara Gordon. Walking Barbara Gordon. I was really sad. I understand that she was one of the more icon Batgirls, and why they would want her back in the role. But it saddens me to lose the only strong female parapelgic character in mainstream entertainment that there is. I have a lot of ~feelings about it. Mostly disappointed, and sad ones. I'm surprised at the depth of them considering I'm a relatively very new fan. She was the only one, ya know? Just sucks that I just discovered it, and it's over. Not that I won't enjoy reading the 60 or so issues I have left! And who knows? Maybe the reboot will put her in the chair again.
Anyhoo this article is much more articulate, and states everything better than I can: Give Batgirl the Chair & the rebuttal Batgirl and the Legion of Sadistic Disability Fetishists
I have a friend who loves and collects a plethora of comics. She overheard me complaining to a friend that there aren't really in female characters in wheelchairs to cosplay as, and she said, "Yes there is! Oracle! And she's seriously bad ass!" Oracle (for the people like me who had no idea) is Barbara Gordon (original Batgirl) who gets shot by the Joker paralyzing her. Instead of giving up, she becomes Oracle computer expert, and information broker for all of the masked vigilante underground (notably the bat crew), and leads the female super hero group Birds of Prey. To say I was EXCITED about this would be a huge understatement. I almost couldn't believe that there was such a character!!!! Not only a female in a wheelchair, but one that was respected, intelligent, independent, AND held her own in a world of supers.
I've complained from time to time about the lack of disabled characters in mainstream entertainment. The vast majority of whom are on Lifetime movie channel stories about miracles, or comic relief (see: Mean Girls). I definitely give props to Glee for Artie. He's the first main character in a popular tv show in a wheelchair that I can ever recall. And from what I've seen of Glee, they treat his disability well.
SO. I jumped on it. I've read 70 issues in the past couple weeks. And I LOVE HER. I'm actually surprised about how much it means to me to read about such a character. She's fierce, intelligent, and absolutely vital to the happenings in Gotham and beyond. And while she spends most of her time in a darkened room wtih computers, she still manages to be compelling. But when she needs to, she kicks ASS with what she has.
The DC reboot that I'm sure most of you have heard of, starts in a day or so. I was excited to learn they'd be rebooting Birds of Prey... but... then I read that the Batgirl reboot was going to Barbara Gordon. Walking Barbara Gordon. I was really sad. I understand that she was one of the more icon Batgirls, and why they would want her back in the role. But it saddens me to lose the only strong female parapelgic character in mainstream entertainment that there is. I have a lot of ~feelings about it. Mostly disappointed, and sad ones. I'm surprised at the depth of them considering I'm a relatively very new fan. She was the only one, ya know? Just sucks that I just discovered it, and it's over. Not that I won't enjoy reading the 60 or so issues I have left! And who knows? Maybe the reboot will put her in the chair again.
Anyhoo this article is much more articulate, and states everything better than I can: Give Batgirl the Chair & the rebuttal Batgirl and the Legion of Sadistic Disability Fetishists