Barbara Gordon a.k.a. Oracle; The Hero Formerly Known as Batgirl
I was just checking out the DC Comics Message Board and reading the Batgirl forums. The prevailing gripes are towards - Miller's writing, Steph's promotion, Gotham's "Blue Sky", Cass's OOC retirement, and Barbara's many issues. There are more I'm sure but after a while it just turns into Geeks At War and I can't stop laughing. The only war that requires no one to be rude but give Mr. or Ms. Anonymous a computer and watch out because it's about to get REAL...
...sad.
Today I'll focus on Babs. Have to love her. There is no way around the fact that she is amazing. Becomes Batgirl because she saved a billionair's life while wearing a homemade Batman costume to a party. Batman didn't like it at first but came around and let her join the crew. For a few years she is active as Batgirl but retires (I still don't know why but I figure in that line of business you'd rather quit while you still have your life then just be another dead cape). Unfortunetly due to who her Father is (or is that Uncle), the Joker comes to their house; shoots her in the spine, removes her clothes, takes naked pictures of her, kidnaps her Father, and leaves her to die. She is saved only to find out she is paralyzed from the waist down. She was down in the dumps for a while and gets into computers. If you're going to sit around at home, you might as well put your brain to good use. Figures she is really good with computers and decides to wear the mask of a hacker and go by the name Oracle.
Since then she has been the information powerhouse within The Birds of Prey, JLA, Outsiders. Worked along side Batman, Robin, Nightwing, Huntress, Black Canary, Manhunter, Batgirl (Cassandra), Catwoman, Arael, Power Girl (In case you didn't notice, I read more Bat-titles than anything else).
As for this new Batgirl series. Everyone has an opinion, some valid, some silly. A big one is that Babs has been demoted to some kind of mentor to Stephanie Brown. It seems to me that she has never mentored before. With Cass it was more point her in the right direction and be done with it. Cass was more Batman's protege than Barbara's. Babs has never had someone she could impart her knowledge of crimefighting on and (heaven forbid) should she die, there will be no one out there with her teachings. So in the long run it is good that someone (especially Steph who needs the guidence anyway) gets taught by the former Batgirl. What can Steph give to Barb, a first student, one that she can learn how to be a teacher with.
Besides, The series is called Batgirl, that doesn't just have to mean Steph. Barbara is just as much Batgirl, just less bouncy and way more experienced. It could almost be seen as Batman training a Batboy. The intention is to pass on all their knowledge to the next generation. Please don't kill me Cass fans but... Cass does not need fighting pointers and being a part of the League of Assasins makes her very knowledgable in crimefighting. Cassandra Cain needs nothing from Barbara. Cassandra can take up her own mantle now. Barbara Gordon fans... please don't kill me but... She's almost thirty, to become Batgirl would just be awkward and other characters would raise an eyebrow to that. The new Batwoman is doing very well and has the name of the original Kate Kane, so she won't be going anywhere. Do we want Babs out of the chair? Sure, with limitation though. It would be an interesting human development story that Barbara gradually gets more feeling and movement out of her legs. The Bat-universe is good because they don't just ask Dr. Fate to heal everyone. They fight their way out of their problems. I still to this day hated the fact that Cassandra got touched in the brain by a metahuman and all of a sudden could think in English. The only way to make Babs Batgirl would be to de-age her and heal her atophied legs. Then we would have to de-age Grayson because we have to have them all lovey-dovey again. Then we would have to de-age Bruce or he would look like some kind of grandpa compared to all the kids running around. Do you see where that is going? Everyone who read comics 30 years ago will be happy and no one else.
Stephanie is a great choice. I say this, even while sad that I lose Spoiler. A university attending character who costume crimefights with a criminal for a Father and a dark past of terrible mistakes. That is a story I can get behind. I wouldn't if Babs had nothing to do with it, that would seem wrong and a poke in the eye to the real DC fans.
Peace
...sad.
Today I'll focus on Babs. Have to love her. There is no way around the fact that she is amazing. Becomes Batgirl because she saved a billionair's life while wearing a homemade Batman costume to a party. Batman didn't like it at first but came around and let her join the crew. For a few years she is active as Batgirl but retires (I still don't know why but I figure in that line of business you'd rather quit while you still have your life then just be another dead cape). Unfortunetly due to who her Father is (or is that Uncle), the Joker comes to their house; shoots her in the spine, removes her clothes, takes naked pictures of her, kidnaps her Father, and leaves her to die. She is saved only to find out she is paralyzed from the waist down. She was down in the dumps for a while and gets into computers. If you're going to sit around at home, you might as well put your brain to good use. Figures she is really good with computers and decides to wear the mask of a hacker and go by the name Oracle.
Since then she has been the information powerhouse within The Birds of Prey, JLA, Outsiders. Worked along side Batman, Robin, Nightwing, Huntress, Black Canary, Manhunter, Batgirl (Cassandra), Catwoman, Arael, Power Girl (In case you didn't notice, I read more Bat-titles than anything else).
As for this new Batgirl series. Everyone has an opinion, some valid, some silly. A big one is that Babs has been demoted to some kind of mentor to Stephanie Brown. It seems to me that she has never mentored before. With Cass it was more point her in the right direction and be done with it. Cass was more Batman's protege than Barbara's. Babs has never had someone she could impart her knowledge of crimefighting on and (heaven forbid) should she die, there will be no one out there with her teachings. So in the long run it is good that someone (especially Steph who needs the guidence anyway) gets taught by the former Batgirl. What can Steph give to Barb, a first student, one that she can learn how to be a teacher with.
Besides, The series is called Batgirl, that doesn't just have to mean Steph. Barbara is just as much Batgirl, just less bouncy and way more experienced. It could almost be seen as Batman training a Batboy. The intention is to pass on all their knowledge to the next generation. Please don't kill me Cass fans but... Cass does not need fighting pointers and being a part of the League of Assasins makes her very knowledgable in crimefighting. Cassandra Cain needs nothing from Barbara. Cassandra can take up her own mantle now. Barbara Gordon fans... please don't kill me but... She's almost thirty, to become Batgirl would just be awkward and other characters would raise an eyebrow to that. The new Batwoman is doing very well and has the name of the original Kate Kane, so she won't be going anywhere. Do we want Babs out of the chair? Sure, with limitation though. It would be an interesting human development story that Barbara gradually gets more feeling and movement out of her legs. The Bat-universe is good because they don't just ask Dr. Fate to heal everyone. They fight their way out of their problems. I still to this day hated the fact that Cassandra got touched in the brain by a metahuman and all of a sudden could think in English. The only way to make Babs Batgirl would be to de-age her and heal her atophied legs. Then we would have to de-age Grayson because we have to have them all lovey-dovey again. Then we would have to de-age Bruce or he would look like some kind of grandpa compared to all the kids running around. Do you see where that is going? Everyone who read comics 30 years ago will be happy and no one else.
Stephanie is a great choice. I say this, even while sad that I lose Spoiler. A university attending character who costume crimefights with a criminal for a Father and a dark past of terrible mistakes. That is a story I can get behind. I wouldn't if Babs had nothing to do with it, that would seem wrong and a poke in the eye to the real DC fans.
Peace