This article contains spoilers for Batman #100.
Batgirl has just shown Gotham City why she is a far more effective superhero as Oracle. Barbara Gordon's career as Batgirl was brought to an abrupt and frankly horrific end in "The Killing Joke," when she was crippled by the Joker. Proving the strength of her character, she reinvented herself as the hacker Oracle, using her computer skills to continue to protect Gotham.
Recently, the epic "Joker War" event has brought Gotham to its knees, and it has forced Barbara to confront the pain of her own trauma. This was the first time Batgirl had ever really confronted the pain of what the Joker had done to her, but she refused to allow herself to be defined by her pain, and took drastic steps to deny the Joker control over the technology that now allows her to walk. In Batman #100, the Bat-Family go to war against the Joker and his army - and Batgirl proves that her time as Oracle made her one of DC's most effective heroes.
Batman has lost control of all his technology, but Barbara Gordon's hooks are far too deep in his systems to be easily removed by the Joker. It takes Barbara a matter of minutes to take control of the Bat-Computer, and she shuts down all the equipment the Joker has stolen from the Bat-Cave. That done, Oracle hacks into all Gotham's systems to speak to the entire city. It's a breathtaking moment, as she gives a forlorn and exhausted city an unexpected surge of hope.
Gotham City. This is the voice of Oracle. I'm here to tell you what you already know. What the city has been resisting admitting because of the horrible web of money and corruption paralyzing Mayor Dunch and our city's institutions. This city is under attack by the Joker. Every movie theater in Gotham has been transformed into a death trap. Stay inside. Lock your doors. I'm hacking the emergency broadcast frequency to message each of your cell phones a tip line. If you are in danger, reach out to us. I heard the Bat-Signal is still in storage after the move to the new GCPD headquarters. But bats don't need a light in the sky to come help you. Block by block, we will take back this city.
The heartbreaking truth is that Batman has failed Gotham City. This is proven by the city's willingness to embrace Clownhunter, a vigilante who will do what Batman will not, and kill clowns. But in these moments, while Batman is busy tangling with the Joker, Oracle does what he cannot. She speaks to the entire city, offering words of hope and comfort. Her actions inspire the GCPD to stand up to Mayor Dunch, and Commissioner Bullock actually quits rather than obey orders to shut the Oracle Network down.
The current series of Batgirl is drawing to a close, and Barbara Gordon is hanging up the cowl. But Batman #100 suggests this will actually be for the best, because Barbara is far more useful perched on a computer chair than she is swinging through the skies of Gotham. Not all heroes fight on the front lines; working from the shadows, a faceless voice coordinating the Bat-Family, she fulfills her promise of taking back an entire city. Hopefully she will find herself unable to step back completely from the Bat-Family, and will continue to serve as Oracle.
Batman #100 by James Tynion IV and Jorge Jimenez is available now.