| Batgirl | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Barbara Gordon |
| Alias(es): | Babs |
| Father: | James Gordon |
| Portrayed by: | Melissa Gilbert Mary Kay Bergman |
| First appearance: | Heart of Steel Part I |
| Last appearance: | Batgirl Returns |
| Appears in: | 7 Episodes & 1 Film |
| Batgirl Gallery | |
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 protegé for many years.
History
Early Adventures
Barbara was first entangled with Batman's affairs when a renegade artificial intelligence machine, H.A.R.D.A.C.,[1] tried to replace the most influential citizens of Gotham City, such as James Gordon, Mayor Hamilton Hill, and Detective Harvey Bullock. Barbara was one of the few people who initially felt something had happened. Using a few skills she picked up from her father and her experience a a gymnast while at Gotham University, Barbara managed to help Batman save the city from H.A.R.D.A.C.[2]
Barbara was then seen when her father was shot by Jazzman on the anniversary of the death 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]
Batgirl
There is no doubt Barbara takes after her father. Like Commissioner Gordon, Barbara is a skilled crime fighter dedicated to wiping out Gotham City's lawbreakers, but as a vigilante. When Commissioner Gordon was framed by Two-Face, Barbara dons a bat costume to help investigate. She does, however, find that the costume fits her better than she had anticipated. Regardless of whether they agreed or not, Batman and Robin soon realized that they have a new ally in the form of Batgirl.
In her daily life, Barbara is a student at Gotham State University. Her academic skills are matched only by her gymnastic abilities, which she utilizes to her full advantage as Batgirl. Batman and Robin learn to trust and rely on Batgirl's contribution to eradicating Gotham's criminal element. Unbeknownst to either, Barbara and Dick Grayson also dated. It is unknown if either knew of the other's alter-ego. Batman, however was not so easily fooled and guessed early on that the masked red-head could only be Gordon's daughter, Barbara.
Barbara was also revealed to be the only organ donor (either living or dead) to Nora Fries, Mr. Freeze's wife, and she was kidnapped as a result. However, Dick Grayson was present during the subsequent kidnapping, and though he was unsuccessful in saving Barbara, he was well aware of Freeze's scheme. Batman and Robin managed to interrupt the operation before it took place however. 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.
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
- Harlequinade (mentioned only)
- Batgirl Returns
Feature Film
- Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (as Barbara Gordon)
Video Games
- The Adventures of Batman & Robin (SNES) (as Barbara Gordon)