#hawkfire

[kiwistrashcache]

I had such a fun time drawing Bette Kane in her many many personas for @msperfectsheep-posts ! Originally I only knew of Bette Kane but through this piece I got to learn a lot about her and her history which was so fun. This is such an awesome idea with so much great inspiration, I am honored I got to bring it to life! Thanks for commissioning me!

[rebeccasreveries]

mary elizabeth / bette kane aesthetic [batgirl i / hawkfire / flamebird iii]

dc universe

“just like fire, burning up the way, if i can light the world up for just one day. watch this madness, colourful charade. no one can be just like me anyway” p!nk, just like fire

[kiwiweewee]

baby's first lawsuit

[mikaelsonwife4life]

Dick Grayson/Nightwing Ships- Hetrosexual

Chalant (Dick Grayson x Zatanna Zatanna Zatara)

DickBabs (Dick Grayson x Barbara Gordon)

DickBette (Dick Grayson x Bette Kane)

DickDawn (Dick Grayson x Dawn Granger)

DickHelena (Dick Grayson x Helena Bertinelli)

DickKory (Dick Grayson x Koriand'r)

DickPoison (Dick Grayson x Poison Ivy)

Harleywing (Harley Quinn x Nightwing)

Traught (Dick Grayson x Artemis Crock)

RobRae (Robin x Raven)

RobBlack (Robin x Komand'r)

Robsilver (Robin x Argent)

Voting ended onJul 17, 2025

Dick- Slash

Dick- Poly

Dick- Other

Damian

Stephanie

Cassandra

Jason

Barbara

Tim

Bruce

Harper

Duke

[professoruber]

Flamebird Analysis: The odd treatment of Bette Kane and her history/experience

Batwoman (2011-2016) #1

Okay so first of all, Kate; rude much?

Second of all... was Flamebird's costume really that impractical? Especaially when compared to Kate's costume.

While admittedly Flamebird's original costume was not exactly the height of practicality...

(Although she still seemed quite capable of holding her own in it)

Beast Boy (2000) #2

However she later does in fact get a more practical outfit which she also kickass ass in.

Beast Boy (2000) #4

And we do know that its Flamebird's second (more practical-looking costume) which Kate burns, as Bette ends up suiting up in her aforementioned spare after Kate fires her...

Batwoman (2011-2016) #3

While I am admittedly not an expert on combat outfits; Flamebird's second costume to me seems like it walks a good line between aesthetic and practicality. It has plenty of flair and style to it, but also appears quite flexible and overall not really too drastically different from Kate's Batwoman costume in this regard (rather hypocritical of Kate to say "you need a uniform" while she wears a long wig for no apparent reason apart from style).

If anything...

The "uniform" which Kate gives Bette kinda strikes me as being less practical for the situation compared to the Flamebird costume which she burned. Like Bette's mask seems to be just a piece of fabric tied around her face, which certainly feels like it should be looser and not be as sleek and flexible as the Flamebird costume.

Building off this, from what I've seen and looked over so far, the treatment of Bette kinda feels like it has a weird... juxtaposition at times between what's getting told and what's being shown, I guess.

Like on one hand...

It's shown by both Bette's comments here and the existence of her old Flamebird costumes that she has been experience vigilante for sometime. Longer than Kate I think, if I'm understanding the timeline all correctly.

There seems to be this odd case of both having Kate and the narrative treat Bette as an inexperienced rookie... while also having Bette and the narrative establish Bette as having been a Teen Titan, who has fought Deathstroke and presumably has years of experience.

Even Kate's codename for Bette indicates a rookie status...

However despite the references to Bette's past career and capabilities, and Bette's protests of being more capable than Kate gives her credit for, and Kate also immediately feeling quite shitty at how harsh she was when firing Bette...

The narrative still, from what I understand, kinda vindicates Kate entirely by having Bette get brutalised to the point of falling into a coma immediately after she defies Kate by heading out as Flamebird after getting fired... so I guess Kate was right? I don't know.

Like I said, I just find all of this quite of a weird portrayal. I've been curious about Bette lately on account of her being the original Batgirl (or rather, Bat-Girl), which is a very iconic mantle to the general "Bat-Mythos" even if Bette herself is far less remembered.

I guess one thing I find especially strange is how this is from the first issues of Batwoman 2011... meaning that this was right at the start of the whole New 52 Reboot stuff and so they could've presumably just retconned Bette's experience to make her an actual rookie sidekick instead of this weird half-measure where they both establish her past experience as canon while also otherwise ignoring it.

There's other stuff which I could go over; such as Bette's coma, her stint as Hawkfire, her enrolling in West Point... all of which probably has room for more detailed specific analysis by someone more familiar with both Bette and also the Batwoman comics (I've only fairly recently started looking into this stuff out of curiosity as I work my way through learning more comic history).

So I'll skip to a more recent appearance by Bette in 2017...

