Pre-Crisis Batgirl: Bette Kane

Bette Kane

Mary Elizabeth "Bette" Kane is the niece of the original interpretation of Batwoman, Kathy Kane. She took the persona of the "Bat-Girl" being much the sidekick to Batwoman as Robin is to Batman.
Her creation, along with Batwoman's, was brought about due to the rumored homosexual interpretations between Batman and Robin. This version of Batgirl did not last very long as in 1964 her character was no longer used.
Pre-Crisis this version of Batgirl was no longer considered part of the canon, although Bette Kane did survive the crisis, instead operating as the hero Flamebird.

Batgirl I - Barbara Gordon

First Appearance of Barbara Gordon

Barbara Gordon is the niece (adopted daughter) of Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon. Barbara started her crime fighting career as Batgirl when she was on her way to a costume ball dressed as a female Batman. Barbara accidentally stumbled on an attempt to kidnap Batman by Killer Moth.
Eventually Barbara would reveal her secret identity to her father, James Gordon. However, he had already discovered his daughter’s alter ego on his own. Barbara would give up her career as Batgirl to pursue politics. Batgirl would be brought back in Superman comics when she was set up as a blind date for Clark Kent. They developed a great friendship and also fought along side each other.
While Barbara was still into politics, she (as Batgirl) would eventually team up with Robin ( Dick Grayson). Dick worked for Barbara as her intern during the summers. He had a crush on her but she was currently dating a Senator. Eventually they would both discover each others' alter-ego and continue fighting crime together. Batgirl has also teamed up with Supergirl many times, and the two have become close friends.
Post- Crisis

Batgirl and Robin

The daughter of Roger and Thelma Gordon became Batgirl in this timeline. Jim Gordon was Roger’s brother and Barbara’s uncle. Her mother and aunt were killed in a car accident because of her father’s drinking, and Jim adopted Barbara to live with him. Jim's wife was also named Barbara, and they lived with their son in Gotham City. At first Jim and Barbara did not get along, but with time they grew close. However, when Batman discovered a letter that Barbara had been keeping in a safe, it revealed that Barbara knew that Jim had been dating her mother before she married Roger and that there is a chance that Jim is her biological father.
Barbara Gordon excelled in academics and as a result graduated High School early. She wanted to become a Police Officer but was continually put down by her father, Police Commissioner James Gordon.
She became so angered at her father’s disapproval of her wanting to go into law enforcement that she crashed the Gotham City Police Department annual ball dressed as a female Batman. Coincidentally Killer Moth attempted a robbery at the ball and this helped launch Batgirl’s career. Batman and Robin would take her in and help train her.With Supergirl’s origin being retconned, her early adventures with Supergirl were changed into adventures with Power Girl.
After years of fighting as Batgirl, she retired, but crime did not stop finding her. One day while with her father, the Joker shot her through the spine, ending her physical crime-fighting career, but also spawning a new career as the Oracle.

Batgirl II - Helena Bertinelli

Helena Bertinelli as Batgirl

In No Man's Land when Batman seemingly abandoned Gotham City, Helena Bertinelli, The Huntress, took it upon herself to appear as the Batman. She dressed in a bat-suit and began marking territory. When Batman did return he allowed her to continue using the persona of Batgirl, telling her that she is to protect the territory she has gained.
When Helena is over-run with with over 200 forces, she fights valiantly, only to lose the territory and as a result Batman tells her to take off the costume, as he views her as unworthy to wear it.

Batgirl III - Cassandra Cain

Cassandra Cain

A short time after The Huntress relinquished the title of Batgirl, a new character took the mantle of Batgirl after saving Commissioner Gordon's life. Barbara Gordon takes a special interest in her as well.
When Cassandra Cain is first introduced the only language she is able to communicate with is the language of martial arts. She is depicted as a partially Asian woman. Despite not being able to speak in the early goings, the ability to read body language is a key component to her detective skills and her character. Eventually she is able to to understand words, but loses the ability to read body movements. However, she is later taught by Lady Shiva to relearn to read body movements. She is forced to do this by Batman, who is fearful that she may not be able defend herself, and might end up dying like the second Robin.
Cassandra retires the costume at one point, but she soon returns to the role, proving to be very key in War Games orchestrated by Black Mask, where her ally Stephanie Brown is killed. She soon moves to Bludhaven to assist Robin after Batman suggests she do so. She fights Ravager after the Penguin orders a hit on Batgirl, although Deathstroke was hired.
Cassandra learns that the assassin David Cain was her father and Lady Shiva her mother.

