FAQ

The first 'Bat-Girl' was Betty (later changed to 'Bette') Kane, niece of Kathy 'Batwoman' Kane. Her first comic-book appearance was in Batman #139, cover-dated April, 1961. By the time the Barbara Gordon version of Batgirl was created, the original Bat-Girl had been retired from the Batman titles--though she would gain a second life through the Teen Titans comic book as a member of Titans West and a new costumed identity as Flamebird.

The idea for Barbara Gordon as Batgirl and the daughter of Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon was originally conceived by television producer William Dozier and created for the 1966 Batman television series. Batgirl debuted on television in the show's third season in episode #95 "Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin" on September 14, 1967. She first appeared in comics in Detective Comics #359 (January 1967), months before her television debut.