Because Steph is amazing.

[thespis]

So, I mentioned in my last post how much I missed Oracle and all her awesome. Here's a tribute to another favourite of mine, who I've also been sorely missing in the DCnU.



Batgirl #3: Steph proves her mettle as Batgirl, fighting on through hallucinations induced by Scarecrow's drugs.










And the birth of Team Batgirl:





Batgirl #4: Because it always makes me laugh.




Batgirl #5. Every scene involving Damian and Steph is pure gold, I swear to god.






Batgirl #10: Steph runs into Nick Gage (who has only ever met her as Batgirl), tries to go for the cryptic double-talk, and ends up completely weirding him out. Bahaha. Oh Steph, ilu.








Batgirl #15: Because lol. Just lol.






Batgirl #17: Steph trying to teach Damian how to be a kid. D'awwww.




Batgirl #20: After a shaky start to her day-saving...


...Steph save the day with a combination of quick wits and some handy magnetic gooperangs.




Batgirl #24: Am I a hopeless softy if I admit that this issue still makes me tear up every time I read it? Because it totally does. I was, and still am, so bitterly disappointed that this comic was cut short prematurely - and right in the middle of a story arc, no less - but in spite of the shittiness of the circumstances, I don't think Bryan Q. Miller could have given Steph a better send-off.





One of my favourite little scenes from Steph's Black Mercy-induced hallucinations. I hadn't realised how often Nell (the adorable ten-year-old African American girl, here depicted as Future!Batgirl) appeared in the comics till I began re-reading them. I think she must pop up at least three times over the course of the series (four times, including this issue).


And this. Just. This scene. I want to hug this scene.

Comments

[silverzeo]

I never read her seires, but Cass will always have be my Batgirl... casue she has an 2 two issue crush on Superboy and in his book is when I first learned about her...

[auggie18]

Oh man, Steph will always be my Batgirl. I loved Cass and all, and Barbara is great, but Stephanie just had fun with it. She was fun, funny, and totally bad-ass. I can't wait for trades.

[leikomgwtfbbq]

Same here! I adore Cass, and Babs (as Oracle) is my favorite heroine (because OMG SUPER-LIBRARIAN), but Steph is my favorite Batgirl. She's sadly something of an oddity these days--she's good-natured and friendly and silly, but still incredibly competent and badass. Sigh. All good things go before their time, I suppose.

[maxisanacorn]

See this whole Scarecrow as Spoiler segment is evidence enough how Steph deserved to be Batgirl.

UGH REBOOT. Babs Batgirl has yet to show any such empowerment compared to that scene. It's nostalgic jam on grimdark toast. It really doesn't work very well.

[majingojira]

I think I'm going to use "Nostalgic jam on Grimdark Toast" to describe a lot of what's wrong with the DCNu.

Not that there aren't good titles in it (Demon Knights!) . . .

[thespis]

So much. A big part of the problem, I think, is that Oracle returning to the role of Batgirl is such a regression for that character. When Steph becomes Batgirl she's seizing control of her destiny, reinventing herself, and she's stronger for it. When Babs leaves Batgirl behind for Oracle it's also a reinvention; she realises she need not be defined by the bat, and through her strength and intelligence and determination she forges her own path, becoming not only a heroine, but a true leader.

Oracle becoming Batgirl? Any way you look at it, it's a backwards step. She's retreating back into the shadow of the bat, denying all the skills and resources and influence she built up as Oracle in order to run around on rooftops in a costume and persona she long ago outgrew. As unimpressed as I've been with the new Batgirl title, I have to feel some sympathy for Gail Simone - I don't think it's possible to have Babs revert to Batgirl without fundamentally weakening the character and denying much of the growth she underwent as Oracle.

[/rambleramble] Nostalgic jam on grimdark toast sums up the rebooted Babs pretty well perfectly.

[junkurosu]

Steph is my Batgirl despite knowing about Babs.

Stephanie just makes me want to be her because no matter how bad the situation is, Batgirl!Steph always pulls through.

[junkurosu]

I would also like to add that that last scene with Damian and Steph ("What chest?") also reminded me of Calvin and Hobbes with Damian as Calvin.

[atom_punk]

See I'm always on the fence about my favorite Batgirl.