She began working with the Outsiders, becoming a key part of their operation.
Nightwing grows distrustful of her, although Batman formally adopts her into his family, much like he did with Dick Grayson and Tim Drake. Soon, however, Batman would apparently die at the hands of Darkseid. She helps Oracle and Nightwing bring some order to Gotham before stepping down as Batgirl, saying that she fought for Batman and with him gone she won't fight for him anymore, however, it was revealed later that was acting under orders of Batman to give the mantle to Stephanie in case he died or disappeared, because it would make her a better hero. She is currently in Hong Kong fighting crime.

Batgirl IV- Stephanie Brown

Stephanie Brown as Batgirl

Stephanie Brown takes up the mantle of Batgirl after Cassandra disappears. She begins using the costume that was left behind and soon Batman and Robin see that this Batgirl is not Cassandra Cain. Eventually Barbara Gordon figures out that Steph has taken up the mantle and urges her to stop, telling her she is going to get herself killed. Soon the two are forced to team up and she fights the Scarecrow, earning Barbara's respect, and the blessing is given to Stephanie.
The two begin working together and soon Dick Grayson confronts them about this, heatedly. Eventually he allows the two to operate out of the Batcave. Barbara also gives her a new Batgirl costume that was apparently meant for Barbara, but gives it to her to replace the costume she was using, which had begun to rip and tear.

The New 52 - Barbara Gordon

Batgirl #1 cover - Adam Hughes

Following the events of Flashpoint, which served as a reboot for the DC universe, Barbara Gordon is back to being Batgirl. It is shown in issue #1 that she was shot by the Joker, was paralyzed, and possible still served as Oracle for 2 or 3 years, though in this continuity, it is unknown if the other three Batgirls served during that time, and how her spinal injury was healed.

Cassandra retires the costume at one point, but she soon returns to the role, proving to be very key in War Games orchestrated by Black Mask, where her ally Stephanie Brown is killed. She soon moves to Bludhaven to assist Robin after Batman suggests she do so. She fights Ravager after the Penguin orders a hit on Batgirl, although Deathstroke was hired.
Cassandra learns that the assassin David Cain was her father and Lady Shiva her mother.

She began working with the Outsiders, becoming a key part of their operation.
Nightwing grows distrustful of her, although Batman formally adopts her into his family, much like he did with Dick Grayson and Tim Drake. Soon, however, Batman would apparently die at the hands of Darkseid. She helps Oracle and Nightwing bring some order to Gotham before stepping down as Batgirl, saying that she fought for Batman and with him gone she won't fight for him anymore, however, it was revealed later that was acting under orders of Batman to give the mantle to Stephanie in case he died or disappeared, because it would make her a better hero. She is currently in Hong Kong fighting crime.

Batgirl IV- Stephanie Brown

Stephanie Brown as Batgirl

Stephanie Brown takes up the mantle of Batgirl after Cassandra disappears. She begins using the costume that was left behind and soon Batman and Robin see that this Batgirl is not Cassandra Cain. Eventually Barbara Gordon figures out that Steph has taken up the mantle and urges her to stop, telling her she is going to get herself killed. Soon the two are forced to team up and she fights the Scarecrow, earning Barbara's respect, and the blessing is given to Stephanie.
The two begin working together and soon Dick Grayson confronts them about this, heatedly. Eventually he allows the two to operate out of the Batcave. Barbara also gives her a new Batgirl costume that was apparently meant for Barbara, but gives it to her to replace the costume she was using, which had begun to rip and tear.

The New 52 - Barbara Gordon

Batgirl #1 cover - Adam Hughes

Following the events of Flashpoint, which served as a reboot for the DC universe, Barbara Gordon is back to being Batgirl. It is shown in issue #1 that she was shot by the Joker, was paralyzed, and possible still served as Oracle for 2 or 3 years, though in this continuity, it is unknown if the other three Batgirls served during that time, and how her spinal injury was healed.

