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Batgirl
Showcase Presents: Batgirl, Vol. 1
This value-priced collection features over 500 pages of classic comics starting at the height of the Batman craze of the 1960s Batman's circle of allies expanded when young Barbara Gordon, daughter of Police Commissioner Gordon, took up crimefighting as Batgirl In these fast-paced, fun stories, Batgirl learns what it takes to battle evil in the streets of Gotham City from the Dynamic Duo, while taking on a string of unforgettable foes.
548 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2007
8 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Gardner Francis Fox
1,192 books90 followersGardner Francis Cooper Fox was an American writer known best for creating numerous comic book characters for DC Comics. Comic book historians estimate that he wrote more than 4,000 comics stories, including 1,500 for DC Comics.
Fox is known as the co-creator of DC Comics heroes the Flash, Hawkman, Doctor Fate and the original Sandman, and was the writer who first teamed those and other heroes as the Justice Society of America. Fox introduced the concept of the Multiverse to DC Comics in the 1961 story "Flash of Two Worlds!"
Pseudonyms: Gardner F. Fox, Jefferson Cooper, Bart Sommers, Paul Dean, Ray Gardner, Lynna Cooper, Rod Gray, Larry Dean, Robert Starr, Don Blake, Ed Blake, Warner Blake, Michael Blake, Tex Blane, Willis Blane, Ed Carlisle, Edgar Weston, Tex Slade, Eddie Duane, Simon Majors, James Kendricks, Troy Conway, Kevin Matthews, Glen Chase
Fox is known as the co-creator of DC Comics heroes the Flash, Hawkman, Doctor Fate and the original Sandman, and was the writer who first teamed those and other heroes as the Justice Society of America. Fox introduced the concept of the Multiverse to DC Comics in the 1961 story "Flash of Two Worlds!"
Pseudonyms: Gardner F. Fox, Jefferson Cooper, Bart Sommers, Paul Dean, Ray Gardner, Lynna Cooper, Rod Gray, Larry Dean, Robert Starr, Don Blake, Ed Blake, Warner Blake, Michael Blake, Tex Blane, Willis Blane, Ed Carlisle, Edgar Weston, Tex Slade, Eddie Duane, Simon Majors, James Kendricks, Troy Conway, Kevin Matthews, Glen Chase
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 2, 2015
This review is part of a team buddy read with Shallow Comic Reader Club. This week's theme: comics featuring a female lead.
Did you know that Barbara Gordon was once a Congresswoman representing part of Gotham City?
Elected on a Fusion Party ticket, with the platform of prison reform, cleaning up the slums, creating new jobs, and stopping “dope-traffic,” Barbara’s election would pretty much put a stop to her career as Batgirl. She was elected in 1972, the year of Richard Nixon’s re-election, so maybe he had something to do with it, but I think it was more a case of DC getting rid of a character who was pretty popular. It would be another three years before she appeared in a regular feature again, although she had three guest appearances with Superman in his own magazine, and with Supergirl in Superman Family.
Created at the height of the Batman TV show craze, Batgirl had some pretty great roots. Her creators were Gardner Fox, science fiction author and scribe of most of DC’s Silver Age titles at one point or another, including a 60+ run on Justice League of America, and artist Carmine Infantino, who gave us the classic Silver Age Flash and introduced modern aesthetics (for 1956) into the DC line of titles. Both of these men were heavy weights in DC’s Golden Age, contributing to stories about the Justice Society, Flash, Black Canary, and others. Pretty good lineage, if you ask me.
Barbara Gordon was on her way to a fancy dress party one night when she stopped after seeing at attempted abduction of millionaire Bruce Wayne during a highway robbery. Having a “Batgirl” costume in her trunk, she donned those threads and helped put a stop to the villains (Killer Moth, y’all), and rescuing Wayne in the process. Before long, Barbara, a mousy librarian type, was fighting alongside the Dynamic Duo, breaking up crime sprees left and right.
Early on, we learn that Barbara has a photographic memory, a PhD, and is a high level martial arts expert. Although she early on declares she has no romantic interest in Batman, this being the 1960s, she will find herself on the receiving end of Catwoman’s jealousy, engaged in a cat fight with Wonder Woman over the attentions of Batman, and even joins a group dedicated to forcing Batman to choose a bride for once and for all. Of course, all of these things result in Batgirl going undercover or helping Batman with a ruse, so it’s not as ridiculous as it sounds (well, ok, yes it is). Fox also channels his inner Stan Lee by having Batgirl constantly refer to her “feminine intuition.”
Soon advancing to her own back up feature in Detective Comics, Batgirl really shines under the pen of Frank Robbins, who gives us a modern woman, a true detective as much as a Batman, and even a personal life, all in the space of eight pages a month. Artist Don Heck, who was the artist on Avengers for a number of years, turns in some of his best work here, although his art is not for everyone. The best plot line is the slow realization of Commissioner Gordon that his daughter is the Dominoed Daredevil. Although some of the stories are “female centered,” with Batgirl fighting off fashion thieves and a crazy wig-maker, they’re actually not at all as strong-fisted as the stories from the mid-60s.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed these tales. I didn't feel they were that badly dated, like many stories from that day. There’s less sexism, particularly as the stories progress, than I would have thought, also. With only one or two exceptions (that silly Batgirl vs Wonder Woman story in particular), I thoroughly enjoyed all the stories here.
One point about Barbara’s age. It’s pretty clear that the writers pegged her close to the age of Batman, which in the pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths was usually said to be “around 29,” same as Superman. She had a PhD and certainly had to be over the age of 25 to get elected to Congress (because of the Constitution), so she was definitely in her mid to late 20s. Robin, on the other hand, was definitely a teenager when Batgirl first showed up on the scene, and on the younger end of the teen-aged years at that. I don’t remember the first time Robin and Batgirl acknowledged some kind of romantic attraction, but it does mean that Dick Grayson likes his women older. I’m pretty sure it was when Robin was in college, so that means Barbara should have been in her early 30s. AT LEAST. Talk about robbing the cradle. Of course, in the New 52, Barbara is now around the same age as Dick. Oh, well.