I knew Babs from the BTAS cartoon in the 90's, which I loved and was essentially my intro into comics. Then when I started reading comics I learned about Oracle. Shot, paralyzed, and she is still a hero, refusing to let herself be defined by her injury.

I knew Cass once I got into comics for the first time and loved her complex character. Not saying that other Bat-family members aren't complex but she was different. Looking for redemption, looking for purpose, looking to help rather than seeking vengeance like Bruce.

I knew Steph from well, Cass' Batgirl, then her own debut as Batgirl. Again a different kind of character. Wanting to see justice done, but also relishing how cool everything she experiences is.

Sigh. The Batgirls. Ladies after my own heart

[majingojira]

Why we didn't get a title called "Batgirls" with all three as the playes (Mind (Babs), Body (Casss), Soul (Steph)) I'll never know.

[thespis]

!!! This would have been an infinitely cooler alternative to the fail!Batgirl the DCnU's given us. Babs, Cass and Steph all in the one comic? Yes please.

[akodo_rokku]

I continue to love that electro-neon Nightwing outfit.

[atom_punk]

And the glowstick/escrima-sticks!

Beat up some thugs, then hit a rave!

[salinea]

STEPH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[eyz]

Things I miss and that are seriously lacking in the current Batgirl title:
- humor
- fun light hearted stories
- team Batgirl!
- teen superhero-kind of stories
- Detective Gage
- Wendy
- a billion times STEPH!!! ~<3

[perletwo]

And lest we forget, excellent sound effects, like "FLOP" and "P00T"!

[shadur]

The touchdown dance wins so goddamn much.

Stupid reboot.

[majingojira]

Another rallying cry of support for Steph Batgirl and Fun comics!

[zechs80]

I love both Cass and Steph equally. They both had good qualities about being Batgirl about them. I've yet to find anything in Babs' return and that is the true tragedy.

[nyadnar17]

I hate reading this stuff. After so many years of being a quasy-annoying C-lister and the grimdark mess that was War Games somebody finally built Steph up right.

I loved Cass as Black Bat(dumb name but still) and her relationship with Steph and Tim
I loved Steph as Batgirl, especially her relation with Oracle and Damien.

and now its all gone.....stupid reboot.

[mommy]

Steph will always be one of my favorite DC characters, right up there with Connor Hawke and Jaime's mom. I love Steph when she bricked Tim in the face, when she made her own choices regarding her pregnancy, and when she stood up to Batman repeatedly during her Spoiler days. Her run as Batgirl was a breath of fresh air during an era of angstypants grimsuck.

[big_daddy_d]

*sigh*..this just reminds me of an awesome series and character lost in the shuffle of the new 52... On another note, the pages with her mom reminds me of the episode of the Batman Animated series where Barbara had the fear induced nightmare about her death..and when she had her convo with her dad at the end, something he said to her made it clear, at least for me, that he already knows she's Batgirl.

[shadowpsykie]

brb crying FOREVER! *does the district 12 Salute* WE miss you Steph...

[lbd_nytetrayn]

Huh, never seen that Future Batgirl and Future Night... Bat... wing before. Are they from the Beyond time?

And did we ever get any sort of backstory for Steph vacating the Batgirl suit?

[cyberxigbar]

So, um.... that noose around Scarecrow's neck. Did anyone ever tug on it in the old DCU?

And that last page has got to be one of my favorite pages in this series.

[sianmink]

POOT!

[lego_joker]

I'm still kind of reluctant to begin Steph's Batgirl series... I tried reading the first arc, and was kind of turned off by how Scarecrow was portrayed as a crazy thug with fear gas.

But then, I've read pretty much everything else Steph's been in, and more or less loved it. So maybe I should begin... knowing that it all builds up to this finale might just make it all worthwhile...

[thespis]

Yeah, it's not a great portrayal of Scarecrow, but their fight does serve the purpose of forcing Steph to confront her fears and doubts, and to prove - to herself and to others - that she's stronger than them. I'm fond of it for that, even if Scarecrow's part in the story could have been handled a lot better.

If you're a fan of Steph, I would absolutely recommend her Batgirl series. It's warm and irreverent and heaps of fun; it has a great cast, some wonderful guest stars (I love the way BQM plays Steph and Damian off each other, they're perfect), a big focus on character and relationships, and... yeah, just wonderful. It's still one of my favourite series.