Detective Comics (1937—Present) #967

This whole exchange feels once again like Kate ignoring Bette's history, experience and capabilities. Especially the whole "pass second year in the top 99th percentile of your class and maybe I'll put in a good word with you to Batman" thing. No one else needed be top of their class at West Point, or attend West Point at all, to be a superhero. And it just seems strange to have Bette getting forced down that specific road.

Like; going by publication history, Bette was considered part of the original Teen Titans team due to debuting in the 1960s-1970s period. In fact she joined the team before the likes of Beast Boy, Raven, Starfire and Cyborg (at least in terms of publication anyway).

While I'm not entirely certain how her current age placement in the roster, they did still at least establish her as being a Teen Titan who fought Deathstroke and so presumably in the same generation as Nightwing (even if possibly a bit younger) and other core members. The from what I understand the Titans are currently considered senior and experienced enough to be the current "top team" of the hero scene in canon.

So all together this adds up to, as I keep saying, a strange contrast between Bette's stated/implied history and how she gets treated by the narrative.

DC's Legion of Bloom (2023) #1

Last year Bette did make a return as Flamebird (not Hawkfire). Which could mean one of two things...

Kate finally acknowledged Bette as ready/worthy/experienced enough to go out on her own

Bette went screw it and decided she didn't need Bette's permission

Honestly kinda hopping the later cause it brings to mind a bit of the Beast Boy comic which I quite liked...

Beast Boy (2000) #3

Better gets a very stern reprimand from Nightwing (some she admires), and is told she's not cut out for this world and quits. This comes after she's spent most of her appearance in this run being kinda a comedic relief in the form of her repeated failures to bail Beast Boy outta jail (since she's never posted bail before and didn't know how)

But after this..?

Beast Boy (2000) #4

She comes back, with a new (more practical-looking, as I discussed before) costume and beats up several bad guys to help out Gar (who in turn really appreciates her arrival and assistance).

Batwoman (2011) #3

Making this post I've noticed an interesting similarity and contrast between Beast Boy and Batwoman comics in regards to Bette. Both times, Bette gets very sternly reprimanded and told she's not cut out to be a hero and ordered not to be one by someone she admires/values the opinion of.

Both times she defies them and goes out anyway, putting on the same costume both times in fact.

But while the Beast Boy comic portrays her as competent and capable, even having her involvement appreciated by Gar...

Meanwhile in Batwoman?

Batwoman (2011-2016) #4

Bette's defiance almost immediately ends with her horribly injured, and in turn accidentally helps the DEO work out Batwoman's identity.

Two events regarding the same character which that character reacts to in a similar manner but one ends with her vindicated and the other... very much not.

DC's Legion of Bloom (2023) #1

Moving back to Bette's recent appearance in DC's Legion of Bloom. West Point is 4-years in total, and when we last saw Bette she was on her second year at the latest. So with the nature of comic book time, I find it unlikely she'd already graduated.

Her return to Flamebird could also have something to do with Infinite Frontier (I don't fully understand how it works, but apparently everything's canon now again sort of?) re-canonising Bette's competence? That sounds like kinda an amusing thought tbh; multiverse shenanigans happen and Bette wakes up one morning feeling suddenly competent again. Good for her.

Anyway I hope this is a good sign for Bette's character. Even if she's unlikely to be a major player, would still be nice for her appearance to at least depict her as capable. Plus as I said, comic book time means if she does actually stick to West Point, then she'd unlikely to be graduating (and get allowed to be a vigilante) anytime soon. So at that point you might as well just let her go be rich and play tennis since its not like that's a route to her actually doing anything.

Bette seems pretty neat from what I've seen of her, so I wish her the best. Even if Legion of Bloom continues the running joke of her trying and failing to recreate Titans West.

[in-the-moodboard]

Bat fanfic recommendations

Bruce Wayne - Venn Bruce by icarus_chained

General Audiences - J'onn J'onzz/Bruce Wayne; Selina Kyle/Bruce Wayne; Clark Kent/Lois Lane; Alfred Pennyworth & Bruce Wayne; Clark Kent & Bruce Wayne; Jim Gordon & Bruce Wayne

In a quiet moment, in bed with his lover, Bruce considers the sum of his parts, the people who had helped shape it.

Kate Kane - If I Never Tell You by LesbianArsenal

Teen And Up Audiences - Diana (Wonder Woman)/Kate Kane

Kate Kane isn't used to being flustered, but she finds herself exactly that every time she's in the presence of a certain Amazonian Princess. Who wouldn't be, she justifies. But when a demonic threat enters Gotham, she starts seeing more of Wonder Woman, and much more of the woman behind that title.

Bette Kane - hate to see you like a monster by flamebirds

General Audiences - Bette Kane & Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe; Tim Drake & Bette Kane; Duela Dent & Bette Kane

The Joker's Daughter has kidnapped Huntress and there has only ever been one person that Batwoman would turn to.