Some of the other creators in this volume are Murphy Anderson, Gil Kane, Neal Adams, Curt Swan, Elliott S! Maggin, Denny O’Neill, and Mike Sekowsky. Long time comics fans will know who these guys are. Masters all.
Did you know that Barbara Gordon was once a Congresswoman representing part of Gotham City?
Elected on a Fusion Party ticket, with the platform of prison reform, cleaning up the slums, creating new jobs, and stopping “dope-traffic,” Barbara’s election would pretty much put a stop to her career as Batgirl. She was elected in 1972, the year of Richard Nixon’s re-election, so maybe he had something to do with it, but I think it was more a case of DC getting rid of a character who was pretty popular. It would be another three years before she appeared in a regular feature again, although she had three guest appearances with Superman in his own magazine, and with Supergirl in Superman Family.
Created at the height of the Batman TV show craze, Batgirl had some pretty great roots. Her creators were Gardner Fox, science fiction author and scribe of most of DC’s Silver Age titles at one point or another, including a 60+ run on Justice League of America, and artist Carmine Infantino, who gave us the classic Silver Age Flash and introduced modern aesthetics (for 1956) into the DC line of titles. Both of these men were heavy weights in DC’s Golden Age, contributing to stories about the Justice Society, Flash, Black Canary, and others. Pretty good lineage, if you ask me.
Barbara Gordon was on her way to a fancy dress party one night when she stopped after seeing at attempted abduction of millionaire Bruce Wayne during a highway robbery. Having a “Batgirl” costume in her trunk, she donned those threads and helped put a stop to the villains (Killer Moth, y’all), and rescuing Wayne in the process. Before long, Barbara, a mousy librarian type, was fighting alongside the Dynamic Duo, breaking up crime sprees left and right.
Early on, we learn that Barbara has a photographic memory, a PhD, and is a high level martial arts expert. Although she early on declares she has no romantic interest in Batman, this being the 1960s, she will find herself on the receiving end of Catwoman’s jealousy, engaged in a cat fight with Wonder Woman over the attentions of Batman, and even joins a group dedicated to forcing Batman to choose a bride for once and for all. Of course, all of these things result in Batgirl going undercover or helping Batman with a ruse, so it’s not as ridiculous as it sounds (well, ok, yes it is). Fox also channels his inner Stan Lee by having Batgirl constantly refer to her “feminine intuition.”
Soon advancing to her own back up feature in Detective Comics, Batgirl really shines under the pen of Frank Robbins, who gives us a modern woman, a true detective as much as a Batman, and even a personal life, all in the space of eight pages a month. Artist Don Heck, who was the artist on Avengers for a number of years, turns in some of his best work here, although his art is not for everyone. The best plot line is the slow realization of Commissioner Gordon that his daughter is the Dominoed Daredevil. Although some of the stories are “female centered,” with Batgirl fighting off fashion thieves and a crazy wig-maker, they’re actually not at all as strong-fisted as the stories from the mid-60s.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed these tales. I didn't feel they were that badly dated, like many stories from that day. There’s less sexism, particularly as the stories progress, than I would have thought, also. With only one or two exceptions (that silly Batgirl vs Wonder Woman story in particular), I thoroughly enjoyed all the stories here.
One point about Barbara’s age. It’s pretty clear that the writers pegged her close to the age of Batman, which in the pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths was usually said to be “around 29,” same as Superman. She had a PhD and certainly had to be over the age of 25 to get elected to Congress (because of the Constitution), so she was definitely in her mid to late 20s. Robin, on the other hand, was definitely a teenager when Batgirl first showed up on the scene, and on the younger end of the teen-aged years at that. I don’t remember the first time Robin and Batgirl acknowledged some kind of romantic attraction, but it does mean that Dick Grayson likes his women older. I’m pretty sure it was when Robin was in college, so that means Barbara should have been in her early 30s. AT LEAST. Talk about robbing the cradle. Of course, in the New 52, Barbara is now around the same age as Dick. Oh, well.
Some of the other creators in this volume are Murphy Anderson, Gil Kane, Neal Adams, Curt Swan, Elliott S! Maggin, Denny O’Neill, and Mike Sekowsky. Long time comics fans will know who these guys are. Masters all.
August 5, 2007
This cover has an atrocious splash page in which Batgirl is standing in the foreground working on putting on her lipstick with her Batcompact while the boys, Batman and Robin brawl it out in the background, doing men's work of course. As a Batgirl lover this really burns me (i know its from one of the stories). Her origin alone should explain why Barbara Gordon shouldn't be given such shoddy treatment, and even when some of the stories have abused the glamour and sexiness of Batgirl with run stockings in the middle of fights, these early stories also show a women ready to take on the bad guys on her own terms. Not Batman's terms, Batgirl's.
Why DC, did you have to choose this sexist portrayal as the cover to Batgirl's Showcase? Why?
Some of the stories are quite hilarious because they are so shoddily plotted. I deeply enjoyed the Supergirl/Batgirl story where they together plot to make Batman and Superman look bad. But the Wonder Woman vs Batgirl story for the love of Batman is just so unbelievably bad is has to be read to be disbelieved.
Why DC, did you have to choose this sexist portrayal as the cover to Batgirl's Showcase? Why?
Some of the stories are quite hilarious because they are so shoddily plotted. I deeply enjoyed the Supergirl/Batgirl story where they together plot to make Batman and Superman look bad. But the Wonder Woman vs Batgirl story for the love of Batman is just so unbelievably bad is has to be read to be disbelieved.
October 6, 2007
Usually I prefer my comics in pure color, but as a major fan of the Barbara Gordon Batgirl, I had to get this, just to have a good idea of what was going on with her character back then. The cover depicted is not the one on the collection though and is rather a campy cover that shows a scene from one of the most controversial Batgirl stories ever: "Batgirl's Costume Cut-Ups." I actually thought that taken as pure camp, that story was pretty good, but I understand why it would be controversial as well.
As far as other stories, I think Batgirl was portrayed rather well, for the most part she seemed to have her wits about her and she definitely didn't need to always be saved by Batman and Robin.
So if you want to see how Batgirl's character changed from the Swingin' Sixties into the Seventies, give this one a try.
As far as other stories, I think Batgirl was portrayed rather well, for the most part she seemed to have her wits about her and she definitely didn't need to always be saved by Batman and Robin.
