Alternate versions of Barbara Gordon

This is a list of the Alternate versions of Barbara Gordon appearing in stories published by DC Comics in which the comic book character has been placed in non-canon storylines taking place both in and outside of mainstream continuity.

Various alterations of the Barbara Gordon character have appeared in storylines published in mainstream continuity titles. These variants often appear in stories which involve time travel, such as the crossover limited series "", a follow-up story preceded by the 1985 limited series "Crisis on Infinite Earths" which altered mainstream continuity.

Notable imprints of DC Comics such as Elseworlds and All Star DC Comics have also featured alternate versions of the character. The Elseworld's imprint has featured Barbra Gordon in starring roles such as the popular noir-style storyline "Thrillkiller: Batgirl & Robin" and the one-shot comic "". After DC Comics launched its All Star imprint in 2005, an alternate Barbara Gordon was adapted into Frank Miller's "All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder". In addition, another version of the Barbara Gordon character was set to star in the upcoming "All Star Batgirl" comic book series.

Mainstream continuity

*': In the company wide crossover limited series "Zero Hour: Crisis in Time" (1994), [cite book |last= Jurgens |first = Dan |authorlink = Dan Jurgens |title = "Zero Hour: Crisis in Time" |year = 1994 |publisher = DC Comics] an alternate Barbara Gordon, unaffected by the events of ' fights alongside the mainstream DC Universe heroes as Batgirl. During this time, she forms a certain bond with Green Arrow, the older hero seeing a lot of himself in her willingness to challenge such powerful foes as Parallax without any powers. During the struggle against Parallax, she sacrifices herself to save Damage, with her timeline being erased as the universe is re-created by the new Big Bang. However, as the heroes return to their own time, Green Arrow promises that, even if she never existed, she will never be forgotten. This version of Batgirl was honored with post-mortem membership in the Justice League.
*"Batman" #666: In "Numbers of the Beast" (by Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert), Barbara Gordon is the Police Commissioner in a dystopian future Gotham. She wears her hair short, making her appearance closer to Ellen Yindel, the commissioner in "The Dark Knight Returns". Gordon dogs Damian Wayne, who has taken up the Batman mantle after the death of his father. When asked why she pursues Batman so ruthlessly, she replies, "That monster was responsible for the death of... of a good friend. He can't be trusted." [cite book |last = Morrison |first = Grant |authorlink = Grant Morrison |title = Batman #666 |year = 2007 |publisher = DC Comics]

52 Multiverse

In March 2006, DC Comics launched a year-long weekly maxi-series entitled "52". In "52" Week 52, [cite book | last = Johns | first = Geoff | authorlink = Geoff Johns | coauthors = Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid | title = "52" #52 | publisher = DC Comics | date = 2007 | isbn = ] it was revealed that an entirely new "Multiverse" system was now in existence, composed of 52 alternate Earths, featuring variations of well-known DC Comics characters both in tribute to the old Multiverse system and a number of published "Elseworlds" stories and televised DC Comics adaptations.
*New Earth: The designated the home of the Barbara Gordon who is featured in regular DC Comics continuity.
*Earth-12: This universe mirrors the animated television series "Batman Beyond", wherein Barbara Gordon is police commissioner of Gotham City.
*Earth-31: The official home of Frank Miller's "Dark Knight Universe" which consists of ', ' and "All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder", in which a young Barbara Gordon becomes Batgirl at age fifteen.
*Earth-33: A world of magicians - this version of Barbara Gordon is a true Oracle, able to see the future.
*Earth-37: This universe closely follows the Elseworlds limited series "Thrillkiller".
*Earth-43: This universe continues the story of the Elseworlds graphic novel "", where Barbara Gordon is a vampire who is eventually staked by Dick Grayson.

