I did not even know that this character existed until someone put it on my messageboard. So I did some research. Her first appearance was in Detective Comics #233 and was only around in the 50s and 60s. This is probably why I'd never heard of her.
She was a one time trapeeze artist and stunt cycle rider in the circus. She admired Batman and had a dream of joining him in his crimefighting crusade. However, she didn't feel she had the resources. Then she inheirited a large amount of money from an uncle. She moved to Gotham's suburbs and had a mansion built over a mine tunnel. The mine was converted into the "Bat-Cavern". Batwoman donned a costume, "utility purse", and Bat-cycle and became Batman's friend and partner.
Bruce and Kathy got along just fine. In one elseworlds publication, they married and had a son that later became Robin II. (I have no idea what his name is, but I'd like to if anyone knows!) Batwoman and Batman also flirted, although there's no evidence (to the best of my knowledge) that either knew the others' identity. In an Earth II (another elseworlds) story, Kathy retired from the Batwoman role because Batman's attitude toward her changed suddenly and she assumed that he got married. In that version, the retired Batwoman married and had kids, but eventually returned to battle the evil Professor Hugo. But being Earth II, this is not generally accepted as her fate.
Batman tried to talk her out of the crimefighting business, of course. But she didn't heed his warning. Eventually, it cost her her life. In Detective Comics #485, Kathy was killed by the League of Assassins while Batman was unconscious from his attempted rescue. She died clutching her Batwoman costume.
BATGIRL-BETTY KANE Betty Kane first appeared in Batman #139. She was the niece of the aforementioned Batwoman, Kathy Kane. She discovered her aunt's secret life while spending the night at her mansion in Gotham. She watched on TV as Batwoman was fighting and tipped over cartons of gold stars (it was a school supply place that the bad guys were robbing). Then the stars showed up in Kathy's hairbrush. Betty figured it out.
This Batgirl had a "crime compact" and a Bat-scooter. She was also one of the many people who, at one point or another, crushed on Robin. She is now Flamebird (Mary Elizabeth "Bette" Kane) with no connection to the Bat-family.
BATGIRL-BARBARA GORDON
Without a doubt, Barbara is the best known of the Batgirls. She seems to be the one that's stuck in the cartoons, some comics, and general thinking of most Bat-fans.
In BTAS, when Barbara Gordon's father, the comissioner, was arrested for taking bribes from criminals, she knew something wasn't right. A rally was organized in an attempt to prove that he was innocent and should at LEAST be allowed out on bail. Barbara was determined to get Batman there to make a public appearance and show his support. When he refused, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Dressing up as Batman, she jumped from building to building, just enough to let the people know that she was there. However, there was a fight afterward, which she got herself involved in, and the press labled her "Batgirl".
She decided to conduct her own investigation on her father's arrest. Of course, she met up with Batman and Robin, and she more or less joined the team.
In most versions, Barbara is seen dating Dick Grayson. Their relationship really kicked off when he became Nightwing... except in BTAS. Since BB is the future of BTAS, we know of a few things that happened between the two series. According to BB "A Touch of Curare", after Dick left Gotham (following a bitter argument with Batman) to become Nightwing, he asked Batgirl to join him. However, she refused. She and Bruce began dating. Yes, Bruce Wayne. They broke up when she decided not to be Batgirl anymore.
The BTAS storyline followed the comics, which was almost exactly the same story. Later, sfter Barbara graduated college, she went to work for the police department, updating their crime files. She lived in a private townhouse near Park Ridge. In the secret basement, she stored her crimefighting gear. She remained Batgirl until the night she was shot.
After Batgirl was shot by the Joker (read his page for info on that), she became Oracle. (Note that Oracle never existed in BTAS, or BB to the best of my knowledge.) Oracle worked from behind her computer, unable to walk after the Joker's bullet severed her spine. She aided the Dark Knight by providing any information he needed from the computer.
BATGIRL-BARBARA WILSON
In Batman and Robin (the movie), we see a totally different Batgirl. She is Alfred's neice and becomes Batgirl with his help. She was visiting Wayne Manor and a dying Alfred (who didn't end up dying, in case you were wondering) gave her a computer disk to deliver to her other uncle. She figured out the password and found out all about Bruce and Dick's secret. Another major difference between her and other versions of Batgirl is that she covers her face like Robin, with just a little mask over her eyes, rather than a full mask.
If you read the book, which was based on the movie, you will find that Alfred was not actually related to Barbara. She was, instead, the daughter of a woman he dated long ago (Margaret/Peg). Since Alfred was twice her age, he broke up with her. But they kept in touch. To explain to a young Barbara who the man was, her parents called him "uncle".
BATGIRL-HELENA BERTINELLI
After Barbara became Oracle, Helena (Huntress) became Batgirl during No Man's Land when Batman was a no-show. She made major mistakes, but Batman allowed her to remain for the time being (when he returned). She thought he didn't know her identity, but in LOTDK #120, he revealed that he had known for quite some time. He took away the mantle of Batgirl after her final mistake, when she allowed some of his "territory" to be taken.
BATGIRL-CASSANDRA CAIN
This was ar girl I'd never heard about. She is the mute daughter of the assassin Cain who is the most recent Batgirl to be introduced. She can be found in Gotham Knights #1 and the No Man's Land novel. Allegedly, she fled from wherever Cain was because she didn't want to be an assassin herself. She was considered untouchable, and because her mind lacked organized thoughts, she was able to focus completely on physical terms. However, when a guy (anyone know who?) made it possible for her to think clearly, she lost her proper skills and was nearly killed--which is at the point that she's at now.
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