So if you want to see how Batgirl's character changed from the Swingin' Sixties into the Seventies, give this one a try.
June 1, 2017
Comics aren't "my genre" but I did it and can mark it off my #ReadHarderChallenge2017 from #BookRiot
August 18, 2017
Other than the THREE times the writers have Babs flout her profession's code of ethics, I really enjoyed seeing the earliest days of Batgirl. Of course I rolled by eyes at each mention of Babs femininity as a detriment to her crime fighting, but that's to be expected - unfortunately. I don't really want to harp the comics writers inability to research librarianship and the importance to patron privacy, but as someone who wants to become a librarian, that REALLY REALLY bothered me. The woman has a PhD in Library Science and you're really gonna tell me she conveniently missed THAT REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF BEING A LIBRARIAN.
Anyway, I love Babs and people need to feel less confident in their ability to just wing things instead of actually putting research into what they are talking about, but that's none of my business.
Anyway, I love Babs and people need to feel less confident in their ability to just wing things instead of actually putting research into what they are talking about, but that's none of my business.
February 6, 2009
When Batman was at the peak of his Sixties popularity a new, mod-influenced Batgirl was created to conform to the times. She was tough, sexy and funny.
Only problem was after a year she was just as dull and stodgy as Batman. Seems like DC got bored very quickly with her. Too bad, because she had boatloads of potential, but the comics industry is run by idiots anyway. These comics are pretty dated but that's half the fun. It's like watching old reruns of "Get Smart".
Only problem was after a year she was just as dull and stodgy as Batman. Seems like DC got bored very quickly with her. Too bad, because she had boatloads of potential, but the comics industry is run by idiots anyway. These comics are pretty dated but that's half the fun. It's like watching old reruns of "Get Smart".
October 1, 2012
If this is the best they could come up with for a collection, then the rest of the catalog must be epically bad. Sexist, Racist, Poorly Written and filled with shockingly pandering attempts at being 'relevant' and 'socially responsible', unless you are a fan of unintentionally comedy or a masochist, avoid this at all costs.
June 4, 2025
It's Spring of 1967. The novelty of ABC's live-action comic book, Batman, is beginning to wane. Producer William Dozier is desperate for a third season. Clocking in at 94 episodes, Batman is just inches away from the 100 episode golden parachute that will, at the time, guarantee that the show will live on in syndication.
DC Comics is also hoping for a third season. The live action series starring Adam West and Burt Ward sparked a renewed interest in DC Comics, which had been consistently beaten in sales to Marvel Comics in recent years. Bat-mania had become the source of a licensing boom of everything from toy cars to trading cards for DC.
The idea of a new character offered hope for that third season. During initial planning stages, editor Julius Schwartz suggested that the new character be female in order to attract new female viewers. Schwartz and Dozier agreed that the new character continues with the Bat theme of the show and be known as Batgirl. However, there had already been a Bat-Girl in the pages of Batman back in the 1950s and Schwartz had buried the character for being too corny. Thus a new Batgirl would need to be created.
Legend has it that it was William Dozier who decided that Batgirl would be Barbara 'Babs' Gordon, daughter of police commissioner Jim Gordon. After viewing a concept sketch of the new Batgirl by Carmine Infantino, Dozier optioned the character for use on the series and a 7-minute long intro pilot was filmed. Along with cutting the number of shows from twice per week to just one, ABC was excited with the new character and green-lit a third season.
Batgirl was to be portrayed by actress Yvonne Craig, a veteran of a pair of Elvis films. Dressed in a sparkling purple catsuit, Craig's Batgirl debuted first on the airwaves in the September 14th episode titled 'Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin.' In that episode's closing credits, sole ownership of Batgirl was attributed to DC Comics.
To build up hype, DC Comics introduced the new Batgirl in the pages of Detective Comics #359, albeit with a new origin story. Like in the intro pilot, the first main villain Batgirl tangles with is Killer Moth. However, instead of rescuing Batman and Robin from the fiend's cocoon trap, comic book Batgirl arrives on the scene stumbling upon Bruce Wayne being kidnapped by the foe while on her way to a costume ball dressed as a female version of the Caped Crusader. Good thing she knows judo and other methods of physical defense!
Despite being advised by Batman to hang up her cowl as it's not ladylike fighting crime and all that, Batgirl eventually becomes one of the Dynamic Duo's most trusted allies. But not before testing the romantic waters with Batman! Early on, Catwoman eyes Batgirl as a barrier to her affections with Batman, turning into a heroine in hopes of wooing the vigilante. Batman then recruits both Batgirl and Wonder Woman to pretend to fall head over heels in love for the hero, in a bizarre plot to trap the serpentine for, Copperhead.
This book sees the foundation of a decades long relationship with perhaps her true love, Dick Grayson in a 2-part murder mystery with an Edgar Allan Poe theme. Soon after, a new paramour is introduced in Babs' life; the amateur sleuth Jason Bard. Gordon will solve crimes with the young man as both an expert librarian and as Batgirl. While Bard won't put 2-and-2 together that the two fiery redheads in his life are the same woman, an important person in Barbara's life will make the connection; her father, Jim Gordon.
While investigating the murder of a Gotham City police officer, Batgirl uncovers a plot to murder the Commissioner by framing a known radical cop-hater. When a sniper sneaks up upon Gordon, Batgirl accidentally calls out a warning to 'Dad', leading the commissioner to deduce the true identity of Batgirl. A couple stories later, Barbara reveals her secret identity to dear old dad before taking his place as candidate for US Congress.
When Babs wins the congressional race, it's assumed that Batgirl will go in retirement. However, a year later in the pages of Superman, of all places, Batgirl returns to save reporter Clark Kent from a Washington DC based spy ring. This massive volume of Showcase Presents ends with a Batgirl/Man of Steel reunion in Metropolis before Batgirl and her BFF, Supergirl team up for the fourth time to stop a girl claiming to be Cleopatra from becoming the new queen of the United States of America.
