Summary
Batmanis used to being around some pretty powerful people, and it’s still not all that surprising that he namedBatgirlBarbara Gordon the most powerful hero he knows — even stronger than Superman and Wonder Woman. While the rankings might seem absurd at first, it’s no surprise that Batman would label Babs stronger than anyone else, considering what she’s been through.
Batman reveals his surprising thoughts on Barbara Gordon inDetective Comics#790 by Andersen Gabrych, Pete Woods, Cam Smith, Jason Wright, and Clem Robins. After beingcalled by Oracle Barbara Gordon, Batman muses on just how strong he truly believes she is. He even goes as far as to sayBarbara is the strongest person he knows, citing Superman and Wonder Woman as comparable examples.
Barbara Gordon has been through immense trauma, and she’s managed to overcome it and continue being a hero —something neither Wonder Woman nor Superman really needed to contend with. While they’ve gone through difficult moments in their histories and even lost their powers, they’ve never been made a victim nor rose above that victimhood like Barbara has.
This issue ofDetective Comicsis part of theWar Drumsarc, which is available in a collected edition,Batman: War Drums, from DC Comics.
Two DC Heroes Failed to Stop Joker’s ‘Killing Joke’ Attack on Batgirl
The Joker’s attack on Barbara Gordon was one of the most brutal things to happen in the DC Universe and it turns out, it was completely unavoidable.
Detective Comics#1070 Cover by Evan Cagle
Superman has admitted that the lingering experience of losing Krypton really isn’t that bad. While it’s certainly a loss, it’s a loss of a society and culture that he never really knew. Likewise, Wonder Woman has been through some horrible things, but she’s always regained her family in the Amazons and her powers to support her. While she’s temporarily been without them, they always come back.
TheJoker’s attack against Batgirl inThe Killing Joke(by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland) forced Barbara Gordon to completely change her life. Unable to walk due to the gunshot wound she suffered, Barbara had to put her days of Batgirl behind her, but she still became a hero in another way,becoming the techno-spy Oracle.
Just as Barbara Gordon nearly lost everything after the Joker attacked her, she managed to pull her life back together and continue as an even stronger hero.
It’s easy to see why Batman finds this so admirable. BothBatman and Barbara suffered immense personal tragediesthat changed the trajectory of their lives. Superman losing Krypton isn’t an event that really personally affected him, because he never knew Krypton to begin with. Batman knew the love of his parents and a normal life, and he lost them in a violent crime. Instead of letting that trauma consume him, Batman carried on and became a hero. Just asBarbara Gordon nearly lost everything after the Jokerattacked her, she managed to pull her life back together and continue as an even stronger hero.
Barbara Gordon Continued Being a Hero, and Batman Respects Her for It
It Took Immense Personal Strength to Become Oracle
While Superman and Wonder Woman obviously have more powers than Barbara ever will, she still proves her strength of character by not letting tragedy define her. Not only did Barbara rise above her tragic circumstances to become a hero again, but she became a better hero than she used to be. The attack from the Joker didn’t make her less or reduce her abilities. If anything, it unlocked them. Batman views the formerBatgirlas the strongest person he knows — making Barbara Gordon far stronger than even Superman and Wonder Woman.
