Batgirl

Batgirl
Series	DC Comics
Age	25
Birthday	November 22, 1995
Sex	Female
Species	Human
Height	5'7"
Weight	135 lbs.
Alignment	Neutral Good

Background

Despite modeling herself after the Dark Knight, Barbara Gordon’s own costumed crime-fighting identity as Batgirl is about as far removed from that of Bruce Wayne’s in terms of temperament and motivation. Whilst Batman fights crime primarily due to being haunted by the deaths of his parents, Batgirl fights for more altruistic reasons: she views it as a responsibility of hers based on her talents and skills, and needs no motivation beyond simply wanting to do good by others. Such a motive to enter a field like this must explain why - for the most part - her decision to become a vigilante was born out of a spur of the moment encounter with her future mentor.

Once the head of Gotham City’s public library, Barbara fashioned her own take on Batman’s suit as a costume to wear at a masquerade ball, going beyond being just for show by making it an outfit fully capable of being worn for battle. However, she never did get the chance to wear it to that part, as before arriving, she assisted Batman and Robin in solving a crime committed by Killer Moth. After a few misunderstandings, the Dynamic Duo saw potential in Barbara and offered her a chance to join them for future cases, which she readily agreed to, becoming a valued member of the ever-growing Batfamily in the process.

As with her comrades, Batgirl possessed both a genius-level intellect and the expert martial arts training to go along with it, in addition to many gadgets of her own design. Her more idealistic mindset made her a stark contrast to the dark environment she was born and raised in; even after being paralyzed from the waist down after being savagely beaten to near-death by the Joker, she continued to find ways to help her friends and others in need as the ever-present hacker and info broker, Oracle. Nothing short of death would prevent Barbara from reaching her truest potential as a hero, and her many years of experience serve as proof of that.