Had DC not shut down the fan favorite Showcase Presents line of reprints, fans would have gotten to see more of Batgirl's life in the nation's capitol before beginning a series of team-ups with Robin, now a college aged man. These Batgirl adventures would appear in the anthology title Batman Family before returning to the backup feature status in Detective Comics. With 1985's Crisis, Batgirl wasn't retconned. But her importance was lessened. Many of her adventures were now retooled to have taken place with Power Girl instead of Supergirl. 1988's The Killing Joke would redefine Barbara Gordon's importance in the Bat Family, when she's left a paraplegic from a bullet fired by the Joker. Now operating in the shadows, Babs would become Batman's eyes and ears as the tech-savvy Oracle before being granted the ability to walk once again thanks to an experimental surgery using nanobot implants.
DC Comics is also hoping for a third season. The live action series starring Adam West and Burt Ward sparked a renewed interest in DC Comics, which had been consistently beaten in sales to Marvel Comics in recent years. Bat-mania had become the source of a licensing boom of everything from toy cars to trading cards for DC.
The idea of a new character offered hope for that third season. During initial planning stages, editor Julius Schwartz suggested that the new character be female in order to attract new female viewers. Schwartz and Dozier agreed that the new character continues with the Bat theme of the show and be known as Batgirl. However, there had already been a Bat-Girl in the pages of Batman back in the 1950s and Schwartz had buried the character for being too corny. Thus a new Batgirl would need to be created.
Legend has it that it was William Dozier who decided that Batgirl would be Barbara 'Babs' Gordon, daughter of police commissioner Jim Gordon. After viewing a concept sketch of the new Batgirl by Carmine Infantino, Dozier optioned the character for use on the series and a 7-minute long intro pilot was filmed. Along with cutting the number of shows from twice per week to just one, ABC was excited with the new character and green-lit a third season.
Batgirl was to be portrayed by actress Yvonne Craig, a veteran of a pair of Elvis films. Dressed in a sparkling purple catsuit, Craig's Batgirl debuted first on the airwaves in the September 14th episode titled 'Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin.' In that episode's closing credits, sole ownership of Batgirl was attributed to DC Comics.
To build up hype, DC Comics introduced the new Batgirl in the pages of Detective Comics #359, albeit with a new origin story. Like in the intro pilot, the first main villain Batgirl tangles with is Killer Moth. However, instead of rescuing Batman and Robin from the fiend's cocoon trap, comic book Batgirl arrives on the scene stumbling upon Bruce Wayne being kidnapped by the foe while on her way to a costume ball dressed as a female version of the Caped Crusader. Good thing she knows judo and other methods of physical defense!
Despite being advised by Batman to hang up her cowl as it's not ladylike fighting crime and all that, Batgirl eventually becomes one of the Dynamic Duo's most trusted allies. But not before testing the romantic waters with Batman! Early on, Catwoman eyes Batgirl as a barrier to her affections with Batman, turning into a heroine in hopes of wooing the vigilante. Batman then recruits both Batgirl and Wonder Woman to pretend to fall head over heels in love for the hero, in a bizarre plot to trap the serpentine for, Copperhead.
This book sees the foundation of a decades long relationship with perhaps her true love, Dick Grayson in a 2-part murder mystery with an Edgar Allan Poe theme. Soon after, a new paramour is introduced in Babs' life; the amateur sleuth Jason Bard. Gordon will solve crimes with the young man as both an expert librarian and as Batgirl. While Bard won't put 2-and-2 together that the two fiery redheads in his life are the same woman, an important person in Barbara's life will make the connection; her father, Jim Gordon.
While investigating the murder of a Gotham City police officer, Batgirl uncovers a plot to murder the Commissioner by framing a known radical cop-hater. When a sniper sneaks up upon Gordon, Batgirl accidentally calls out a warning to 'Dad', leading the commissioner to deduce the true identity of Batgirl. A couple stories later, Barbara reveals her secret identity to dear old dad before taking his place as candidate for US Congress.
When Babs wins the congressional race, it's assumed that Batgirl will go in retirement. However, a year later in the pages of Superman, of all places, Batgirl returns to save reporter Clark Kent from a Washington DC based spy ring. This massive volume of Showcase Presents ends with a Batgirl/Man of Steel reunion in Metropolis before Batgirl and her BFF, Supergirl team up for the fourth time to stop a girl claiming to be Cleopatra from becoming the new queen of the United States of America.
Had DC not shut down the fan favorite Showcase Presents line of reprints, fans would have gotten to see more of Batgirl's life in the nation's capitol before beginning a series of team-ups with Robin, now a college aged man. These Batgirl adventures would appear in the anthology title Batman Family before returning to the backup feature status in Detective Comics. With 1985's Crisis, Batgirl wasn't retconned. But her importance was lessened. Many of her adventures were now retooled to have taken place with Power Girl instead of Supergirl. 1988's The Killing Joke would redefine Barbara Gordon's importance in the Bat Family, when she's left a paraplegic from a bullet fired by the Joker. Now operating in the shadows, Babs would become Batman's eyes and ears as the tech-savvy Oracle before being granted the ability to walk once again thanks to an experimental surgery using nanobot implants.
April 28, 2016
Only made it to p 257. Really wanted to enjoy this, but it's so dated and sexist. I know, these comics are from 1967-75, what was I expecting? Guess I didn't expect it to bother me so much. Will try to finish it another time.
April 19, 2018
A pretty good mix of serious and crazy early Batgirl stories, a fun read for any Barbara Gordon fan. The first stories were the best; Frank Robbins just writes horrible Batgirl stories and he was way too overfeatured here...
June 22, 2020
Beautiful actress Yvonne Craig passed away in August 2015. She played the slave girl Marta in classic ‘Star Trek’ episode ‘Whom Gods Destroy’ (1969) but was best known for playing Batgirl in the third and final season of the camp/pop-art 1960s ‘Batman’ television series. That being so, I thought a review of the ‘DC Showcase’ edition of Batgirl would be an apt tribute. Rumour has it that she cared enough about the character to protest to DC when Alan Moore had her brutalised in ‘The Killing Joke’.
