Looking for a real-world disabled role model—one that may have been through the ringer both physically and emotionally but who still displays bravery, street smarts, and inner strength? You might be surprised to find such an idol living in the very fantastical world of DC Comics.
That’s right, she’s none other than Barbara “Babs” Gordon, the DC Comics character you might know better as Batgirl. Batgirl first appeared in Detective Comics #359 and from 1966-‘88, she was one carefree, smart daredevil. She gave Batman and Robin a run for their money and helped stop Killer Moth’s mass extortion plot. All the while, she kept her secret identity hidden from her police commissioner father.
Then, in 1989, came The Killing Joke, an issue in which the Joker shot Babs through the spine and left her paralyzed. Without missing a beat, Babs quickly rolled up to a computer, honed her hacking skills and assumed the code name Oracle. Oracle provides intelligence to other superheroes and has become one of the most fascinating characters in comics.
Batgirl’s transition to Oracle; however, wasn’t without controversy. Many critics and commentators argued that the character’s ability to walk should be restored. Ray Tate, a reviewer at Comics Bulletin, said, “It’s ridiculous to think somebody wakes up thinking how lucky they are to be confined to a wheelchair, and yet the attitude around DC and among the fans is that Oracle is the better character over Batgirl because of her handicap. Rubbish . . .”
Yet, in the comic book series "Birds of Prey," Oracle continued as a great intellect who just happened to be paralyzed but was also skilled in eskrima, a martial art that emphasizes stick and sword fighting. In one of Oracle’s more stand-out starring roles, she even became Batman’s sole source of information (a partnership that established her as Batman’s intellectual equal).
In 2002 the WB brought a loosely-based adaptation of "Birds of Prey" to television. Actress Dina Meyer, who was not paralyzed off screen, portrayed Oracle and hoped the role would inspire others with disabilities. Speaking about Oracle, Meyer said, “She was Batgirl, a wonderful superhero and has now come into this horrible disability but she grew from it and got stronger from it. She found her calling from this. She was running in Batman’s shoes; it took her getting shot, paralyzed, and confined to a wheelchair to find out who she really was and to become a better person than she ever could have been. She’s the new, improved Barbara Gordon, and I salute her. I think she’s fabulous. It’s an honor to be playing her.”
Despite initially decent ratings, Birds of Prey ratings fell and the series was cancelled after 13 episodes. But Oracle fans can rest assured that, in the comic book world, she is still present, standing up for what’s right and providing critical support to her fellow crime fighters. And her intelleigence remains one of her defining attributes. Even Business Week took notice of her heroics when they listed Oracle as one of the top 10 most intelligent fictional superheroes appearing in American comics. Incidentally, Oracle was the only female on the list.
John Ostrander, one of the Oracle creators, summed up his feelings on the character and her value to comics and comic book readers alike when he said, “We wanted her to cope with what had happened to her and become, in many ways, more effective as Oracle than she ever was as Batgirl. And we knew that others with disabilities might look at her and feel good reading about her. I don’t think people dance around her disabilities. These shouldn’t be stories about a disabled person; they are stories about a compelling, fascinating character who happens to be in a wheelchair and I think that’s correct. Barbara isn’t her handicap; there’s more to her than that.”
No Comments
