Batgirl

Barbara was formally introduced in 1967’s DETECTIVE COMICS #359 (shortly after she’d been introduced on the 1966 Baman TV show). In her earliest incarnation, she was a career-minded, driven young woman and head librarian at the Gotham City Public Library. One night, while wearing a Batgirl costume to a masquerade ball, she ran afoul of the Super-Villain Killer Moth, and helped Batman and Robin bring him to justice. Shortly thereafter, she regularly partnered with the Dynamic Duo. As time passed, Babs became a fan-favorite addition to the Batman Family. She went on to meet other Super Heroes in the DC universe and became especially good friends with Supergirl.

The adventures of Barbara and Dick Grayson were a feature in 1975’s ongoing BATMAN FAMILY. Although Dick was a college freshman and Barbara was a successful career woman, and eventually a congresswoman, the two enjoyed a flirtatious relationship in these stories. Dick also served as an assistant to Barbara in Washington. Barbara officially "retired" from her role as Batgirl in 1988’s BATGIRL SPECIAL #1. Shortly thereafter, in 1989’s THE KILLING JOKE, Barbara was shot by the Joker as a means of torturing her father, Jim Gordon. The gunshot wound left Barbara paralyzed and wheelchair bound.

In 1989’s SUICIDE SQUAD #23, Barbara began to re-emerge under the new codename of Oracle, and began specializing in hacking and providing intel and computer support for a network of allies. As Oracle, Babs was more integral to the DC Universe than ever before. Working far beyond the city limits of Gotham, she traveled wherever the flow of information took her. She worked at first in secret, for various teams, before her identity was officially. The years that followed saw Babs become a more prominent hero than ever before. She worked as the primary information broker for most every active Super Hero in the DC universe, as well as the chief liaison between various Super Hero teams and local law enforcement agencies; which she continued to access via her father's position.

Eventually, she formed a Gotham-based team known as the Birds of Prey with fellow hero Dinah Lance. The Birds became Babs' primary focus, even as she continued her solo global efforts as Oracle. Huntress and Lady Blackhawk eventually joined the Birds of Prey, and the group expanded its operation throughout neighboring cities. Following a massive earthquake and the subsequent declaration of Gotham City as a "No Man's Land" (in the 1999 event of the same name), Babs met Cassandra Cain, whom she would train as the new Batgirl—a role that had not been officially filled since Babs had been shot. Babs and Cassandra became close friends, and Babs dedicated her free time to helping the mute, unsocialized Cassandra integrate into society, teaching her basic language and communication skills.

Following the lifting of the No Man's Land sanctions, Babs reconnected with former flame Dick Grayson and the two rekindled their romantic relationship. Babs was forced to destroy the Clock Tower, her base of operations, in the fallout from 2004’s "War Games" storyline. The decision was so traumatic it inspired Babs to—for a time—sever ties with the Batman family and with Gotham City altogether. She relocated to Metropolis, where she worked during 2006’s INFINITE CRISIS and 2007’s "One Year Later" events. Around the same time, Barbara and Dick's romance fell apart. The two had become engaged, but the engagement was dissolved following Dick's relocation to New York City after the destruction of his home city of Blüdhaven (in 2006’s "Brothers in Blood" storyline).

Babs returned to Gotham City following the mysterious "death" of Batman in 2008’s FINAL CRISIS event. She worked closely with the remaining Batman family members to maintain order in the city in the Dark Knight’s absence. During this time, the mantle of Batgirl was passed to Stephanie Brown (a.k.a. the Spoiler), whom Babs reluctantly trained.