The stories in ‘DC Showcase Presents: Batgirl’ are lighter in tone than that, certainly at first. She didn’t get her own strip to start with but featured in those of other heroes, usually ‘Batman’. Her first appearance was Detective Comics # 359 in a tale entitled ‘The Million Dollar Debut Of Batgirl’. Barbara Gordon, daughter of the esteemed Commissioner of Gotham City, is a quiet librarian. For a costume party, she makes herself a Batgirl outfit but, en route to the do, she happens across Bruce Wayne being attacked by Killer Moth and his gang. They are running a protection racket where they beat up millionaires. The ‘masked maiden’ saves Bruce. Later the ‘dominoed dare-doll’ gets more involved in the case and acquits herself well enough to earn Batman’s respect and approval. Gardner Fox wrote the script and the assorted soubriquets for the heroine. Carmine Infantino drew her shapely form.
Her ‘shapely form’ was useful in issue Detective Comics # 371 ‘Batgirl’s Costume Cut-ups’ when she used her legs to distract a criminal fighting Batman. The overall tone of this story is not one likely to win approval from modern feminists. Batgirl fails to catch bad guys because she is distracted by mud on her uniform or her mask slipping or some other ’womanly’ concern The splash page for it makes the cover of this ‘Showcase’ edition. It’s probably worth mentioning that Neal Adams did the art for World’s Finest # 176, a four-way team-up with Superman, Supergirl, Batman and Batgirl.
Batgirl featured in Justice League of America # 60’s story ‘Winged Warriors Of The Immortal Queen’. It’s the usual Gardner Fox routine of splitting the JLA into sub-teams to perform individual missions but I thought Mike Sekowsky’s art was a bit influenced by Gil Kane, some of the figure poses being similar. Gil Kane was the first artist when Batgirl got her own strip in Detective Comics # 384 (Feb. 1969) and did his usual stylish job, beautifully inked by Murphy Anderson. This was a fairly regular 8-page back-up strip with one story normally spread over two parts. Most of the scripts are by Frank Robbins but Mike Friedrich started it off and Denny O’Neil contributed a few. These pages by Kane and Anderson are definitely the artistic highlight of the book as they do beautiful work. Kane is also inked by Vince Colletta, who does a good job in his own restrained manner. Frank Giacoia does a couple of issues but his heavy style doesn’t really suit Kane‘s pencils, though he’s an excellent inker for many and my favourite on Kirby. Don Heck took over the pencils from Detective Comics #408 (Feb. 1971), initially inked by Dick Giordano but later doing it himself, as he preferred. Heck isn’t on anyone’s list of all-time greats but he was a pro and turned in a competent job.
The stories are the usual crime and detective stuff, small-time gangsters rather than big-time super-villains. They are dated in the sense that the concerns of the time are reflected. A big-time gangster from a bygone age is fictionalised in a film called ‘The Stepfather’ in 1970. It took me 0.0001 seconds to get that reference. There are also a couple of yarns which feature rebels who want to bring down ‘The Establishment’. Denny O’Neil is sympathetic to the revolting students in Detective Comics # 400-401, while Frank Robbins is not to the gun-happy cop-haters in # 416-417. The former adventure closes with hints that Batgirl might want to get to know Robin better but nothing comes of it, at least, not in this book. The other contemporary concerns that get an airing are drug smuggling and corrupt politicians. The Batgirl back-up strip concludes with her leaving Gotham City to become a member of the U.S. Congress.
The last three stories are from ‘Superman’ and ‘The Superman Family’ with art by Curt Swan, who was getting pretty good by this stage in his career and scripts by a fan turned pro Elliot S! Maggin. Batgirl teams up with Superman, Batman and Supergirl in various adventures. They were okay.
Sometimes you hear a film is rubbish, watch it and are pleasantly surprised. That was my experience with ‘DC Showcase: Batgirl’. I read it with low expectations but they were exceeded. Not something to rush out and buy but if you like Silver Age DC and happen across a copy, it’s worth considering.
Eamonn Murphy
This review first appeared at https://www.sfcrowsnest.info/
The stories in ‘DC Showcase Presents: Batgirl’ are lighter in tone than that, certainly at first. She didn’t get her own strip to start with but featured in those of other heroes, usually ‘Batman’. Her first appearance was Detective Comics # 359 in a tale entitled ‘The Million Dollar Debut Of Batgirl’. Barbara Gordon, daughter of the esteemed Commissioner of Gotham City, is a quiet librarian. For a costume party, she makes herself a Batgirl outfit but, en route to the do, she happens across Bruce Wayne being attacked by Killer Moth and his gang. They are running a protection racket where they beat up millionaires. The ‘masked maiden’ saves Bruce. Later the ‘dominoed dare-doll’ gets more involved in the case and acquits herself well enough to earn Batman’s respect and approval. Gardner Fox wrote the script and the assorted soubriquets for the heroine. Carmine Infantino drew her shapely form.
Her ‘shapely form’ was useful in issue Detective Comics # 371 ‘Batgirl’s Costume Cut-ups’ when she used her legs to distract a criminal fighting Batman. The overall tone of this story is not one likely to win approval from modern feminists. Batgirl fails to catch bad guys because she is distracted by mud on her uniform or her mask slipping or some other ’womanly’ concern The splash page for it makes the cover of this ‘Showcase’ edition. It’s probably worth mentioning that Neal Adams did the art for World’s Finest # 176, a four-way team-up with Superman, Supergirl, Batman and Batgirl.
Batgirl featured in Justice League of America # 60’s story ‘Winged Warriors Of The Immortal Queen’. It’s the usual Gardner Fox routine of splitting the JLA into sub-teams to perform individual missions but I thought Mike Sekowsky’s art was a bit influenced by Gil Kane, some of the figure poses being similar. Gil Kane was the first artist when Batgirl got her own strip in Detective Comics # 384 (Feb. 1969) and did his usual stylish job, beautifully inked by Murphy Anderson. This was a fairly regular 8-page back-up strip with one story normally spread over two parts. Most of the scripts are by Frank Robbins but Mike Friedrich started it off and Denny O’Neil contributed a few. These pages by Kane and Anderson are definitely the artistic highlight of the book as they do beautiful work. Kane is also inked by Vince Colletta, who does a good job in his own restrained manner. Frank Giacoia does a couple of issues but his heavy style doesn’t really suit Kane‘s pencils, though he’s an excellent inker for many and my favourite on Kirby. Don Heck took over the pencils from Detective Comics #408 (Feb. 1971), initially inked by Dick Giordano but later doing it himself, as he preferred. Heck isn’t on anyone’s list of all-time greats but he was a pro and turned in a competent job.
