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Barbara Gordon, as both Batgirl and Oracle, is a character that I and many other readers hold dear, but she hasn’t been living up to her potential in recent comics. Comic writer Gail Simone has addressed Batgirl being sidelined in DC’s current status quo, and her words offer a solution to give her the spotlight she needs.
In a recent Reddit AMA, Simone answered questions from fans regarding her current comic projects, as well as her past work with DC Comics. When asked about her thoughts on Barbara Gordon’s role in DC’s cinematic universe, the former Batgirl and Birds of Prey writer provided the following response:
Over time, I think changing her back to Batgirl was probably a mistake. I miss her being the glue of the DC Universe and it’s something Marvel doesn’t have. I did the best stories I could. I love Batgirl. But I always thought she would return to the Oracle role someday so that made it livable.
According to Simone, Barbara Gordon being Batgirl rather than Oracle has led to her no longer being “the glue of the DC Universe,” as she’s no longer as vital to the hero community as she was before. Batgirl deserves more respect, and I believe that would require her to become Oracle again.
Barbara Gordon Becoming Batgirl Again Has Diminished Her Role in DC Lore
As Oracle, Barbara Was an Important Member of the Justice League
Many fans might know Barbara Gordon as Batgirl first and foremost, but her identity as Oracle used to be far more prominent in DC lore. After the Joker shoots her in the spine, Barbara loses the ability to walk, resulting in her retiring the Batgirl mantle. In the “Oracle: Year One: Born of Hope” story,Barbara adapts to her new life by learning the martial art of escrima sticks so that she’s able to fight in her wheelchair. She sets up an elaborate computer network as well and becomes the Justice League’s valued informant. As Oracle, Barbara overcomes her hardships to be a hero in her own way.
“Oracle: Year One: Born of Hope” by John Ostrander, Kim Yale, and Brian Stelfreeze can be found in
The Batman Chronicles
#5, available now from DC Comics!
However, despite Barbara’s importance to the DC Universe as Oracle, the controversial New 52 reboot changed everything by “curing” her disability with a surgical procedure and forcing her to act as Batgirl again. Simone, who had written Barbara as Oracle in her fan-favorite Birds of Prey series, was then tasked with writing her as Batgirl instead. Considering her experience with writing both versions of Barbara, Simone’s insights on Barbara Gordon’s character regression hold tremendous weight. Reverting Barbara back to her Batgirl identity erases everything she had built as Oracle, and DC still has yet to fully reinstate her former status.
Batgirl’s Inability to Commit to Being Oracle Holds Her Back
Barbara Gordon No Longer Has a True Role in the DC Universe
Barbara may technically juggle the Batgirl and Oracle roles in DC’s current continuity, but Oracle is treated more as a secondary role for her than her actual identity. Characters refer to her as Oracle, but she will then proceed to jump into action as Batgirl, which goes against everything her role as Oracle signified. She even calls herself “Oracle-slash-Batgirl” in 2024’s Birds of Prey #12 by Kelly Thompson and Javier Pina, illustrating how inconsistent her current status is. This lack of commitment towards the Oracle persona causes Barbara to fall into the background when she formerly held the hero community together.
Oracle empowered a generation of disabled comic readers as the brains behind the Justice League, whereas Batgirl is simply another vigilante running around Gotham.
Not only is Barbara being neglected, but to add insult to injury, the Justice League has replaced her. In The Flash #15 by Simon Spurrier and Vasco Georgiev, it appears that Oracle’s role in the Justice League has been taken by a disembodied Red Tornado, who operates the hero network and relays information behind the scenes. Her position in the League being occupied by another hero further proves to me that Barbara has been sidelined. Deprived of her own solid place in DC lore, Batgirl is stuck either alternating roles in the Birds of Prey or tagging along with love interest Nightwing.
Batgirl Can Return to the Spotlight by Embracing Oracle
Cassandra Cain’s Batgirl Comeback Can Free Batgirl to Be Oracle Again
In my opinion, as someone with a disability myself, trying to erase Barbara Gordon’s history as Oracle diminishes her strength and willpower. By becoming Oracle, she demonstrated that she could still be a superhero as a wheelchair user, yet the surgery she’s undergone to be Batgirl again has erased that aspect of her identity when it was once central to her narrative. Oracle empowered a generation of disabled comic readers as the brains behind the Justice League, whereas Batgirl is simply another vigilante running around Gotham. She isn’t even the only Batgirl, though that may be the key to regaining the respect she’s lost.
DC Is Finally Restoring Batgirl’s Most Important Relationship (It’s Not Nightwing)
DC is finally acknowledging that Batgirl’s most important relationship is with someone other than Nightwing – but don’t worry, it’s not romantic.
While it doesn’t seem likely that Barbara’s disability will factor back into her characterization any time soon, that doesn’t mean she can’t be Oracle full-time. Cassandra Cain is leading a new ongoing series as Batgirl, and thus an opportunity has arisen for Barbara to step down and let Cassandra be the sole Batgirl. Barbara is currently working with the Birds of Prey as Oracle, so she can easily hang her Batgirl cowl and dedicate herself entirely to those duties. I’m certain that Batgirl can become an integral part of the DC Universe again – but she can only do it as Oracle.
Fans can find Barbara Gordon currently co-starring in 2023’s ongoing Birds of Prey, available now in collected editions and single issues from DC Comics.
Source: Reddit
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