A reminder that Batman Eternal did Crystal Brown dirty (and is probably the reason she hasn't appeared in a decade)
A few moments later...
Batman Eternal (2014-2015) #4
I just thought this might be worth posting since sometimes I do see folks wondering where Crystal Brown is, hoping she returns, and wondering why DC apparently kinda forgot that Steph's got a living mother.
The reason is cause Batman Eternal's re-introduction of Stephanie Brown and her family kinda just ruined Crystal's character entirely, made her a terrible mother, and then moved on.
Batman Eternal (2014-2015) #8
This really sucks, because of how her relationship with her mother was such a significant part of Stephanie's character, and how Crystal was able to eventually sober up and mend that relationship.
But N52 Crystal is, as these panels show, honestly a terrible mother and it makes sense (solely in the context of this continuity) why Steph has had nothing to do with her.
Instead of being depicted as victim of Arthur Brown's abuse, and struggling with drug addiction, this version of Crystal seems to be not only doing fine for herself, but also a willing accomplice of her ex-husband's crimes and benefiting from them.
Batman Eternal (2014-2015) #42
While this story does admittedly end on a somewhat bright note of Crystal claiming she didn't know how far Arthur would go, and then planning to take Steph and leave the city for good. Which is nice, but kinda too little too late (also Steph promptly gets kidnapped by Catwoman and Crystal never shows up again).
N52 Crystal is either...
Somehow did not think Arthur intended to harm Steph despite despite calling her, panicked by her dad trying to kill her
Was aware of what Arthur intended and had a change of heart / crisis of conscience and so was lying to Steph here
Either way, pretty horrible. And real sucks to turn a complex mother-daughter relationship into... whatever this is. Also as I mention, Crystal Brown has never appeared since.
There is a very stark difference in how many appearances Crystal has had before and after Flashpoint.
All of Prime Earth Crystal's appearance were in Batman Eternal.
Apparently infinite frontier means everything is canon now or something, so let's hope that eventually someone remembers Steph has a mother who loves her.
Please.
To end things off, here... have some wholesome Stephanie and Crystal Brown;
Batgirl (2009-2011) #24