The stories are the usual crime and detective stuff, small-time gangsters rather than big-time super-villains. They are dated in the sense that the concerns of the time are reflected. A big-time gangster from a bygone age is fictionalised in a film called ‘The Stepfather’ in 1970. It took me 0.0001 seconds to get that reference. There are also a couple of yarns which feature rebels who want to bring down ‘The Establishment’. Denny O’Neil is sympathetic to the revolting students in Detective Comics # 400-401, while Frank Robbins is not to the gun-happy cop-haters in # 416-417. The former adventure closes with hints that Batgirl might want to get to know Robin better but nothing comes of it, at least, not in this book. The other contemporary concerns that get an airing are drug smuggling and corrupt politicians. The Batgirl back-up strip concludes with her leaving Gotham City to become a member of the U.S. Congress.
The last three stories are from ‘Superman’ and ‘The Superman Family’ with art by Curt Swan, who was getting pretty good by this stage in his career and scripts by a fan turned pro Elliot S! Maggin. Batgirl teams up with Superman, Batman and Supergirl in various adventures. They were okay.
Sometimes you hear a film is rubbish, watch it and are pleasantly surprised. That was my experience with ‘DC Showcase: Batgirl’. I read it with low expectations but they were exceeded. Not something to rush out and buy but if you like Silver Age DC and happen across a copy, it’s worth considering.
Eamonn Murphy
This review first appeared at https://www.sfcrowsnest.info/
May 26, 2020
Note: As I drawing comics becomes more a part of the work i do, I'm trying to read the genre. Though I once collected comics, today i find it extremely difficult to read them. I'm trying to read one or two graphic novels or collections a month.
This collection of Batgirl reminds me why I liked DC over Marvel. DC had actual mysteries and Marvel was just those with capes doing bouts in a ring.
I recall Frank Robins' artwork, I wasn't tuned to his writing. Certainly the Robins stories are the best of the lot. There are otherwise simple to ridiculous stories included.
Also a great showcase of a bevy of illustrators. Gil Kane being the superior of the lot.
Bottom Line i recommend this book. 7 out of 10 points.
This collection of Batgirl reminds me why I liked DC over Marvel. DC had actual mysteries and Marvel was just those with capes doing bouts in a ring.
I recall Frank Robins' artwork, I wasn't tuned to his writing. Certainly the Robins stories are the best of the lot. There are otherwise simple to ridiculous stories included.
Also a great showcase of a bevy of illustrators. Gil Kane being the superior of the lot.
Bottom Line i recommend this book. 7 out of 10 points.
January 12, 2013
I always loved when the 1960s Batman TV show added Yvonne Craig as Batgirl when I was a kid, so this big book of 1960s and 70s Batgirl stories was a real treat. The Book traces Batgirl's history from her first appearance in Detective Comics #359 in 1967 through a 1975 appearance in Superman Family magazine.
Batgirl never had her own pre-Crisis comic book which makes a book like this so fun as we get to see Batgirl's appearances in several comic books written by several different writers with a variety of styles. Batgirl does guest spots in comics for the Justice League, World's Finest, Brave and the Bold, Adventure Comics, and of course, Batman.
The book sees Batgirl develop. Unlike other members of the Bat family, her taking on a superhero persona is tied to no personal tragedy. Simply put, she was going to a costume party in the costume, ran into trouble, fought some crime, and liked it. Thus, a legend was born.
Through these adventures, Batgirl is established as a (mostly) tough incredibly brilliant young woman who is a legitimate and serious crimefighter. The book really falls into three sections. Up to page 281, the book is dominated by Batgirl's guest appearances in other magazines, with a lot of appearances with Batman and Robin (August 1969). My favorite in this lot is a mind-twisting story in World's Finest #176 called the Supergirl-Batgirl Plot. The weirdest story in this section is Justice League #60 where the Justice Leaguers are shrunken and given wings by "the Immortal Queen." Batgirl didn't feature very much in the conclusion. Indeed, while most of the stories in this section are pretty good, my one complaint is that many of them have very little Batgirl-practically cameo appearances.
This section does include Batgirl's first solo stories as a back up feature in Detective Comics 384. The same issue features artist Gil Kane giving Barbara Gordon a gorgeous makeover from the original hair up and librarian glasses from the first issue as Batgirl jumps into action to find a missing attractive library patron.
The second section of the book is made up entirely of these back up features from page 281-491. These features ran from 7-10 pages in length and ran in Detective comics as an add-on to the Batman feature. Batgirl had six of these back up stories appear from October 1969-July 1970 before getting a regular monthly gig from October 1970-June 1972. The stories in this section were traditional detective and crime fighting stories with no costumed supervillains showing up.
The stories usually worked out okay, but sometimes due to length and recap requirements, the ending could seem rushed. An attempt at a Batgirl-Robin team up in these back up features didn't work out well for that reason. A two part back-up story is barely enough for one hero, let alone two.
Batgirl dealt with some more "female related" stories such as industrial espionage against the "best dressed woman in the world" who would decide what skirt length women would be wearing and a blackmailer/murderer who made wigs that attached themselves to the wears head and induces a headache. The blackmailer then makes his demand and if the client doesn't pay off, he crushes her skull. However, all of them are quite enjoyable. The story ends with her running for Congress, which may be the most ignominious fate a superhero has faced.
The final three stories are guest spots in Superman and Superman Family Magazine which are some of the better ones in the book. Batman's Super partners get to show their stuff but so does Batgirl. Even while only making appearances as a part time superhero, she's treated as a serious crimefighter.
That's the case throughout the book with one big exception to this was Detective Comics #371 which had Batgirl's crimefighting constantly frustrated by her vanity and primping over her costume and make up. She proved her feminine advantage by "accidentally" tearing her tights and showing her legs, allowing Batman to knock out the bad guys.
