Throwback Thursday: Batgirl Number One

Batgirl Number One
Sketchwork and Renders in Adobe PSE 2.0, Final lines and flat colors in Manga Studio EX 4.0, June 12-14, 2011

***

"It has been six months since Batman's popular associate Batgirl, a rare ray of sunshine in a town with little hope, had been brutally gunned down by the Joker while freeing his terrifed hostages. In the ensuing chaos the young crimefighter was spirited away by the Dark Knight, but everyone was certain that even if she survived, she'd never be seen on the streets of Gotham again.

But lately there have been a rash or reports that cannot be explained. Sightings of a brightly costumed redhead laughing in the face of the criminals she battles. Whispers of a flame-haired woman of the shadows silently taking down her enemies with swift, brutal efficiency. Gangsters frantically trying to determine how she always seems one step ahead. How she sometimes seems to be in two places at once. How she is privy to the underworld's most guarded secrets, gaining access to impregnable hideouts--as if the high tech methods the crooks use to safeguard their secrets didn't even exist.

And somewhere, a woman leans back in her chair and smiles with grim satisfaction. They thought Batgirl was gone. But now, as long as crime continues to plague Gotham, Batgirl won't just be there--she'll be everywhere."

A response to the apparent elimination of Oracle and the Steph Brown Batgirl as part of September's "DCnU" relaunch, here's my idea on how to put Barbara Gordon back at the center of the Batgirl legend, and revive the classic look, while not erasing incredible accomplishments and the formidable legacy the character has developed since 1988 and The Killing Joke.

*Batgirl, Barbara Gordon, Cassandra Cain, and Stephanie Brown copyright DC Comics

So this one came up next in my archives.  It's from 2011, done in reponse to the announcement of DC Comics' bizzare "New52" relaunch.  The artwork hasn't aged super well, but I do think it's interesting that over a decade later I've gotten my wish with the series "Batgirls."  The premise isn't really the same, but the important thing is it has everything I want--Steph, Cass, and Babs taking on an Oracle type role again while still occasionally donning the cape and cowl herself.  Good stuff!