...vv......Barbara Gordon
LII SO513 LVEF
- don't worry they call her babs
- currently goes by oracle
- first (real) batgirl
- phd in history, law degree, etc etc classic genius
- the batfamily's "guy in the chair"
- master martial artist
- was adopted by her uncle, commissioner gordon, jim gordon, police captain and batman ally, after her parents died in a car crash when she was 13
upon moving to gotham to be with her uncle, she became obsessed with batman and wanted to do the same work he does. when she was 18, she tried to join the fbi as a field agent but was dismissed. after that, the police department hosted a ball that bruce wayne and many people of his caliber were attending. she made a feminine version of the batman costume, planning to crash the ball as "batgirl" to spite jim, who laughed her off when she said she wanted to work in law enforcement like him.
Barbara now found herself acting as Batgirl in deed as well as in name. She tackled Killer Moth in the hopes of rescuing Bruce Wayne from his clutches. What she did not realize though, was that Bruce Wayne was actually Batman. He allowed Batgirl to "rescue" him so that he could sneak off to change into his "work" clothes. Returning to the scene with his sidekick, Robin, Batman discovered that Killer Moth had gotten the better of Batgirl. In order to free her from the morass of Killer Moth's silk-spinner gun, they were forced to let the criminals get away. Batman chided Batgirl harshly for her foolish antics and warned her against pursuing such a reckless lifestyle. Hearing such criticism from a man she idolized for so long was a shock for Barbara, but it did not deter her from her chosen path. Despite his disapproval, he sent her batarangs via Dick Grayson, who subtly revealed to her that he was Robin. Barbara was able to solve the case, and shortly after, Batman swore her in an oath and also revealed his identity.
Barbara continued her career as Batgirl for a few years, until it came to an abrupt end when the Joker showed up at her house, shooting and paralyzing her before kidnapping her uncle Jim. Batman rescued Jim Gordon, but 19-year-old Barbara Gordon's career as a costumed crime fighter was over.[2]