Media adaptations of Barbara Gordon
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This article focuses on the adaptations of fictional superheroine Barbara Gordon into popular media. Originally created in 1967, the character has since been featured in live action television series such as Batman and Birds of Prey, as well as animated television series such as Batman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures and The Batman in her alter-egos as both Batgirl and Oracle.
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[edit] Live action television
[edit] Batman
Barbara Gordon and Batgirl were portrayed by Yvonne Craig in the third season of the Batman television series (1967-1968). Her Batgirl costume incorporated a long red wig to hide her avocado-style black hair.
In a promotional short,[1] librarian Barbara Gordon encounters billionaire Bruce Wayne and his "youthful ward" Dick Grayson at the city library. As Gordon and Wayne become acquainted, Killer Moth and his henchmen (in full costume) discuss a plan of attack. One henchman suggests taking Bruce Wayne hostage, but Killer Moth is reluctant, due to Wayne's alleged friendship with Batman. Moth directs the group to kidnap Wayne's business acquaintance instead, who also happens to be a billionaire. When Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson realize the presence of their adversaries, they quickly leave the library to change into Batman and Robin.
Meanwhile, Gordon is locked in the library's office by Killer Moth's henchmen, however, it is revealed there is a secret chamber within the office where she changes in Batgirl. When Batman and Robin arrive to apprehend Moth and his gang, all parties are shocked at the arrival of a Batgirl. Batman, Robin and Batgirl defeat the villains with relative ease and Batgirl vanishes without revealing her secret identity.
The promotional short was able to renew the series for a third season and add Batgirl to its regular cast. Batgirl's official debut was in the episode "Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin."[2] When The Penguin kidnaps Commissioner Gordon's daughter Barbara, the dynamic duo make it their mission to rescue her. Pretending to be locked behind a secured door, Barbara makes her transformation into Batgirl and assists Batman and Robin in defeating the Penguin. During the episode, Alfred Pennyworth discovers her secret identity but vows never to reveal it.
During the third season, Batgirl aided Batman and Robin in solving several mysteries and even saved them from near death on several occasions. Unfortunately, Batgirl's addition to the cast was not enough to save the series from cancellation. Although the promotional short has been mistakenly thought of as a pilot for Batgirl's own spin-off, it is highly unlikely ABC would have agreed to give her her own series since Batman had been in danger of cancellation since the end of its first season. According to the book DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes, Batgirl's addition to the cast "was a sign of desperation. Rating's were down and there was hope that a new character might give the show a shot in the arm."[3]
Yvonne Craig once again appeared as Batgirl in a 1972 television commercial supporting women's rights (specifically, equal pay).[4]
[edit] Birds of Prey
In 2002, Barbara Gordon was adapted as one of the main characters in the WB television series, Birds of Prey, in which she was played by Dina Meyer.[5] The series was loosely based on the comic book of the same name.
In the 70 minute pilot episode, Alfred Pennyworth narrates the events which have lead to the formation of the Birds of Prey. Years ago, when Batman defended the streets of Gotham City, he fathered a daughter to Catwoman which he never knew about. After the birth of her daughter Helena, Selena Kyle gave up her life as Catwoman and raised her child as a single mother. Bruce Wayne, oblivious to the fact that he has a child, continues to fight crime in Gotham as Batman. Alfred tells that he "had trained many protégés over the years and one of them was Barbara Gordon, who called herself Batgirl."
As Batman and Batgirl continued to fight the Joker for control of the city, the battle came to an end with Joker's loss. However, the Joker swore revenge not on Batman himself, but on those he loved. While a hit-man was sent to murder Catwoman, The Joker, in a scene adapted directly from The Killing Joke, guns down Barbara at her apartment. With Gordon paralyzed and Kyle dead, Batman abandons Gotham never to be seen again.
Seven years later in present day, Barbara Gordon has now become Oracle and has adopted and trained Helena Kyle; the vigilante known as The Huntress. They soon adopt Dinah Redmond and the three vow to protect the city of New Gotham. During the series, Oracle is briefly reunited with Black Canary, described as her original partner in Birds of Prey (and the mother of Dinah Redmond), and in one episode dons the Batgirl costume once more in order to face off with Lady Shiva (while using an electronic device that allows her to temporarily walk again). The series would last a total of thirteen episodes.
[edit] Animation
[edit] Batman with Robin the Boy Wonder
The Barbara Gordon version of Batgirl made her first animated appearance in the 1968 series Batman with Robin the Boy Wonder. Jane Webb provided her voice. Barbara Gordon, this time working in the District Attorney's office, made several appearances in both her civilian persona and as her alter ego in the 1977 Saturday morning animated series The New Adventures of Batman. Despite the fact that Adam West and Burt Ward reprised their roles to provide the voices for Batman and Robin, Batgirl was voiced by Melendy Britt.[6]
[edit] Superfriends
Although not appearing in the television show, Batgirl does appear in some of the merchandise produced for the show. [7] [8]
[edit] DC Animated Universe
Barbara Gordon has also appeared as Batgirl, in Bruce Timm's DC Animated Universe. In Batman: The Animated Series, she was voiced by Melissa Gilbert.[9] Mary Kay Bergman provided her voice in the animated movie Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero. An older Barbara Gordon, now Police commissioner, appeared in Batman Beyond, voiced first by Stockard Channing and later by Angie Harmon. Harmon reprised her role in the film Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, and Tara Strong provided the voice of the younger Barbara Gordon during flashback sequences.