Now, I'm the last person to complain about sexism, particularly in older material. But come on! That's just ridiculous, even for 1968. Perhaps the most unfortunate decision made by DC Editors in this book was to use an image from that issue for the cover of the book. It doesn't do Batgirl justice. The only other story that may offend some feminist is Brave and the Bold #78 which had Batgirl and Wonder Woman making fools of themselves to win the heart of Batman. At first, it was an act to lure Copperhead into a false sense of security, but then it became serious. However, I thought the story was just a comedy story.
Of course, there are inexplicable things that happen in the book such as Batgirl giving oxygen to a nearly drowned Supergirl by dragging her to a car, letting out the air and putting Supergirl's mouth on the tire stem. Also, they offer their parody of the Godfather called, "The Stepfather." However, for fans of classic comics, these sort of incidents are features not bugs.
Despite a few hick ups, this is a fun collection of Silver and Bronze Age comics.
Batgirl never had her own pre-Crisis comic book which makes a book like this so fun as we get to see Batgirl's appearances in several comic books written by several different writers with a variety of styles. Batgirl does guest spots in comics for the Justice League, World's Finest, Brave and the Bold, Adventure Comics, and of course, Batman.
The book sees Batgirl develop. Unlike other members of the Bat family, her taking on a superhero persona is tied to no personal tragedy. Simply put, she was going to a costume party in the costume, ran into trouble, fought some crime, and liked it. Thus, a legend was born.
Through these adventures, Batgirl is established as a (mostly) tough incredibly brilliant young woman who is a legitimate and serious crimefighter. The book really falls into three sections. Up to page 281, the book is dominated by Batgirl's guest appearances in other magazines, with a lot of appearances with Batman and Robin (August 1969). My favorite in this lot is a mind-twisting story in World's Finest #176 called the Supergirl-Batgirl Plot. The weirdest story in this section is Justice League #60 where the Justice Leaguers are shrunken and given wings by "the Immortal Queen." Batgirl didn't feature very much in the conclusion. Indeed, while most of the stories in this section are pretty good, my one complaint is that many of them have very little Batgirl-practically cameo appearances.
This section does include Batgirl's first solo stories as a back up feature in Detective Comics 384. The same issue features artist Gil Kane giving Barbara Gordon a gorgeous makeover from the original hair up and librarian glasses from the first issue as Batgirl jumps into action to find a missing attractive library patron.
The second section of the book is made up entirely of these back up features from page 281-491. These features ran from 7-10 pages in length and ran in Detective comics as an add-on to the Batman feature. Batgirl had six of these back up stories appear from October 1969-July 1970 before getting a regular monthly gig from October 1970-June 1972. The stories in this section were traditional detective and crime fighting stories with no costumed supervillains showing up.
The stories usually worked out okay, but sometimes due to length and recap requirements, the ending could seem rushed. An attempt at a Batgirl-Robin team up in these back up features didn't work out well for that reason. A two part back-up story is barely enough for one hero, let alone two.
Batgirl dealt with some more "female related" stories such as industrial espionage against the "best dressed woman in the world" who would decide what skirt length women would be wearing and a blackmailer/murderer who made wigs that attached themselves to the wears head and induces a headache. The blackmailer then makes his demand and if the client doesn't pay off, he crushes her skull. However, all of them are quite enjoyable. The story ends with her running for Congress, which may be the most ignominious fate a superhero has faced.
The final three stories are guest spots in Superman and Superman Family Magazine which are some of the better ones in the book. Batman's Super partners get to show their stuff but so does Batgirl. Even while only making appearances as a part time superhero, she's treated as a serious crimefighter.
That's the case throughout the book with one big exception to this was Detective Comics #371 which had Batgirl's crimefighting constantly frustrated by her vanity and primping over her costume and make up. She proved her feminine advantage by "accidentally" tearing her tights and showing her legs, allowing Batman to knock out the bad guys.
Now, I'm the last person to complain about sexism, particularly in older material. But come on! That's just ridiculous, even for 1968. Perhaps the most unfortunate decision made by DC Editors in this book was to use an image from that issue for the cover of the book. It doesn't do Batgirl justice. The only other story that may offend some feminist is Brave and the Bold #78 which had Batgirl and Wonder Woman making fools of themselves to win the heart of Batman. At first, it was an act to lure Copperhead into a false sense of security, but then it became serious. However, I thought the story was just a comedy story.
Of course, there are inexplicable things that happen in the book such as Batgirl giving oxygen to a nearly drowned Supergirl by dragging her to a car, letting out the air and putting Supergirl's mouth on the tire stem. Also, they offer their parody of the Godfather called, "The Stepfather." However, for fans of classic comics, these sort of incidents are features not bugs.
Despite a few hick ups, this is a fun collection of Silver and Bronze Age comics.
November 19, 2025
the superman family # 171
May 28, 2014
This book is largely published the same time as the latter Showcase era represented by Batman, late 60s and early 70s. Yet this book is MUCH better than Batman's collections, why?
I think, in part, it's gender sensitivity. I hesitate to call it sexism or anything else purely negative, because Frank Robbins and company don't seem to bear any ill will to the human species. But also, the stories are actually good. Babs Gordon, AKA Batgirl, has a personal stake in all the back stories in Detective Comics, which makes her way better than Batman. While Batman sees criminals and is like "what cookie cutter crime story can this be, THE END", Babs is either helping out her Dad, AKA police commissioner Gordon, or helping her criminologist boyfriend Jason Bard, or even running for congress, the audience is rooting for two outcomes, and it makes her seem like, if not relatable, than a character who has more at stake than the aloof Bruce Wayne. While I believe this is born out of a slight gender bias, that women are emotionally vulnerable than men, the stories got to me and made me care, so it worked.
The early stories by Gardner Fox are way better than what Fox usually writes, less cheesy, for similar female reasons. Frank Robbins is a solid crime writer, always finds ways for Babs Gordon to be pulled to new locations or to meet new criminals, the addition of Jason Bard adds depth. The issues of Superman she appeared in after her Detective Comics run ended are very good, Elliot S! Magin is a skilled writer and Curt Swan is the best Superman artist maybe ever. The art otherwise is pretty good, Don Heck of Avengers fame and Carmine Infantino of arguably every character ever in Marvel/DC do solid work throughout.