Other- Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe

Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe as Batgirl

Charlotte "Charlie" Gage-Radcliffe took the mantle of Batgirl unofficially wearing a homemade version of a Batgirl costume fighting crime in Gotham City. When Oracle caught notice of this, she sends in the Birds of Prey to investigate. It was revealed that she was a Metahuman with teleportation, superstrength and healing. After talking with Oracle, she agreed on stop being Batgirl, but wouldn't give up being a superhero, later calling herself Misfit.

Major Story Arcs

Skills and Abilities

Martial Arts

Each Batgirl was trained in martial arts. Barbara trained herself in martial arts before she became Batgirl and was further trained by Richard Dragon after she became wheelchair bound.
Helena is also trained in many martial arts such as Dragon Style Kung Fu by Richard Dragon, in addition she is also a master archer.
Due to harsh training she went though as a child, Cassandra is one of the greatest martial artists in the world and a master assassin. She is skilled in being able to comprehend a person's body movements as if it were language or speech, and thus know what actions a person will do before they actually do. She is also a master of different kinds of melee and ranged weaponry. Her time with Barbara and Batman only enhanced her already considerable skills.
Stephanie is trained in martial arts and acrobatics as well thanks to Batman, Cassandra Cain, and Barbara.

Detective Skills

Barbara Gordon has a photographic memory and is a skilled detective, Cassandra was given some detective training from Tim Drake while they were in Blüdhaven. Stephanie received some detective training from both Batman and Barbara.

Equipment

Each Batgirl carries an assortment of Batgadgets such as Batarangs, smoke bombs, small explosives, grappling hooks and lines, and a Batcycle. Barbara's cowl had various lenses in it and when she pressed a button either clear lens, a telescopic-vision lens, a thermal lens, or a multi-light tracer lens would appear. Huntress carries, crossbows, knife, twin-pistols and a metallic staff as well as her own motorcycle.

In Other Media

Television

Birds of Prey

Batman ( 1966-1967)
Yvonne Craig portrays Batgirl in the television series. Batgirl fights alongside Batman and Robin and helps them numerous times in the final season of the show. Batgirl is revealed to be Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Jim Gordon.
Birds of Prey (2002)
Dina Meyer portrays Barbara Gordon/Oracle. She helps Helena Kyle/Huntress, the daughter of Batman and Catwoman. The Batgirl costume makes a few appearances, worn by now wheel-chair bound Barbara Gordon.

Animation

Batman: The Animated Series

Batman:TAS

Batgirl makes her first appearance in the second season premiere, posing as Batman to show support of Jim Gordon, who has been charged with corruption. It is revealed to the audience that Barbara Gordon is Batgirl. She also flirts with Robin in this series.
The New Batman Adventures
In the revamp of the animated series, Batgirl plays a much larger role in this series. Sometime between the end of the original and the beginning of this, Batman figures out that Batgirl is Barbara Gordon. She is now a key component in the Batman Family. Her costume is more reflective of her comic counterpart.

Revamp

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
In a flashback sequence Batgirl is seen to be working with Batman and Robin. When Robin is kidnapped she helps Batman combat villains and eventually Harley Quinn and the Joker. After they save Tim, it is believed that Batman forces all of his allies to retire, ending her reign in the DCU.
The Batman
In a new animated series, 15-year old Barbara Gordon becomes the first partner of the Batman, becoming Batgirl, although

The Batman

trying to be called Batwoman. Eventually Batman figures out who she is and says so, as they all reveal their secret identities.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
She appears in "The Last Patrol" where she helps Batman defeat Killer Moth in a flashback. She also appears in "The Criss Cross Conspiracy" where she helps Nightwing and Batman rescue Batwoman from the Riddler.

Film

Alicia Silverstone

Batman and Robin (1997)
Barbara Wilson, the granddaughter of Alfred Pennyworth becomes Batgirl and fights Poison Ivy and helps Robin fight Bane, as well as combating Mr. Freeze. This characterization is based on Barbara Gordon, but the producers felt the Commissioner was too minor a character and linked her with Alfred instead.