Warning: Spoilers for Future State: Gotham #14!
The daughter of Commissioner Gordon, Barbara Gordon, has fought crime on the streets as Batgirl as well as behind the scenes as Oracle, and now in a not-so-distant future, both iconic identities combine to make a hero that fans need to know about!
A new vigilante brought to readers’ attention in Future State: Gotham #14, by Dennis Culver, Giannis Milonogiannis, and Geoffo, this manga-inspired black and white series has given fans more than one surprise over its handful of issues, with this one, in particular, being a special treat for lovers of Barbara Gordon. A book that continues the future adventures of the Bat-Family — Nightwing, Red Hood, Damian Wayne aka Batman 666, and more included — this current arc focuses on Nightwing’s transition into becoming a new kind of Batman, while the rest of the team deals with threats concerning The Magistrate and a powerful new drug dubbed “Brane.”
Wanting to get info on a recent batch of Brane sold to Batman’s baby mama, Talia al Ghul, as well as who was with her during the transaction, Barbara interrogates a goon for all he’s worth, even hanging him upside down for that extra Batman flair. And while Nightwing soon shows up to fill in the gaps in her knowledge, it’s the full reveal of Barbara’s Batgirl x Oracle crossover that becomes the real draw of the scene, if not the entire issue.
Dressed in a sleek, form-fitting Batgirl-esque costume that emphasizes the larger bat symbol on her chest more than anything else, Barbara eschews her cowl’s usual bat ears, opting instead for a mask that runs up from her neck to her brow, giving her a new look that bridges the gap between her old Batgirl persona and something more Oracle-like in nature. Choosing to also adopt the name Oracle instead of her original codename for this version of her future self, Barbara effectively unites her iconic Batgirl and Oracle identities in a way that seems like a no-brainer even for the present-day iteration of the character.
Technically introduced in a blink and you missed it cameo in last year’s Future State: Nightwing, it’s here where we get to see Barbara working the streets of Gotham properly, as she has more of a presence in this issue than before, something that will no doubt be expanded upon moving forward. Also of note, since Barbara isn't going by the name Batgirl anymore, it’s good to know that she’s managed to not step on Kate Kane's Batwoman legacy as she carves a path for herself in a way that honors her dueling identities perfectly.
Barbara finding a unique way to continue being part of the Bat-Family without doubling or even tripling up on the Batgirl name is a great way to bring the character into the future, with her look and codename combining the best of both of her vigilante worlds. For Barbara, Batgirl is no more, but long live the new Oracle!
Future State: Gotham #14 is now available from DC Comics.