Batgirl has gone through several distinct incarnations in the pages of DC Comics. Originally, Betty Kane took up the mantle of Bat-Girl, sidekick to Batwoman who was her Aunt, Kathy Kane. The character only appeared from 1961 to 1964, mainly as a frustrated love interest for Robin.
In 1966, the Batgirl character was reintroduced with a new secret identity, Barbara Gordon, the niece of Police Commissioner Gordon. Every version of Batgirl that has appeared outside of the comic books has been based on this version of the character.
The Batman/Superman Hour
Jane Webb voiced Barbara Gordon/Batgirl for the Batman/Superman Hour, along side Olan Soule's Batman and Casey Kasem's Robin. Webb also provided the voice for Catwoman character. The show first aired in 1968 and was repackaged as Batman with Robin the Boy Wonder in 1969.
The New Adventures of Batman
Melendy Britt provided the voice of Batgirl in Filmation's 1977 series, opposite Adam West and Burt Ward who reprized their roles as the Dynamic Duo from the 1960's live action show. Britt, like Jane Webb before her, also voiced the role of Catwoman.
The Bruce Timm Era
Batgirl resurfaced during the 1990's in Batman the Animated Series. Voiced by Melissa Gilbert of Little House on the Prairie fame, Batgirl fought alongside Batman and Robin, but not regularly. The character returned in The New Batman Adventures, this time voiced by Tara Charendoff. In the New Batman Adventures, the idea that Batgirl and Batman are heading toward a romantic relationship shows up, while Barbara Gordon and Robin's alter ego Dick Grayson are romantically involved.
Barbara Gordon also shows up in the direct to video movie, Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero. She is kidnapped by Freeze who wants to use her as an unwilling organ donor for his terminally ill wife. A frantic Dick Grayson tries to stop the initial kidnapping and as Robin he is instrumental in saving Barbara's life. Batgirl appears only briefly at the beginning of the movie, but Barbara does use some Batgirl moves to save herself during the big rescue scene.
Barbara Gordon makes a brief on screen appearance in Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman to tease Batman about finding someone "closer to his own age", which further suggests a romantic entanglement between the two crime fighters.
In Batman Beyond, an aged Barbara Gordon has taken over the duties as Police Commissioner, a position once held by her father, Jim Gordon. Stockard Channing voiced the character who spent most of her time trying to discourage the new Batman, Terry McGuinness, from following in her former mentor's footsteps.
The Batman
In the third season of The Batman, Barbara Gordon once again becomes part of the Batman Family. For the first time, Batman teams up with Batgirl before Dick Grayson becomes Robin. This time the character is still a teenager, living with her father, Jim Gordon. As an uninvited participant in Batman's late night activities, the character must improvise her own tools and techniques until she is able to prove herself worthy of being "in the loop".
When Robin is introduced in the fourth season of the show, the two share a friendly but serious rivalry for the respect of their mentor, The Batman.
In The Batman, which ran for five seasons from 2004 to 2008, Batgirl is voiced by Danielle Judovits.
James Richardson - James Richardson is a freelance writer of fiction and non-fiction. He is the resident critic and recap writer of the television show LOST ...
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