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AdamMasterman β Barbara Isn't Broken
Published: 2011-09-16 02:10:20 +0000 UTC; Views: 7442; Favourites: 212; Downloads: 112
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In terms of the DCnU, this is one change I feel strongly about. Oracle was awesome, and having a disabled superhero was also awesome. It meant a lot to a lot of people, and I hope DC hears what those people have to say. I know that Didio wants everything back to "classic" status, but erasing this part of Barbar Gordon's life just steals a ton of depth and strength from a great female character. If you're interested, head over to the facebok page and chime in: [link]Related content
Comments: 34
Don't let the wheelchair fool you....she can still kick serious ass!
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Siiiigh. You will be missed, Oracle. So much cooler than the leather-clad bimbo they traded you in for.
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Six of one, half a dozen of the other in some ways really.
Barbara really suffered some nasty treatment that, unlike with male heroes, actually became pretty permanent just cause of a random act by Joker. Reversing the damage is a long overdue act of kindness to the character.
But in her recovery she becomes an even stronger person and finds her own identity unshared by anyone else's. Returning to action as Batgirl takes that from her. Not to mention yes the disabled community deserves their own champion as much as any other.
As much of a soft spot as I have for Barbara as Batgirl, from the DC animated series, I have to say I lean towards her remaining as Oracle.
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I can see the kindness angle, for sure. Batman got his back broken, and then killed, along with every other character in the DCU, but: magic. So why not for Barbara?
I always read it as; Barbara lives in the real world. She deals with real consequences, and overcomes anyway, while everyone else gets to fall back on the ultimate superpower; Deus Ex Machina. It makes her a class above. And, in any case, you're right, she's just more interesting as Oracle.
I'm slowly losing my ability to criticize here, as I haven't picked up a DC title in almost a year now. Not a protest or anything, just lost interest.
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Mmhmm, I certainly agree with the school of thought that Barbara definitely got treatment out of step with the norm in terms of how bad the effect was and how long it lasted. Not sure if I'd agree with it being sexist but yeah it's out of step.
In a way yeah she does seem to live in a more 'real world' given how long it lasted. Absolutely it made her more than just a younger female Batman, it was her own complete creation instead of basing it off someone else's.
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Cassandra and co were great as Batgirl so it's not like they needed to 'fix' Barbara to use the character.
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If you think what they've done to her is bad, read Red Hood and the Outlaws where they lobotomize Starfire.
Seriously, her characterization in that book could almost qualify as a hate crime.
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Totally agreed and seconded.
Not only is this a wonderfully tough and direct piece, but it carries a super keen message too. Wonderful to see the fans stepping up and using art to express their feelings about the reboot. Kudos.
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Agreed. Barbara's time as Oracle is what has defined her as one of the greatest heroes in the DCU. Being Batgirl again is just... beneath her. And I love the Batgirls!
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Amen to that.
I feel strongly about many changes in DC, but this one has really touched a lot of people. She was great as Oracle, and she should of never been demoted back to roof-skipping Batgirl. You don't need to have working legs to be a hero.
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I agree in much of what you said, but it seems that they aren't chucking the entire Oracle history aside. Babs didn't get her back fixed overnight. It seems like a struggle...both mental and physical.
Great pic btw
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Yeah, but I actually think thats *worse*. If the Joker attack had never happened, then it could possibly happen in the "future". Now, its over and done with, and she's recovered, so there doesn't seem to be any way to bring Oracle back. Also, paraplegia isn't exactly something you get better from. Oracle actually refused offers to magically/super technologically heal her, arguing that her difficulties were the same as those faced by anyone with a disability who doesn't have super friends. That was a great nod towards readers with disabilities, but it becomes kind of a knife in the back if thats how she was "cured".
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Truthfully, I liked Barbara/Oracle a lot as well, but I think the whole point of the JJ Abrams style reset they did was to start telling fresh stories again. And if you look at all the subsequent Batgirls that came after she lost her ability to walk, NONE of them were ever as good as Barbara was.
That said: this is a beautiful illustration my friend.
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I beg to differ. It's not about other Batgirls not being as good - they're all very different.
I started to really adore Steph, and do prefer her over Babs in Batgirl's role now.
I can't understand why a 'fresh story' would need to change the badass disabled heroine back into her young less experienced years. I see it as lazynes...
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Y'know, I agree with you in theory, we should never get so attached to characters and stories that we deny the possibility of change and growth. But... this whole reboot, not to mention the last five years of DC in general, isn't really about change, but rather the opposite. Its been a gradual process of undoing all of the changes to the DCU over the years, and returning to the status quo that we grew up with. Case in point: Wally West; great character, rich personal history, and he basically gets erased because Barry Allen was the Flash during the arbitrary "good old days" that we need to bet back to. I'm not saying that this reboot will totally suck, but there is an inherent conflict between preserving the popular status quo and telling interesting stories. Its something both companies need to think about.
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"Basically gets erased". Not true. That was the whole point behind the way they ripped off the JJ Abrams Star Trek movie to reset the DCU. The very presence of two Spocks now in the Star Trek Universe indicates that they didn't invalidate all of the original stories at all.
And Barry Allen is the living proof that the other timeline existed (see Flashpoint #5). In theory, DC could go back to all of that at some point. But by going clean slate, they get the chance to make characters more interesting or in some cases annoying or in other cases thinner or less-interesting or less all-powerful or whatever. I can see the value of doing it the way they did it. Wally is a new story now waiting to happen.
And they could pull an "Age of Apocalypse" on ya - they can even sneak those any or all the old DCU characters into this new DCU if they want to.
Just an opinion and insight of someone who writes and loves time travel stories.
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Thats actually an interesting way to look at it. And I've conceded that the DCnU could evolve into something worth reading and relevant. But it seems like they've closed the door on Oracle, or, at least, Barbara as Oracle, which is a shame.
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But there have been other Batgirls. There is only one Oracle.
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I will point out that there could be another Oracle eventually. And while it could also be Barbara again, it will probably not be Barbara. Kind of like how Amanda Waller is now a skinny supermodel.
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Maybe, but this isn't something you can fix with liposuction and botox. She's been paraplegic and has still been a majorly popular character. I don't think she should be taken out when she's maintained her popularity this long.
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It wasn't "fixed" in the new timeline - the damage the Joker did in this new timeline is obviously different than the damage that occurred to her in the old one. Or maybe the doctor that worked on her in the new timeline is different. Or the emergency medical techs who got to her first did something different than the ones in the old timeline.
I always try to understand why people are so resistant to change. They're telling us a story to entertain us. Things need to change or they become stagnant and stale and predictable. This is the exact reason you should all fear Joss Whedon killing someone in the Avengers movie. Cause he will - it's one of the things he does to prove a point.
Personally I choose to embrace it.
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Thanks, man. I borrowed the title from the facebook movement, so they get credit for that. I heard it while meandering around the web and thought it was just perfectly right on, so I sketched this up.
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Amen. Oracle is AMAZING. She's a great example of taking your circumstances and rocking in spite of (or because of) them. β₯
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ThatΒ΄s soo true!
I like her more when she was Oracle!
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