Damian Wayne - Damian Wayne v. The World by superstar_socrates

Teen And Up Audiences - Bruce Wayne & Damian Wayne; Duke Thomas & Damian Wayne; Cassandra Cain & Damian Wayne; Mia "Maps" Mizoguchi & Damian Wayne; Alfred Pennyworth & Damian Wayne; Talia al Ghul & Damian Wayne; Stephanie Brown & Damian Wayne

Damian Wayne's second semester at Gotham Academy begins by being roped into playing the titular character of Shakespeare's Macbeth. Meanwhile, Batman and Robin come to a horrifying realization regarding a series of murder victims.

Barbara Gordon - Being Wanted (The Aggravated Assault Remix) by Mara

Teen And Up Audiences

Oracle gets a little tired of being on call.

Jean-Paul Valley - in space (all I think about is you & me) by KathrynShadow

General Audiences - Luke Fox/Jean-Paul Valley

It starts out as a tickle at the back of his neck, the Azrael armor’s contacts embedded in his nervous system reacting to his new suit detecting something.

Cassandra Cain - do I dare disturb the universe? by Hinn_Raven

Teen And Up Audiences - Cassandra Cain/Christine Montclair; Stephanie Brown & Cassandra Cain; Cassandra Cain & Bruce Wayne; Cassandra Cain & Duke Thomas

Cassandra Cain was falling, and there were stars. When she landed, she found herself stranded in a universe where there never was a Batman. Good thing that she’s a detective.

Tim Drake - to find a town where we can live by batwitches (goodwitches)

Teen And Up Audiences - Tim Drake & Dick Grayson; Tim Drake & Dick Grayson & Jason Todd

“Tim, do you want to go home?” And his little brother, all scathing wit and teenage nonchalance, replies, “Don’t ask me that,” and walks out the kitchen door without looking Dick in the eyes. A seventeen-year-old Tim Drake leaves Gotham in the rearview mirror, catches a bus to New York, and moves into his brother's shitty Hell's Kitchen apartment. It's hard to be an adult when you've never been a kid.

Stephanie Brown- These Twists and Turns of Fate by Hinn_Raven

General Audiences - Stephanie Brown/Cassandra Cain; Stephanie Brown/Tim Drake; Harper Row/Carrie Kelley; Stephanie Brown & Harper Row; Stephanie Brown & Jason Todd; Stephanie Brown & Damian Wayne; Stephanie Brown & Cassandra Cain; Stephanie Brown & Crystal Brown; Stephanie Brown & Tim Drake

To be born is to exist, but to live is something else entirely. Stephanie Brown falls apart, and pulls herself back together.

Helena Bertinelli - Robins are an Invasive Species by Havendance

General Audiences - Helena Bertinelli & Tim Drake; Tim Drake & Dick Grayson; Helena Bertinelli & Barbara Gordon; Jack Drake & Tim Drake

Team up with a teen vigilante once and you'll never get rid of him again. Helena didn't sign up for any of this.

Dick Grayson - soft clocks by dustorange

General Audiences - Dick Grayson & Bruce Wayne; Dick Grayson & Damian Wayne; Dick Grayson & Tiger

Side effects of being revived by Lex Luthor may include amnesia, going undercover into a high-level espionage agency, not recognizing your family, fighting your family, and dealing with the emotional weight and guilt associated with encountering said family. Ask your doctor if being revived by Lex Luthor is right for you.

Jason Todd - YOU MUST KNOW LIFE TO KNOW DECAY. by orpheusaki

Not Rated - Jason Todd & Bruce Wayne; Dick Grayson & Jason Todd; Jason Todd & Willis Todd; Catherine Todd & Jason Todd; Catherine Todd/Willis Todd

Bruce starts, eyes glaring down at the city and unwilling to look anywhere else, especially in Jason's direction, "You always… hated the rain." Jason's breath gets caught in his throat. (For as long as Jason can remember, it's always been raining.)

Duke Thomas - and you breathe, sunshine, for you're not alone by Aelig

Teen And Up Audiences - Dick Grayson & Duke Thomas

"There’s a knocking sound against the window frame. “Hey,” the vigilante says softly, and Duke immediately takes a breath only to choke on it. “Robin,” Duke stammers out, and it comes out with a sob." OR: in which Dick and Duke meet years before, and it doesn't really change anything, except for a little bit of comfort.

Mia Mizoguchi - MAPPING out Neo-Gotham (Eh? Get it?) by theycallme_ook

General Audiences - Terry McGinnis & Mia "Maps" Mizoguchi

"Mia! You were in the clock this whole time?" cried Kyle, running to check on his baby sister. "I was in the future!" Maps responded eagerly, waving off his concern. "It was--will be?--preeeetty goooood!"

🫒

[aliteralchicken]

Tbh now that I think about it flamebird and arrowette are quite similar, blonde, wear red and yellow, have an older vigilante relative who worked alongside a well known vigilante duo, Olympic athletes, did beauty pageants, martial artists, on teams not taken seriously, had stories about retirement, DC doesn’t treat them well

[theblanddcu2021]

Plastic-Man and Booster Gold are supportive of Bette Kane and her being Flamebird.

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