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Another spin-off of Batman has launched, Batgirl. This isn’t the first time she’s had a title and there have been others, but what does it take to be a part of the Bat-Family? And isn’t there already a female Bat-character?

She’s back. You know, Batgirl; not to be confused with Batwoman. Is the name ringing any, bells for you? I guess it can be confusing because this isn’t the first incarnation of this character, or because after each reappearance the character doesn’t stay around for very long. Batman already has a Batwoman, so does there need to be a Batgirl? ( pose new question, who is Batgirl?)

If we go back to the first incarnation of Batgirl, we see her introduction alongside the original Batwoman in 1961’s issue of Batman #139. Just like Batwoman was Batman’s counterpart, Batgirl was intended to be Robin’s counterpart. The introduction of these characters ended up altering the Batman stories, causing a decline in readership. This decline led to the removal of both Batwoman and Batgirl from Batman comics in 1964. As we move forward, the next incarnation of Batgirl, Barbra Gordon, daughter of Commissioner Gordon became the most popular. After Barbra there was Helen Bertinellie, then Cassandra Cain, followed by Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe, and finally we have the latest Batgirl, Stephanie Brown.

Stephanie comes with experience in the Bat-Family, she used to be Robin. But being a Robin isn’t enough, there is something else that is needed to be Batgirl: approval. Not just any person can pick up a cape and cowl and start calling themselves a Bat-person. They need approval from Batman, which he has given to each Robin who has worn the costume and the first Batgirl. Every Batgirl since then has been approved or denied by either Batman or the only person Batman trusts to approve a Batgirl, Barbara Gordon.

Pay attention because Barbara Gordon has given approval to Stephanie and has also stepped in to mentor her into being the best Batgirl yet. You don’t have to have read every Batman book or every previous appearance of Batgirl to appreciate this character. She’s another arsenal in the war against crime, but she’s also a member of the Bat-Family and should be treated with as much respect and dignity as any other member of that family. So pay attention, its Batgirl, not Batwoman