Powers & Abilities

• Martial Arts: Being the daughter of a police commissioner, Barbara took self-defense classes since she was six. By the time she became Batgirl, Barbara had already been trained in various martial arts. But she didn’t stop there. Throughout her career as a crimefighter, Barbara was taught by many skilled martial artists. One of them, of course, was Batman, who trained her as one of his allies and a fellow member of the Batfamily. Even after she got crippled by the Joker, Barbara still continued her martial arts training and was even trained by Richard Dragon, one of the top martial artists in the DC Universe.
  • Boxing: Boxing is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves, throw punches at each other for a predetermined amount of time in a boxing ring. In addition, it also contributes as a fitness exercise for anyone who trains in it. There are three main styles of boxing: outside fighter/outboxer, brawler/slugger, and inside fighter/swarmer. However, only truly elite fighters are often able to incorporate auxiliary styles when presented with a particular challenge. In boxing, a person can learn a variety of moves from a combination of large, sweeping punches (crosses, hooks, uppercuts) to smaller punches (jabs). Boxing also incorporates several basic maneuvers that allows a person to evade and block punches. This combat sport helps improve balance and posture, strengthen upper body and core, boost endurance, increase alertness, enhance mood, and raise hand-eye coordination.
  • Jujitsu: Jujutsu is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no weapon or only a short weapon. It can be used in a defensive or offensive manner to kill or subdue one or more weaponless or armed and armored opponents. Because striking against an armored opponent proved ineffective, practitioners learned that the most efficient methods for neutralizing an enemy took the form of pins, joint locks, and throws. These techniques were developed around the principle of using an attacker's energy against him, rather than directly opposing it. However, many modern-day jujutsu schools include striking, both as a set-up for further techniques or as a stand-alone action. In jujutsu, practitioners train in the use of many potentially fatal or crippling moves, such as joint-locking throws.
  • Karate: Karate is a martial arts form developed from indigenous fighting methods from the Ryūkyū Islands, Chinese kempo, and classical Japanese martial arts. It is known primarily as a striking art, featuring punching, kicking, knee/elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques, but grappling, joint manipulations, locks, restraints/traps, throws, and vital point striking also appear. Karate can be practiced as an art (budō), self defense or as a combat sport. However, traditional karate places emphasis on self-development (budō). Modern Japanese style training emphasizes the psychological elements incorporated into a proper kokoro (attitude) such as perseverance, fearlessness, virtue, and leadership skills. Sport karate places emphasis on exercise and competition. Weapons are an important training activity in some styles of karate. Karate training is commonly divided into kihon (basics or fundamentals), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring). Kihon means basics and these form the base for everything else in the style including stances, strikes, punches, kicks and blocks. Karate styles place varying importance on kihon. Typically, this is training in unison of a technique or a combination of techniques by a group of karateka. Kihon may also be prearranged drills in smaller groups or in pairs. Kata literally means “shape” or “model” and is a formalized sequence of movements which represent various offensive and defensive postures. These postures are based on idealized combat applications. They’re referred to as a Bunkai when applied in a demonstration with real opponents. The Bunkai shows how every stance and movement is used and is a useful tool to understand a kata. Sparring in Karate is called kumite, which literally means “meeting of hands.” Kumite is practiced both as a sport and as self-defense training
  • Dragon Style Kung Fu: Dragon Style Kung Fu is a Chinese martial arts form and is one of the many techniques used in the art of Wushu, which are several hundred fighting styles in Chinese martial arts. The movements of the Dragon Style are based on the  imagined characteristics of the mythical Chinese dragon. The dragon represented two of the ancient elements, Earth and Water, endowing the creature with powers of illusion and strength. Dragon-Style Kung Fu is essentially an internal chi cultivation method, but initialisation training is far more like a hard, external style, than the delicate approach an internal would have. In learning the moves, the student will strike hard, block hard and rush into each position, with the idea of learning the proper place to be once each movement is complete. Eventually, the method of transmitting power is retained, and the physically strengthened body is able to make transitions in the proper, fluid manner. In turn, this dragon-like smoothness helps disguise the attack, making it extremely difficult for an adversary to effectively counter. Once a purely physical semblance to flow has been mastered, the disciple incorporates the deep hissing sounds to train chi flow. Inhaling is silent, but exhalation is deliberate, tense and controlled. Inhaling lightens the body for aerial maneuvers, while exhaling drives power into each technique. Blocking is dispensed with, and parries or simple strikes substituted. On the highest level, an opponent is allowed to tire himself out, evasion becoming the Dragon's key defense. Chi control is highly developed, and the degree to which the body must be moved to redirect or avoid impact is under greater control.
  • Judo: Generally categorized as a modern martial art, judo has since evolved into combat and olympic martial arts. Judo's most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the objective is to either throw or take down an opponent to the ground and immobilize or otherwise subdue them with a pin or force an opponent to submit with a joint lock or a choke. Strikes and thrusts by hands and feet as well as weapons defences are a part of judo, but only in pre-arranged forms and are not allowed in judo competition or free practice. Judo encompassed a philosophy and way of life in addition to specific martial arts techniques. Philosophies for judo include maximum efficiency with minimum effort, mutual welfare and benefit, and softness (or gentleness) controls hardness. Judo also has a moral code, which includes the principles of politeness, courage, sincerity, honor, modesty, respect, self-control, and friendship.
  • Eskrima: Alternatively known as Kali and Arnis, Eskrima is an umbrella term that refers to any martial art originating from the Philippines. Most have traced its inception from the lower-class villagers and commoners of the country before its colonization at the hands of the Spanish, who later influenced it with their own weapon-based fighting styles. Early travellers from China, Indonesia, India and Malaysia have also played in a role in refining it as well. Eskrima primarily covers the use of impact-based and bladed weapons as well as improvised ones, in addition to hand-to-hand and grappling techniques. The most common weapon used by practitioners is the Baston, which is usually made out of rattan, kamagong, and bahi wood.
  • Muay Thai: Muay boran, and therefore Muay Thai, was originally called by more generic names such as Toi muay or simply muay. As well as being a practical fighting technique for use in actual warfare, muay became a sport in which the opponents fought in front of spectators who went to watch for entertainment. These muay contests gradually became an integral part of local festivals and celebrations, especially those held at temples. Eventually, the previously bare-fisted fighters started wearing lengths of hemp rope around their hands and forearms. This type of match was called muay khat chueak (มวยคาดเชือก). Kickboxing was also a component of military training and gained prominence during the reign of King Naresuan in 1560 CE.
  • Tae Kwon Do: Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that’s characterized by its emphasis on head-height kicks, jumping and spinning kicks, and fast kick techniques. In fact, World Taekwondo sparring competitions award additional points for strikes that incorporate spinning kicks, kicks to the head, or both. To facilitate fast, turning kicks, Taekwondo generally adopts stances that are narrower and taller than the broader, wide stances used by martial arts such as karate. The tradeoff of decreased stability is believed to be worth the commensurate increase in agility, particularly in Kukkiwon-style Taekwondo.
• Computer Operation
• Gymnastics
• Expert Detective

