Who's This? A costumed librarian.
The facts: Famously, while there had been a Bat-Girl in the early '60s (Betty Kane), the iconic Barbara Gordon Batgirl was created for the '66 TV series first, and 'ported over into comics before her first episode aired (Detective Comics #359, cover-dated January 1967). She's been with us ever since. Even after being side-lined in the '80s and maimed in The Killing Joke graphic novel, she took on even more prominence in DC Comics as Oracle, a role she would even play on TV's Birds of Prey series, and in the comics until the New52 restored her to full fighting capacity.
How you could have heard of her: She has a pretty big pop culture footprint, central to the DC Super Hero Girls animated series, and with a solo movie currently in development. Rebirth gave Commissioner Gordon's favorite daughter two monthly books - Batgirl, and Batgirl and the Birds of Prey (the latter was cancelled in 2018).
Example story: Detective Comics #384 (February 1969) "Tall, Dark, Handsome--and Missing!" by Mike Friedrich, Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson
In the late '60s and early '70s, Detective Comics gave Batgirl and Robin rotating back-ups and the opportunity to get their names in lights along with Batman's. But what were these back-ups like? You might have seen the Showcase Presents Batgirl trade with Batgirl putting on lipstick on the cover. Should I be dreading this?
Woof. It really does start like a romance comic, doesn't it? Barbara doesn't get noticed because her style is Librarian Princess Leia, so she starts wearing her contacts to work (we never talk about this, but Babs is a superhero who needs her vision corrected, that's rare), and he still gives her a pass, so she has to doll herself up for a mannnnnn. I mean, Barbara, look at those time stamps, you think maybe he's just preoccupied because he doesn't know what to get his mom for Christmas? Or on Christmas vacation on the 27th? I mean... people have lives outside of researching Gotham Gazette articles, you know! Barbara is angry that hot microfiche dude doesn't show up to see her makeover when he never said he would be there, nor have they exchanged more than a few words, NONE in any romantic capacity!
The only possible conclusion is that something happened to him, which is only reasonable in a superhero universe. Still, I don't think this is teaching young readers how to manage expectations. She decides to use his library card information to find his address and RUN HIM DOWN.
If you HAVE to stalk a guy, Barbara, at least try to stay focused. But I bet this is an important perfume clue. I'd know it for sure if this were a scratch and sniff comic. When Babs gets to the apartment, the door is wide open, and it stinks of that perfume to high heaven. THAT TWO-TIMER, she thinks. Again, let me remind you that they are not dating. He calls her "Miss"! Anyway, the medicine cabinet is open too and there's ONE bottle of pills evidently missing. The screech of tires, Barbara to the window, the girls driving off in a red sports car. No time to lose, open your purse and put on that costume... Batgirl!
What kind of a boat does Barbara drive that she can fold a whole motorcycle in its trunk?! That Wayne Tech, man! She follows the girl to a dingy dump where she is immediately touched without being asked by one goon (she throws him down the stairs) and then finds herself Gil Kaning a whole bunch of 'em.
If the romance is stupid, at least the action's good! Barbara catches two more in the next room, one of them banging against a door for "Web" to let him in. And behind that door?
Catch phrase needs more feminist work, Batgirl. And look, you're not-actually-your-date had a good excuse for not showing up to what wasn't a date at all. In the final panel, she wonders where that guy Web is and where Mark's girlfriend is, completely dismissing the possibility that SHE could be "Web", and need not be Mark's girlfriend any more than Batgirl herself is his OTHER girlfriend.
Man, they sure had a hard time writing female superheroes back then, didn't they? (Unclear if I should have used the phrase "back then".) I amuse myself thinking of Oracle remembering this stuff and shaking her head.
Who's Next? A gambler in the Old West.
How you could have heard of her: She has a pretty big pop culture footprint, central to the DC Super Hero Girls animated series, and with a solo movie currently in development. Rebirth gave Commissioner Gordon's favorite daughter two monthly books - Batgirl, and Batgirl and the Birds of Prey (the latter was cancelled in 2018).
Example story: Detective Comics #384 (February 1969) "Tall, Dark, Handsome--and Missing!" by Mike Friedrich, Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson
The only possible conclusion is that something happened to him, which is only reasonable in a superhero universe. Still, I don't think this is teaching young readers how to manage expectations. She decides to use his library card information to find his address and RUN HIM DOWN.
Man, they sure had a hard time writing female superheroes back then, didn't they? (Unclear if I should have used the phrase "back then".) I amuse myself thinking of Oracle remembering this stuff and shaking her head.
Who's Next? A gambler in the Old West.
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