Imprints

Elseworlds

"Elseworlds" is an imprint of DC Comics which takes place outside of mainstream continuity. Its purpose is to take the company's iconic characters and place them in alternate timelines, places and events making heroes "as familiar as yesterday seem as fresh as tomorrow." Barbara Gordon, as both Batgirl and Oracle, has made several appearances in Elseworlds comics since 1997. [cite book |last = Chaykin |first = Howard |authorlink = Howard Chaykin |title = "Thrillkiller: Batgirl & Robin" |year = 1997 |publisher = DC Comics]
*"Batman: Thrillkiller": In the "Elseworlds" miniseries "Thrillkiller: Batgirl & Robin", Barbara Gordon is a rebellious young woman in the early 1960s. Alienated from her father, Commissioner Gordon, due to the unsolved murder of her mother, she becomes a thrill-seeking vigilante with her boyfriend, a circus acrobat named Richard Graustark, who goes by the alias Dick Grayson. Gordon is a wealthy heiress, receiving a large inheritance from the death of her mother and purchases Wayne Manor — the Waynes having been ruined by the Great Depression. Bruce Wayne is a full-time detective in the Gotham police. [cite book |last = Chaykin |first = Howard |authorlink = Howard Chaykin |title = "Thrillkiller: Batgirl & Robin" |year = 1997 |publisher = DC Comics] This version of Barbara has romantic feelings for Bruce Wayne. According to Hilary Goldstein of "IGN", "Thrillkiller: Batgirl & Robin" "is an original and refreshing look at Batman mythology. It's a slow burn, a deep and engrossing read that's chocked with dark psychological mischief." [cite web | last = Goldstein | first = Hilary | authorlink = | title = Batman: Thrillkiller Review | publisher = "IGN" | date = 2005-06-02 | url = http://comics.ign.com/articles/621/621900p1.html | accessdate = 2008-01-24] A sequel, "Batgirl + Batman: Thrillkiller '62", teams Batgirl with Bruce Wayne as Batman. [cite book |last = Chaykin |first = Howard |authorlink= Howard Chaykin |title = "Batgirl + Batman: Thrillkiller '62" |year = 1998 |publisher = DC Comics] Goldstein and "IGN" also lists "Batman: Thrillkiller" as one of the 25 greatest Batman graphic novels of all time. [cite web | last = Goldstein | first = Hilary | authorlink = | title = The 25 Greatest Batman Graphic Novels | publisher = "IGN" | date = 2005-06-13 | url = http://comics.ign.com/articles/624/624619p1.html | accessdate = 2008-02-19]
*"": In the one-shot comic "Elseworld's Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl", Barbara Gordon is a wealthy novelist and a take-no-prisoners Batgirl in a world where Batman and Superman did not exist. She is darker than in mainstream continuity due to the death of Jim Gordon, who was killed when he saved the Wayne family from a street thug. Bruce Wayne becomes not only her foster brother, but also serves as her "Alfred". [cite book |last = Simmons |first = Tom |authorlink= | coauthors = Tom Simmons, Barbara Kesel|title = "Elseworld's Finest: Supergirl & Batgirl" |year = 1998 |publisher = DC Comics]
*"": Barbara Gordon is James Gordon's granddaughter in "Superman & Batman: Generations". Towards the end of the series, she serves as President. [cite book |last = Byrne |first = John |authorlink = John Byrne |title = "Superman/Batman Generations II" #2 |year = 2003 |publisher = DC Comics]
*"Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham": The H. P. Lovecraftian Elseworld "Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham" features a version of Oracle. Completely paralyzed following an undisclosed accident, Barbara Gordon's artificial voicebox also gives her the power to speak to the dead. [cite book |last = Mignola |first = Mike |authorlink = Mike Mignola | coauthors = Mike Mignola, Richard Pace |title = "Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham" |year= 2000 |publisher= DC Comics]
*"": In "JLA: Created Equal", Barbara Gordon becomes the Green Lantern after she is given Kyle Rayner's power ring. The ring was found by an amoral comedienne named Maria Contranetti, who used the ring for her own purposes until it was taken away by the Justice League. [cite book |last = Nicieza |first = Fabian |authorlink = Fabian Nicieza |title = "JLA: Created Equal" |year = 2000 |publisher = DC Comics]
*"": In "JLA: The Nail", Batgirl and Robin were brutally murdered by the Joker, who used Kryptonian gauntlets provided by the deranged Jimmy Olsen to tear them apart while forcing Batman to watch, driving Batman to the brink of madness and resulting in him beating the Joker to death.