Equipment

• Batsuit: This batty attire was originally created by Barbara to be used as a Batman-themed costume for a masquerade ball. However, Barbara would later alter it to use in her crime fighting career. Due to Barbara’s police connections, she was able to obtain police supplies in order to modify her costume so that it would be able to protect her from getting hit/getting pierced by bullets,etc. It was later upgraded by Bruce Wayne/Dick Grayson to have kevlar lining thread and carbon nanotube fibers. This upgrade allows the suit to take even further damage. to the point that she can withstand Small Building Level grenade explosions and firebang grenades. Barbara's gloves by themselves have composite plastic that can resist a knife cut to her forearms. They have shock plates intended to absorb kinetic damage and sharp edges capable of piercing through Firebug's armor. She also has a respirator built into her gloves and a flashlight in her left glove.
• Utility Belt: Due to her police connections, Barbara was able to modify a police belt in order to create her own custom utility belt. It is made from leather and tough sewn pockets reinforced with steel lining, making it bulletproof in case the utility belt gets shot. While Barbara’s utility belt does not store as many things as Batman, it still has a lot of equipment in it that can help Barbara in a variety of situations.
  • Batarangs: One of the most well-known weapons owned by the Dark Knight are the small shurikens that are his trusty Batarangs, but Bruce isn’t the only one who uses them. Barbara has trained in using them and just like Bruce, she has a wide variety of them to use in different jobs. For that reason, they come in several different versions:
    • Concussion Batarangs: These are heavier than usual batarangs and are intended to give the person a concussion.
    • Explosive Batarangs: These explosive batarangs cause a small explosion when thrown. They are strong enough to stagger superhumans such as Black Beetle.
    • Taser Batarangs: Electrified batarangs that can bounce off surfaces to hit multiple targets.
    • Shock Batarangs: These electrified batarangs can shock anything that comes into contact with them
    • Razor Batarangs: During a fight against his brother, Barbara used these batarangs to save her mother from her brother, James Gordon Jr. These batarangs can deal significant injury to the spine.
    • Gooperangs: These batarangs when coming into contact with an object encase them in a goop that prevents them from moving
    • Ice Batarangs: Frosty batarangs that incase anything in ice that comes into contact with it
    • Timed Explosive Batarangs: They’re basically explosive batarangs but set on a timer
  • Grenades and Bombs: Batgirl has plenty of explosives in her bat arsenal that are capable of incapitating opponents or putting them to sleep:
    • EMP Grenades: These electromagnetic pulse grenades are efficient in disabling electronic devices.
    • Bat-Grenade: The Bat-Grenades when thrown create a small explosion that is strong enough to flip a car.
    • Fire Bombs: When thrown, these grenades create a small fire. In Young Justice, Batgirl and Impulse used their Fire Bombs and Speed to create a fire tornado.
    • Safety Foam Bomb: Barbara can throw this small bomb down to create an abundance of expanding safety foam, designed to absorb impact and halt movement.
    • Chemical Bomb: When thrown, a large amount of something green is released that could be a deadly chemical.
    • Sleeping Gas Bombs: Pretty self explanatory, when thrown sleep gas is deployed causing the target to fall asleep.
  • Pellets:
    • Smokescreen pellets: Inspired by tales of the Ninja, these pellets when thrown onto the ground create a large smokescreen that can be used to hide Batgirl’s escape from pursuers.
    • Flash pellets: These pellets are used to shine a flash of bright light to blind and stun opponents for approximately ten seconds.
    • Foam pellets: These pellets are used for putting out large fires due to the foam smothering fire
  • Guns: Just like Bruce, Barbara doesn’t like the use of firearms, but she has on occasion been shown to use very specialised firearms in her war against crime:
    • Grapple Gun/Grapnel Gun: A Bat-Family staple. Batgirl, like her mentor, relies a lot on the grapple gun in order to go around Gotham. She can also use it to pull thugs towards her for a quick knockout punch.
    • Batarang Gun: A specialized gun that fires out Batarangs that can be used to incapacitate opponents.
    • Little Batarang Gun: A specialized gun that can fire Batarangs that are too small, they do almost no damage and is used primarily for distraction.
    • Fire Extinguisher: This handy gun is able to shoot out water in order to extinguish fires as well as prevent people from burning.
    • Batclaw: A more combat oriented variation of the Grapplegun in that it fires a claw rather then a simple grappling hook
    • Taser Gun: Fires two lines of electricity that can be used to stun opponents though how effective it is will depend on how durable the user is.
  • Ropes: Due to Barbara preferring non-lethal force, she will use ropes in order to entangle her opponents or simply use them practically, such as pulling a falling car.
    • Ropes: Pretty self-explanatory, Barbara can use ropes in order to entangle thugs or lift falling vehicles.
    • Batrope: A specialised rope made by Batman. Serves the same function as a normal rope but is a lot more durable due to being made by Wayne Enterprises.
  • Electromagnets: Creates a magnetic field that can be used to magnetize objects.
  • A geiger counter: Measures the radiation level in any given area.
  • Laser-Strafer: A device that spins around, shooting multiple lasers at once.
  • Rebreather: Used underwater in order to breathe.
  • Line Launcher: This device can be used to get to one location to another by firing the line at a building and then travelling across the line.
  • Tracking Device: Very useful in Batgirl’s line of work. Allows her to track the location of moving objects.
  • Duct Tape: Can be used to wrap thugs up and prevent them from speaking.
  • Air filter: This device protects her from harmful gases.
  • Bat-Whistle: Can be used to produce a large sound that can disorientate opponents.
  • Tranq Darts: These darts can be used to knock opponents out as long as it touches the skin.
  • Bat-Phone Case: This protects her phone from impacts. It also has a built-in super-flash that can be used to disorient.
  • Bat-Camera: While undercover, Batgirl can use her utility belt to take pictures secretly without being caught.
  • Little Binoculars: These binoculars are useful for seeing far off locations despite it’s very small size.
  • Jetpack: This gadget gives Batgirl the ability to fly for short periods of time.
  • Laser Cutter: This cutter can easily cut through windows allowing for a quick entrance.
  • Microcassette Recorder: Using this, she can record her voice. This can be used to deceive enemies or send messages to others.
  • Nano-Aluminum Spray: Sprays aluminum particles everywhere. Mostly used for detective work