[edit] Batman: The Animated Series
The character is introduced as Barbara Gordon in the first season of Batman: The Animated Series two-part episode "Heart of Steel."[10] In the second season premiere, "Shadow of the Bat" (another two-part episode), Commissioner Gordon is framed for corruption. Barbara contacts Batman and asks him to appear at a rally to support Gordon, but Batman declines, citing more important things to do. Barbara Gordon decides to impersonate Batman, intending only to be seen in the shadows. However, when there is a drive-by shooting, she leaps into action to assist. Robin appears as well, and attempts to grab her, but only succeeds in ripping the back of her mask, causing her hair to spill out. Media articles the next day beg the question "Who is Batgirl?" Gordon decides she can accomplish her goal with greater ease as Batgirl than as a civilian. She discovers who is behind the frame-up and goes to rescue her father, only to complicate the rescue already underway by Batman and Robin. In the end, Batgirl is the one who captures the criminal. Although Batman had been critical of her at first, he changes his mind after witnessing her capabilities.
[edit] Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero
In Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, Barbara Gordon is kidnapped by an associate of Mr. Freeze because she is an exact match for a transplant needed to save Freeze's wife. The bulk of the film showcases Barbara Gordon (not in her Batgirl costume) using her skills to evade Mr. Freeze while trying to escape his hideout. Eventually, Batman and Robin locate her, and the three of them manage to destroy Mr. Freeze's hideout and escape.[11]
[edit] The New Batman Adventures
During the The New Batman Adventures (and Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman) Barbara was voiced by Tara Strong.[12] After making only a few appearances in Batman: The Animated Series, Batman allows her into the Batcave, and she becomes a main character during The New Batman Adventures. Batgirl was made an addition to the cast with producer Bruce Timm stating, "The consumer products division and the people at the WB wanted to make sure kids would watch the show, so they strongly suggested we include Batgirl and Robin as a way of courting young girl audiences as well as young boys...We liked the Batgirl character and I certainly didn't mind putting her in the show."[13] She develops a romantic relationship with Dick Grayson/Robin, but it does not last. Along with all other characters in the series, Barbara's civilian and superhero identity were redesigned. Her Batgirl costume was changed to a black body suit with yellow gloves and boots to match her original comic book design.
[edit] Gotham Girls
Babara Gordon is also a featured character in the Flash animated web series Gotham Girls (2002). A joint production of Warner Bros. and Noodle Soup Productions, the series stars Batgirl protecting Gotham City from the criminal activities of Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn. Although not restricted to the animated continuity, the main characters were adapted from The New Batman Adventures.
[edit] Justice League
The character in this continuity also made several brief cameo appearances in the Justice League series. Once in "The Savage Time" (Part I), in the alternate timeline where she can be seen kissing an alternate Dick Grayson (this was confirmed by the producers of the show). Also, she made a cameo appearance in "Hereafter" with Tim at Superman's funeral. She was also mentioned briefly in "Comfort and Joy,"[14] when Clark Kent asks his mother where Supergirl was. Mrs. Kent responded, "She's skiing with Barbara." Batgirl and Supergirl had been established as close friends in the New Batman Adventures episode "Girl's Night Out."
[edit] Justice League Unlimited
Originally, Barbara Gordon was going to appear in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Double Date" scripted by Birds of Prey author Gail Simone. The episode would been Oracle's animated debut, but because of the restrictions on Batman-related characters, Gordon was replaced with Green Arrow and The Question.[15]
[edit] Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman
In the movie Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman, Gordon appears briefly when she calls Bruce to find out who the Batwoman is. She expresses jealousy, and Bruce dodges the issue by faking cellular phone problems. This is the only scene in which Gordon appears. In the movie Barbara has a crush on Bruce which she expresses with hinting that she misses him.In the mvie Barbara is unawre that Bruce is dating Kathleen Duquesne a.k.a Batwoman. [16]
[edit] Batman Beyond
In "Rebirth", the pilot for Batman Beyond, an aging, retired Bruce Wayne tells Terry McGinnis to take evidence to "Police Commissioner Barbara Gordon." McGinnis is prevented from doing so, which leads to him becoming the new Batman. In later episodes, McGinnis meets her, and she resents Wayne dragging another kid into his world, but she develops respect for the new Batman when he assists her in defending her husband, Gotham District Attorney Sam Young, from the assassin Curare. She states that a few bullet wounds ended her career as Batgirl, but shows that she is still skilled with a batarang. During the series Gordon also reveals to Terry that she and Bruce developed a romantic relationship at one point, stating that "on the streets it was like ballet."
