Part of the appeal of the Bat-Family is their stunning costumed character designs. Fans look forward to the new versions, eager to see what artists will come up with next. Will the costume wear the character or will the clothes be an afterthought? With an array of exciting characters who don the Batman logo on their mantles, these costumes are perhaps DC's most important transformations, dictating whether or not a character fits into Gotham and even their place in the wider Bat-Family.
Batgirl and Batwoman are no exception. Not only have their looks changed hugely over time, but they have adapted to how both Batgirl and Batwoman have changed from their Gold and Silver Age versions, mostly for the better. From character who were initially mirrors of Batman and Robin, let's explore the stellar costuming that helped establish Batgirl and Batwoman as iconic figures of representation with the DC universe.
Golden and Silver Age Costumes
Batwoman's and Batgirl's costumes of the gold and silver age are the 'feminine' versions of Batman and Robin. Batwoman's Kathy Kane sports yellow to match Batman's yellow costume accents. She wears a skin-tight suit, a flowing cape, red lipstick and high-heeled boots to signal to the readers that she is the female match to Bruce's male presence. There's even a version of her yellow suit that hosts a black addition to the front, reminiscent of a sweat-heart corset.
Batgirl's Betty Kane likewise wears a costume akin to Robin's: pixie boots, a short dress to match his tunic, and a cape. Both Betty and Kathy feature more red in their outfits than their male counterparts, highlighting their feminine addition to the Bat team. Batwoman's utility belt is a chic side purse, while Betty's is a green belt. Both use weapons that look like female beauty products or accessories, treating their genders as 'themes' equal to the 'bat' part of their names. Luckily, after their 1964 exit, the two enjoyed some new updates.
A New Batgirl
Batgirl's next Pre-Crisis update arrives in 1989's Secret Origins Annual #3 in which she's now Bette instead of Betty, and sports the fiery persona of Flamebird. This costuming adds to her update of being a team player on the Teen Titans rather than just being Robin's girlfriend. Specifically, she helps found the Titans West. Instead of a bat mask that matches Kathy's, Bette now has laser-charged glasses to help her blast into battle. Her silhouette still hosts a call-back to Robin's tunic, though she's anything but his sidekick. It also hints at her real-life occupation of being a spectacular tennis player. Not only does she excel on the court, but she does well in martial arts and welcomes a good competition. Though there are plots in which Flamebird pursues Nightwing, Bette's killer costume shows batgirl's gradual move toward independence for female heroes.
After Betty Kane's brief run and cancellation as Batgirl, the thrilling Barbara Gordon was crafted for Detective Comics #359. She leaps onto the page not as a love interest for Batman but as a fearless female team mate. The fun of her design plays with the mystery of her first appearance; is she a villain making fun of Batman or is she an ally who looks up to him? Her costume is on par with Batman's: a black body suit with yellow accents, a dark-hooded cowl, and a big bat cape make up her ensemble. Best of all, there's no more silly corset design like the Silver Age Batwoman sports - it's finally updated to a bat-symbol of her own. And goodbye to silly, 'girly' gadgets. This iteration of batgirl is the first time readers are gifted with Barbara utilizing similar weapons to that of Batman and Robin! Sadly, Batwoman doesn't appear as often as Batgirl until the Post-Crisis timeline.
A New Batwoman
Post-Crisis is where fans were devastated to see Barbara Gordon paralyzed by the Joker in the infamous "The Killing Joke" storyline. However, Suicide Squad Writers Yale and Ostrander were quick to revive Barbara as Oracle, the mastermind behind the Birds of Prey team. Here, readers see Barbara as a shining beacon of representation to the disabled community as she uses her super-intelligence to save Gotham time and time again. Her wheelchair doesn't hinder her capabilities or crime-fighting prowess. Her costume changes to civilian attire, but she keeps her bright red hair. It's a refreshing take on the Batgirl character, and almost feels as if it's a triumphant way to show she doesn't need the dark cowl to be on the same level as the rest of the Bat-Family.
Post-Crisis continuity was also a real treat for Batwoman fans. An Elseworld's 1997 story line - "Batman: Dark Knight Dynasty" - reintroduces Batwoman as Vice-President Brenna Wayne. She's the Bruce of the futuristic New Gotham. Picture a futuristic fusion of Wolverine, Batman, and her former silver age design. Her yellow suit now serves as gold armor and a headpiece. Her body suit is black and armored rather than just a cute, yellow outfit. The armor covering her chest splays into a bat symbol when she dives into battle, and her cape is an attack accessory. This costumes exudes force, control, and pure independence from Batman. If readers didn't know it then, they knew it now; Batwoman and Batgirl are updated and here to take names and kick ass.
Even more delightful that the 1997 Batwoman is the brooding reboot of 2006's New 52 Kate Kane. Her hair is now a vibrant, flowing, bright-red hue as homage to her Silver Age cape, acting as a visual foil to Barbara Gordon's auburn hair. Instead of powder-bombs and hairnet tricks, Kate equips herself with stolen military armaments. Contrasting shades of black and crimson are this bat's color of choice, and the reds accenting her costume (just like her hair) are a means of echoing her feminine past. This Batwoman is indeed a woman, but her femininity comes after her strength. Her priorities rest on her physical power, intelligence, and honesty to herself as a character. This iconic version of Batwoman is the one who serves as such an amazing role model to LGBTQ readers. She attends West Point and refuses to deny her sexual orientation. She even breaks with Bruce and goes public with her sexuality, feeling there's nothing she has to hide. How satisfying it is that a character invented to silence rumors about homosexuality between Batman and Robin was reinvented as a standout LGBTQ hero whose competence rivals, and sometimes exceeds, that of Batman.
Needless to say, several more costumes exist both in and out of Batgirl and Batwoman comics that readers can explore, and these heroes will inevitably be revamped in the comics, games, TV shows, and films that wait in their future.