All in all, this is what people expect from a Batman comic, much less dated than the actual Batman. 5/5
I think, in part, it's gender sensitivity. I hesitate to call it sexism or anything else purely negative, because Frank Robbins and company don't seem to bear any ill will to the human species. But also, the stories are actually good. Babs Gordon, AKA Batgirl, has a personal stake in all the back stories in Detective Comics, which makes her way better than Batman. While Batman sees criminals and is like "what cookie cutter crime story can this be, THE END", Babs is either helping out her Dad, AKA police commissioner Gordon, or helping her criminologist boyfriend Jason Bard, or even running for congress, the audience is rooting for two outcomes, and it makes her seem like, if not relatable, than a character who has more at stake than the aloof Bruce Wayne. While I believe this is born out of a slight gender bias, that women are emotionally vulnerable than men, the stories got to me and made me care, so it worked.
The early stories by Gardner Fox are way better than what Fox usually writes, less cheesy, for similar female reasons. Frank Robbins is a solid crime writer, always finds ways for Babs Gordon to be pulled to new locations or to meet new criminals, the addition of Jason Bard adds depth. The issues of Superman she appeared in after her Detective Comics run ended are very good, Elliot S! Magin is a skilled writer and Curt Swan is the best Superman artist maybe ever. The art otherwise is pretty good, Don Heck of Avengers fame and Carmine Infantino of arguably every character ever in Marvel/DC do solid work throughout.
All in all, this is what people expect from a Batman comic, much less dated than the actual Batman. 5/5
November 27, 2015
The Showcase series by DC comics reprints old comics in large collections (this one is ~550 pages). They get to their sub $20 price point by printing them in black and white cheap paper similar to newsprint. This series is by far the most economical way to experience these old stories.
But enough about the series, what about this volume? Covering stories from 1967 to 1975, this volume focuses on Batgirl, from her original appearance to her election to congress. My experience with the Batgirl character before this book primarily came from the old Adam West Batman TV show and the animated series from the 1990s. So, for me, getting to see Batgirl's original history was a real treat. Admittedly, some of the early stories have significant sexist elements to them, which in a few cases jarred me right out of the story. I mean, look at that cover. That is from an actual comic, and Batgirl "putting her face on" before a fight is actually part of one of the stories. Bizarre. Beyond that, though, there are some really entertaining stories in here. I enjoyed the reminder that back in the early days the creators felt comfortable being fairly silly with their heroes, and Batman wasn't all "grim-dark" like it tends to be these days. I really enjoyed this collection.
But enough about the series, what about this volume? Covering stories from 1967 to 1975, this volume focuses on Batgirl, from her original appearance to her election to congress. My experience with the Batgirl character before this book primarily came from the old Adam West Batman TV show and the animated series from the 1990s. So, for me, getting to see Batgirl's original history was a real treat. Admittedly, some of the early stories have significant sexist elements to them, which in a few cases jarred me right out of the story. I mean, look at that cover. That is from an actual comic, and Batgirl "putting her face on" before a fight is actually part of one of the stories. Bizarre. Beyond that, though, there are some really entertaining stories in here. I enjoyed the reminder that back in the early days the creators felt comfortable being fairly silly with their heroes, and Batman wasn't all "grim-dark" like it tends to be these days. I really enjoyed this collection.
December 21, 2011
I grew up on classic comics so I enjoyed this in spite of its major cheese factor. I particularly liked the issues where Batgirl teamed up with a classic DC Character (Wonder Woman, Superman, Supergirl, Robin, etc.). It was also interesting to see the changing tone of how the writers dealt with a lead female character. Batgirl starts out almost as comic relief, making girlie mistakes that Batman had to fix or falling in love with whatever male character she was with. As it progressed she became tougher and more independent. By the end of this collections she's gone from a ditzy, comic character to a serious Congresswoman. I liked seeing them giving her supporting characters as well, including her love interest/amateur sleuth Jason and Commissioner Gordon. This was a really entertaining set.
December 13, 2013
While Yvonne Craig was my introduction to the character, this volume was my opportunity to get to know the character from the beginning of her career.
Commissioner Gordon's only daughter Barbara, did not actually start out to be a super-heroine. She was dressed in a female version of Batman's costume on her way to a costume party when fate intervened.
Realizing she could do more good, she skipped the party and continued as Batgirl up until "The Killing Joke".
While a mixed bag at times, depending upon the creative team involved, this volume chronicles most of Batgirl's career and life up to about a year before the aforementioned "Joke".
Commissioner Gordon's only daughter Barbara, did not actually start out to be a super-heroine. She was dressed in a female version of Batman's costume on her way to a costume party when fate intervened.
Realizing she could do more good, she skipped the party and continued as Batgirl up until "The Killing Joke".
While a mixed bag at times, depending upon the creative team involved, this volume chronicles most of Batgirl's career and life up to about a year before the aforementioned "Joke".
November 7, 2013
The DC Showcase reprints are affordable, uncluttered with ads, and extremely enjoyable by our family. Good clean, fun comics. Great old-school role model hero for the girls (especially now that Superman and Woman are killing people).
And if any youngsters in your family have any artistic inclinations, these are invaluable! The folks who were making these comics back in the 1960s had mastered perpsective, anatomy, how cloth drapes a body...etc. It's easier for kids to learn how to draw a line if they are not distracted by the colors surrounding the lines.
Highly recommended.
And if any youngsters in your family have any artistic inclinations, these are invaluable! The folks who were making these comics back in the 1960s had mastered perpsective, anatomy, how cloth drapes a body...etc. It's easier for kids to learn how to draw a line if they are not distracted by the colors surrounding the lines.
Highly recommended.
July 24, 2014
I guess you could say this is progressive "for its time" (while strange to me Congresswoman Babs is good, among other things) but there is so much gross shit that made this p much impossible for me to enjoy.
Read
February 10, 2017This has a great group of stories focusing on Barbara Gordon as Batgirl. It's definitely worth reading if you enjoy the older comics.
April 25, 2012
Batgirl helps others and looks fabulous doing it!
August 5, 2016
Only real reason for the 4 is because I generally prefer my comics in colour.
December 12, 2014
this is the start of batgirl and how she came to be the hero is will become and that she will become more than she starts out as
November 21, 2014
Absolutely enjoyed this B & W compilation of Batgirl comics. My favorite Librarian/ Superhero!!
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