• Neural Implant: After being shot by the Joker, Barbara was paralyzed, rendered unable to walk. She had experimental surgery that placed a neural implant at the base of her brain. This neutral implant connects directly to her spine, which allows her to bypass the missing section of spine and use her legs. This neutral implant does have one significant weakness. If the implant is damaged or malfunctions, Barbara could become paralyzed again and sufficient enough damage could lead to permanent brain damage.

Feats

Strength

• Punched the Mirror hard enough to break a stone tombstone
• Flipped a man hard enough to slam him over the car
• Held a robot T. Rex's jaws shut
• Nearly overpowered the Joker in a contest of strength over a chainsaw
• Slammed Ragdoll’s back into a wall and cracked it
• Broke a man’s teeth
• Used her physical strength to throw a tiger away (considering adult tigers are usually around 450-500 pounds - that is an impressive feat of strength)
• Kicked down a locked door
• Scales to Black Canary who damaged metal using just her elbow
• Punched Wen Lu hard enough that the window behind her completely cracked and she fell out of it.
• Scales to Red Hood, who held down the roof of a broken building; Red Hood is also strong enough to cut off the head of a dinosaur

Speed

• Capable of bullet timing
• Disarmed a guy before he could shoot a hostage
• Threw a Batarang at a shooter before he could fire
• Dodged a taser gun
• Tackled an Police Officer and gets them to safety before an RPG can hit them
• Dodged blasts from energy beam guns.
• Dodged attacks from Silver
• Dodged a shot from a revolver
• Evaded gunfire
• Reacted to an electricity attack from Livewire
• Scales to Black Canary in speed who has dodged laser fire on numerous occasions
• Scales to Red Hood who blitzed the GCPD (The Gotham Police) while just wearing a towel
• Scales to Tim Drake who dodged a spray of bullets in a confined sewer
• Scales to Batman who’s fast enough to dodge heat vision with reflective properties
  • Batman has also dodged uzis at close range, tanks, machine guns, snipers, and machine guns from police helicopters and military helicopters

Durability

• Survived an explosion alongside the Birds of Prey
• Should realistically scale to the rest of the Batfamily, including Bruce who could survive this explosion.
• Hit by a firebang grenade
• Tanked fire from a flamethrower
• Got slammed into the ground by Riot Black and then kicked in the gut
• Had a building fall on top of her and is fine
• Survived falling several stories
• Stabbed in the side by Knightfall
• Stabbed by Talon’s throwing knives.
• Got an IPad slammed on the back of her head
• Is fine after being tackled through a window
• Scales to Black Canary in durability who survived this building explosion
• Scales to Red Hood who tanked getting hit by a bazooka. Red Hood also survived multiple nukes going off underwater (though he was not directly in the explosion)

Skill

• Discovered Batman's identity on her own
• As Oracle, is the DC Universe’s most prominent and well regarded computer expert, information broker and hacker
• Has defeated the Joker
• Defeated a DC Villain by the name of Firebug
• Defeated her own brother, James Gordon Jr
• Has fought Nightwing on equal footing (though it was a friendly spar)
• Has fought Black Canary on equal footing
• Is one of the most intelligent members of the Batman Family
• Has shown to be an equal to Black Canary who is known for her martial arts skilled
• Is comparable to Nightwing in terms of fighting skills
• Fought a group of thugs while in a wheelchair
• Defeated Harley Quinn, Starling and Clayface

Weaknesses

• As you can expect with a member of the bat family, Barbara’s biggest weakness is that, despite all the training she’s undergone, she’s still a human (by comic standards), and is subject to the same weaknesses as what you or I have.
  • This has led to some major problems for her, such as when she was tracked down by the Joker and shot, resulting in her being paralyzed. Fortunately, that was fixed with a neural implant that lets her walk and move around like normal, despite losing part of her spine...but that also means she has one particular part of her that is a major achilles’ heel, and can cause her to suffer brain damage as a result.