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DEAR READER
YOU ARE THE REASON
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@babscomfort
More DC girls!
Barbara Gordon is a woman of many names, faces, and identities. Batgirl, Oracle, crime fighter, hacker, able-bodied, wheelchair user, and mo
I wrote an essay a bit ago about my thoughts on portrayals of one of the most visible wheelchair-using crime-fighters out there by non-disabled writers and artists. Here's an excerpt, and you can find the full essay on my website!
Barbara Gordon is a woman of many names, faces, and identities. Batgirl, Oracle, crime fighter, hacker, able-bodied, wheelchair user, and most importantly: hero. She is one of, if not THE most famous disabled caped crusader to date. In addition to her tenure as Batgirl, she’s had a long and storied (pun intended) history in the role of Oracle, an ass-kicking-techno-wizard-wheelchair-user. But for me, a wheelchair user myself, her representation has never felt whole or true to my experiences. Now with the new series Batgirls, by Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad, I am finally beginning to see my own story in Barbara: that of a real disabled person.
No offense, but it seems like you only really like this new take on babs because you relate to it more. I get it -- I have a similar disability to yours in that I can walk, but also use a wheelchair a lot.
But you also seem to speak of a place of ignorance when it comes to pre new 52 comics, because you have to put them down to prop Batgirls up.
Both Oracle: Year One and this new Batgirl run both approach Barbara’s disability from the same angle: grief and guilt.
This is the comic that's only about grief and guilt?
This is the comic about Barbara's disabled body being treated as a problem to her? An obstacle to be overcome?
You seem to ignore a lot of the Barbara as Oracle pre new 52 stories, because that is the only way you can cast Batgirls in a positive light. Many of the things you say happen in Batgirls -- like Babs going to PT and it being treated as a normal thing -- are also present in pre new 52 Oracle. We see her going to PT in Birds of Prey, we see her using wheelchair lifts on busses. We see her going to therapy in Suicide Squad, dealing with her survivor's guilt (and victim blaming of herself)
In Barbara’s stories, I see a common theme: to be disabled is to be less-than. To be helpless.
What pre new 52 stories were you seeing that said that? Because sometimes, ableist tropes do pop up. But we see plenty that does not imply Barbara is helpless or less-than. So I'd like specific stories you have examples from.
Barbara is bitter about her disability; I get that.
Pictured: Barbara being bitter about her disability
She acknowledges that her body, even with the chip installed (from New 52), is still disabled. And that’s not a bad thing. She works with herself, not against herself
We see Barbara accept that a surgery on her spine to save her may make her more disabled, and she's fine with it, in pre new 52. We see her encouraging Wendy to accept her disability.
Like I understand being so starved for rep that if someone has a disability that's similar to yours, it's tempting to ignore all the issues around the writing. But this did not happen in isolation, and you have to ignore a lot of Barbara's past writing as Oracle to position Batgirls as the best.
I suggest you read these links here (link). some of them include my perspective as someone who has a disability similar to yours (ambulatory wheelcahir user) explaining why it is still ableist. I hope you hear me out.
Hey! My friend made a lot of great points so I won’t reiterate them, but there is something else I want to mention on top of everything.
In the essay you claim that no disabled writers have handled Babs in canon and hold that against fully paraplegic Oracle, while praising Batgirls with not one but two abled writers. The former is a false claim.
Kim Yale was a chronically ill and dying woman at the time she wrote Oracle: Year One. It was said (and very obvious upon looking at the panels Fade provided) that she was channeling her own experiences and hope in that story, and it is a more genuine portrayal of Babs and disability than mainline DC has provided us in years.
I know it’s easy to assume otherwise, but there’s a reason that Pre 52 Oracle and Oracle: Year One specifically is so beloved among other disabled fans.
A super best friendship 🐱🥰😂😭🥹🐈
"My three girlfriends. And yes, they smoke weed."
BABZ!!!
Barbara Gordon has got eyes on you, no matter where you go. She’s here, she’s everywhere.
Art by: @mommytimmy @faiasakura @lilituism @jayzelnut @violet-maydaylily @tulmultuous @moonllshadow
Thank you for all the gorgeous Babses! Mr. Alfred Pennyworth will call on us next week.
Participating in the DTIYS Bingo is completely optional while artists wait for fic claiming to start in May. If you haven’t signed up as an artist for the Bat Big Bang yet and would like to do so, the form is here:
🎨 ARTIST sign-up form
We are of course also accepting sign-ups for beta volunteers and pinch-hitters!
But first, I need a team.
Birdwatching.
batman ‘66
Babs mirror selfie based on a Batgirl cover with the same concept.
Back then she was real deal. I think Barbara/Oracle is the only fictional character I had a crush on at some point… %) Good times.
Calling all bats, calling all bats...
I’m strong enough and smart enough for anything you throw at me.
Birds of Prey (1999) #111
Birds of Prey: Batgirl/Catwoman
“I’m Oracle, I know everybody.”
Birds of Prey (1999) #6
Barbara Gordon in Gotham Girls #1-5