[edit] Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
In Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, the Joker kidnaps Robin (Tim Drake) and brainwashes him to be "Joker Junior." Joker tells Drake to kill Batman, and he instead kills the Joker. Batman and Batgirl bury the Joker under Arkham Asylum and cover the events with the aid of Commissioner Gordon. When the Joker seemingly returns from the dead, Terry goes to her when Bruce refuses to talk about how he knows that this cannot be the Joker. She not only tells him how the real Joker died, but also explains her history with the original Batman and helps reconcile the friendship between the two.
[edit] The Batman
In 2005, the Barbara Gordon Batgirl began appearing on the The Batman animated series, voiced by Danielle Judovits.[17] On the show, Barbara is a normal teenager who is best friends with Pamela Isley. After an incident at Chlorogene with Temblor and Batman, Pamela transforms into the villainous Poison Ivy. Inspired by the Dark Knight, Barbara makes a costume and primitive version of his weapons to become Batgirl. Although she appears before Robin in this series, Robin still becomes Batman's "official partner", which Batgirl resents at first. Batman finally lets her into the fold and revealed his secret identity to her. An older version of Barbara, in the guise of Oracle, voiced by Kellie Martin, also appears in the Season Four episode "Artifacts". Her appearance, set in 2027, shows her using a wheelchair and operating as control center for Batman. She mockingly claims to have trouble remembering that Dick Grayson changed his codename from "Robin" to "Nightwing".
[edit] Film
[edit] Batman & Robin
Batgirl, portrayed by actress Alicia Silverstone, appears in the 1997 movie Batman & Robin. The film's "Barbara Wilson" is clearly based on Barbara Gordon, except that in the movie, Barbara is the niece of Alfred Pennyworth rather than Commissioner Gordon.[18] Her costume varies significantly from traditional versions, with no yellow coloring and a domino mask, also like Robin's. However, during the film's climax where she, Batman and Robin where silver riding costumes to protect them from Mister Freeze's ice. This costume features a full skull cap that more closely resembles Barbara Gordon's traditional mask.
[edit] Batman Begins
In Batman Begins, a child is seen briefly at Detective James Gordon's apartment. Through the window, the detective's wife was nursing their two-year old child. According to Dennis O'Neil's novelization, the infant was a young Barbara Gordon. The James' wife—played by Ilyssa Fradin—was also named Barbara, similar to Batgirl's aunt and namegiver.[19][20] Her maiden name was Kean, much like the comics' version. [21]
[edit] Video games
Barbara Gordon has also been adapted into several video games as both payable and non-playable characters. She appears as Oracle in the video games Batman: Dark Tomorrow[22] and as Batgirl in the video game, Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu,[23] and Batman Vengeance.[24] Although, in Batman Vengeance Batgirl is not playable; her role is comparable to Oracle's. These games are available on Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox.
[edit] References
- ^ Batgirl Promotional Short (1967). Retrieved on 2007-09-11.
- ^ "["Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin"]". ["Batman"]. 1967-09-14. No. 1, season 3.
- ^ Daniels, Les (1995). DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes. Bulfinch, pg. 141. ISBN 0-8212-2076-4.
- ^ Yvonne Craig as Batgirl in a Public Service Announcement for the U.S. Department of Labor
- ^ "["Pilot"]". ["Birds of Prey"]. 2002-10-09. No. 1, season 1.
- ^ http://www.batmannews.de/gotham_city_central/flugelheim_museum/pics/batman_robin/pics_big/batgirl4.jpg
- ^ http://batgirlarchives.8m.com/images/sfbag.jpg
- ^ http://batgirlarchives.8m.com/images/lunch.jpg
- ^ "["Shadow of the Bat"]". ["Batman: The Animated Series"]. 1993-09-13. No. 1, season 2.
- ^ "["Heart of Steel"]". ["Batman: The Animated Series"]. No. 39, season 1.
- ^ Review for Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero
- ^ "["Holiday Knights"]". ["Batman Gotham Knights"]. 1997-09-13. No. 1, season 1.
- ^ Nolen-Weathington, Eric (2004). Modern Masters Volume 3: Bruce Timm. TwoMorrows Publishing. ISBN 1893905306.
- ^ "["Comfort and Joy"]". ["Justice League Unlimited"]. 1993-09-13. No. 39, season 1.
- ^ Gail Simone speaks on JLU "Double Date"
- ^ Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman
- ^ Batgirl Begins
- ^ Batman & Robin
- ^ Batman Begins: The Screenplay
- ^ Batman Begins - Novelization by Dennis O'Neil p. 190-191
- ^ Detective Comics #500
- ^ Gamespy review for Batman: Dark Tomorrow
- ^ Gamespy review for Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu
- ^ Gamespy review for Batman Vengence
[edit] External links
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