All Star DC Comics

In 2005, DC Comics launched its All Star imprint - an ongoing series of comics designed to pair the company's most iconic characters with the most acclaimed writers and artists in the industry. All Star is not restricted to continuity and establishes a fresh perspective for the latest generation of readership. According to Dan DiDio, "These books are created to literally reach the widest audience possible, and not just the comic book audience, but anyone who has ever wanted to read or see anything about Superman or Batman." [cite web
last = Offenberger | first = Rik | authorlink = | title = Dan DiDio: DC Comics' All Star | publisher = Silver Bullet Comics | date = 2007 | url = http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/features/111605849050665.htm | accessdate = 2007-09-11]
*"All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder": In "All Star Batman and Robin" #6, a fifteen-year-old version of Barbara Gordon becomes Batgirl. Reducing the character to her iconic roots, Frank Miller establishes Gordon as a thrill seeker. Her father, Captain James Gordon, has growing concern over Batman's influence in Gotham. While he praises Batman for effectively undermining the corrupt operations of the city's police department, he shows discontent over the Dark Knight's urban legend inspiring the youth of the city to emulate him. [cite book |last = Miller |first = Frank |authorlink = Frank Miller (comics) |title = "All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder" #6 |year = 2007 |publisher= DC Comics]
*"All Star Batgirl": Batgirl was at the forefront of the list of characters chosen to receive an independent title, in addition to being given a supporting role in Frank Miller's "All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder". In an interview with "Wizard" magazine, comic book author Geoff Johns announced that he will team with J.G. Jones for the "All Star Batgirl" series. Johns stated: "We’re doing the first six issues, the first of which will hit in late 2007 well after J.G. and I are done with "52", so it's monthly. It's a mystery revolving around Barbara Gordon and Arkham Asylum, why she's become Batgirl and more importantly why she remains Batgirl. It's essentially our "" or "Superman For All Seasons" for Batgirl." [cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | title = TORONTO 06: GEOFF JOHNS TALKS ALL STAR BATGIRL | publisher = "Newsarama"| date = 2006 | url = http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=82819 | accessdate = 2008-01-24] This series will not follow the continuity of Frank Miller's "All Star Batman and Robin", giving Barbara Gordon two independent featured roles in DC's All Star imprint. When asked why Batgirl would be the first character to be given an All Star title outside the DC Trinity of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, Johns responded, "She's one of the most prominent female superheroes in the world. She's on lunchboxes, there's a Barbie of her, cartoons — even after she's been Oracle in the DC Universe for 15 years now, people, us included, love this character as Batgirl. That's why J.G. and I wanted to do this: to focus on the first and best Batgirl." [cite web | last = Morse | first = Ben | authorlink = | title = HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL STAR | publisher = "Wizard" | date = 2006 | url = http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/001559179.cfm | accessdate = 2007-11-23]

Adaptations into other media

*DCAU: An alternate version of Barbara Gordon makes a brief cameo appearance in the "Justice League" episode "The Savage Time" (2002). [cite web | last = Berkowitz | first = Stan | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Savage Time | work = Justice League | publisher = www.tv.com | date = 2002-11-09 | url = http://www.tv.com/justice-league-unlimited/the-savage-time-3/episode/166100/summary.html | accessdate = 2008-01-02] The character in this continuity is also given a recurring role in the "Batman Beyond" series as the future Police Commissioner of Gotham City.
*In the motion picture "The Dark Knight" (2008), Commissioner Gordon's wife is named Barbara Gordon. They also have two children, but their names are not mentioned. At the end of the film, Gordon's daughter can be seen as a captive of Two-Face, but her face is not seen, and her hair colour is distorted by the dark lighting of the scene.

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.dccomics.com www.dccomics.com]
* [http://www.dccomics.com/sites/52/ Daily Planet 52 Week Special]