Sunday, July 20, 2008

Crisis on Infinite Earths Week :: Batgirl


Crisis on Infinite Earths was the 1986 event that reshaped the DC Universe. Worlds lived, worlds died, and certainly nothing was the same... ever again. It was not just the cosmic catastrophes that led to the crisis, there were also small-scale, more personal crises that threatened with destroying everything the heroes stood for. For Batgirl, Crisis on Infinite Earths was the beginning of the end of her career as a caped crusader.

Here, Batgirl talks with her friend of years Kara Zor-El, Supergirl. The crisis was becoming too overwhelming for her, and she felt impotent before the cosmic scope of the events taking place; but the Girl of Steel reminded her that everyone can make a difference; she talked to her of the firemen, doctors, and nurses aout there helping everyone... they are heroes too. After telling her this, Kara Zor-El flew off to save more lives. This was the last time Batgirl and Supergirl were together before tragedy struck.

In the novelization of "Crisis" this scene takes place early in the story, but an extra piece is added. After the "What have I become?" line, there is a car crash in the street below, and without thinking for a second about herself of her safety, Batgirl jumps to the recue. Even though she didn't know it then, she was also a hero... through and through.

10 comments:

michael chang sue said...

Elseworld's Finest female duo: Supergirl and Batgirl
Two years ago, across at CBGXtra.com, the question of Supergirl/Batgirl team-ups arose between Mr. Silver Age, Craig Shutt and others. Commander Benson cleared it up and cited four of the stories that appeared in Showcase presents Batgirl. I don't know if they ever found out that there was a fifth story that appeared in Detective Comics 508-510.
I am only sorry that in the twenty-one years, between the million dollar debut of Batgirl and her last case in the Batgirl Special, that Batgirl and Hawkgirl did not team-up at least once. I think the two red-haired female dynamos would have made a dynamic team.

michael chang sue said...

From the million dollar debut of Batgirl in Detective Comics #359 January 1967 to the last Batgirl story in Batgirl Special #1 1988, in the 21 years, Batgirl and the Supergirl from Krypton had met in World's Finest #169 and #176, Adventure #381, Superman Family #171, all of which were reprinted in Showcase presents Batgirl Volume #1, and Detective #508-#510, a three-parter.
In 1967, Batgirl sparked my interest in an all-girl issue with the same seven female dynamos imagined by Jose Luis Garcia Lopez 15 years later. In 1988, when I saw the calendar image, it only inflamed my obsession.
In maidofmight.net, I came across an image of Supergirl, Batgirl and Hawkwoman by Craig Rosseau.

michael chang sue said...

Action Comics #252 (May 1959) introduced the Supergirl from Krypton. Supergirl Vol. 2 #20 (June 1984) celebrated her 25th anniversary with the Justice League of America and the New Teen Titans. Absent from the celebration were Hawkwoman, Batgirl, Batman and the Outsiders. Batman and the Outsiders #11 (June 1984) had the team in Japan. I imagined Hawkwoman was on monitor duty and Batgirl was busy trying to rescue her father Commissioner Gordon. Now I imagined Phantom Stranger had relieved Hawkwoman from monitor duty and told her to go and help Batgirl rescue Commissioner Gordon.
2009 will be the 50th anniversary of the original, classic, silver age Supergirl and I hope it will be commemorated with a story with her, the silver age Batgirl and Hawkwoman.

michael chang sue said...

Happy Diwali greetings.
Batman and the Outsiders Vol. 1 #11 (June 1984): The team was in Japan. They couldn't attend the celebration.
Supergirl Vol. 2 (June 1984): Supergirl celebrated her 25th anniversary with the Justice League of America and the New Teen Titans. Hawkwoman was on monitor duty. Batgirl was busy trying to rescue her father. Phantom Stranger appeared and relieved Hawkwoman from monitor duty. He sent her to help Batgirl rescue Commissioner Gordon, Mayor Hill and others. Instead of Mera or Firehawk, it was Big Barda, who was visiting Gotham City, who joined the fray.

michael chang sue said...

Since then, I have revised what happened in June 1984.
The Justice League of America and the New Teen Titans were in Midvale to help Supergirl celebrate her 25th anniversary. Batman and the Outsiders were in Japan to help Katana reclaim the Soultaker. Relieved of monitor duty by the Phantom Stranger, Hawkwoman and Mera were in Gotham City to help Batgirl rescue Commissioner Gordon, Mayor Hill and others from the Masters of Disaster.

michael chang sue said...

I thought a battle between Mera and the leader of the Masters of Disaster would be interesting.

michael chang sue said...

Another revision.
Instead of Big Barda, it was Black Orchid who joined the encounter between Batgirl, Hawkwoman and Mera and the Masters of Disaster. Her identity was a mystery that there was not anyone who could have said that she was not a redhead then.

michael chang sue said...

A Very Happy Diwali 2009!
In April, I ordered for a Mattel DC Universe Classics Wave 7 Action Figure 8 Hawkgirl. My very first action figure finally arrived sometime last week, but I did not take delivery of it until this Friday.

michael chang sue said...

Last week Friday, I took delivery of my second action figure... Big Barda.
Now I have two Mattel DC Universe Classics Action Figures... Hawkgirl and Big Barda.
Big Barda (Barda Free), who was born of the race of New Gods on Apokolips, first appeared in Mister Miracle vol. 1 #4 (September-October 1971) entitled "The Closing Jaws of Death" and made an appearance in Justice League of America vol. 1 #183 (October 1980) entitled "Where Have All the New Gods Gone?".

michael chang sue said...

Mr. Silver Age, Craig Shutt of http://www.cbgxtra.com/default.aspx?tabid=42&view=topic&forumid=30&postid=14833 team-up, meet or crossover with http://girlofsteelfan.blogspot.com/2009/09/supergirl-and-batgirl-team-up.html
It's all about the meetings of Supergirl and Batgirl.