The first Black hero to take up the Batgirl mantle deserves a place in DC's Bat-Family. Perhaps the most iconic superhero "family" of all time, the Bat-Family is made up of Batgirls, Robins and other vigilantes of various origins. However, for a long time, these members were all quite similar in one regard: they are orphans of European descent. The game changed with Cassandra Cain, who was the first person of color to be inducted into the Bat-Family and also the first Batgirl to receive her own solo comic run. Just over a decade later, the New 52 would introduce fan-favorite characters such as Signal and Batwing to the Bat-Family.
In League of Batgirls, Tiffany Fox—younger sister to Luke Fox aka Batwing and Future State's Batman, Jace—donned the bat-cowl and trained under Barbara Gordon alongside established Batgirls, Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain. Fans were excited to see a new Batgirl in costume, though some were disappointed that Tiffany didn't get much action. Shockingly, Tiffany wasn't the first Black girl to take on the mantle of Batgirl. That honor falls to a fan and protégé of none other than Stephanie Brown.
In Batgirl Vol. 3 #24, by Bryan Q. Miller and Pere Pèrez, Stephanie Brown is the current holder of the Batgirl mantle. In this issue, Stephanie is reeling from the fact that her father, Arthur Brown aka the criminal Cluemaster, is still alive. Unfortunately for her, Cluemaster has also taken up gardening as a hobby as he whiles away his days in prison, infecting Batgirl with Black Mercy spores. In her hallucinogen-induced dreams, Steph experiences a potential future where she fights as the new Nightwing alongside a Batgirl of her own, a grown-up version of Nell Little, one of Batgirl's biggest fans.
Batgirl Serves as a Role Model To Girls of All Backgrounds
Nell Little appears a couple of times throughout Steph's Batgirl series as a staunch supporter of the hero. No matter how bad the situation, Nell firmly believes that Batgirl will triumph. Like the Robins, Nell believes in the symbol of the Bat, which is one of the key traits required to become one. While Batman may be the Dark Knight, most members of the Bat-Family exist as beacons of hope to Gotham. Like Stephanie, Nell has a bright personality and a similar determination. Clearly, Stephanie must see these qualities too, as it's enough for her to hallucinate a future where Nell is her Batgirl.
Whether it's the members of We Are Robin, or future Batgirls like Tiffany Fox and Nell, dozens of lost characters deserve to reappear in the pages of DC Comics. These characters are full of untapped potential waiting to be explored. Maybe in another DC reboot, the first Black Batgirl to join the Bat-Family will finally enter the mainstream continuity.