Audiences are finally getting aBatgirlmovie. This is years after director Joss Whedon all but announced he lacked the imagination to bring Batgirl to the silver screen. Fans should be very excited for the HBO movie that should connect to 2022’sThe Batman. Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) has a rich, storied, and somewhat controversial comic book lore. Famously, she was paralyzed by the Joker inThe Killing Joke, and what was done or not done to her afterward is very hotly debated and unsettled.
For years after, Barbara Gordon donned the role of Oracle, who supported the Bat-family as IT genius extraordinaire. Writer Gail Simone had Barbara Gordon physically rehabilitated and resuming her role as Batgirl, to the chagrin of some readers, as readership had lost one of the few non-able bodied characters in mainstream comics. Audiences do not yet know what to expectfrom aBatgirlmovie, only that it is supposed to be quite dark. Recently,Brendan Fraser was cast as the villainous Fireflyfor the movie, but will he be working alone?
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For vastly different reasons, The Joker, The Court of Owls, Mr. Freeze, Mirror, and the GCPD would all make for great antagonists in the HBOBatgirlmovie. The Clown Prince of Crime has a sordid history with Batgirl and is the greatest villain in comic book history. The Court of Owls is a threat that Batgirl could not take on alone, and would bring in other members of the Bat-family. Mr. Freeze is a character that, like Batgirl, is sympathetic and has dealt with great trauma. Mirror was the first villain in the first comic book run that took Barbara Gordon out of the wheelchair and back into the cape and cowl. Lastly, the GCPD would make for a controversial adversary that would generatelots of buzz around the filmand be extremely topical.
The Joker
In that tale, The Joker forces Batgirl to marry him… sort of. It is rather grim, as the Joker once again forces Batgirl to do something against her will. But it is also a very emotive and powerful tale and one that brings Batman into the fold. This would also make sense, as Batman is confirmed to appear inBatgirl.
This would be an obvious butpowerful and possibly provocative choice. Barbara was physically and mentally traumatized by the events ofThe Killing Joke. Esteemed writer Scott Snyder ceremoniously brought the two of them back together in theBatman: Death of the Familycomic book storyline nearly a decade ago.
The Court of Owls (Talon)
Another Scott Snyder special, Batman: The Court of Owls was published a decade ago to exceptional critical and fan acclaim. The Court of Owls is an organization that has been running Gotham City from the shadows through financial, political, and less savory means for centuries. Talons are their assassins and are incredibly brutal foes.
Yes, The Court of Owls storyline isfeatured in the upcoming gameGotham Knights. Yet, this should not deter them from being potential villains in aBatgirlfilm. After all, virtually every Batman villain was in 2015’s celebrated videogameBatman: Arkham Knight. That did not prevent Warner Brothers from putting Firefly inBatman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justiceor having Harley Quinn and The Joker inSuicide Squadthe following year.
Mr. Freeze
Victor Fries, AKA Mr. Freeze has something in common with Barbara Gordon. He also has a tragic backstory with much trauma in it. The love of his life became comatose, and in an effort to save her, Victor Fries suffered a horrible accident that makes him require a sub-zero atmosphere to survive,becoming Mr. Freeze. As far as Bat-family villains go, he is a pretty sympathetic villain. An emotive back-and-forth among action sequences would make for a powerfulBatgirlfilm.
Mirror
Mirror is a villain that Gail Simone created during her New 52 Batgirl run. His outfit design is downright creepy, and he has never appeared outside of the comics. He is stronger than Batgirl but does not have any otherworldly abilities. There is a noteworthy scene in the comic run where Mirror hunts Batgirl in a graveyard, which would make for powerful imagery in a film.
The GCPD
In many Batman comics and movie adaptations, there are corrupt elements of the GCPD. In today’s sociopolitical environment, it would be extremely powerful to have a Black Batgirl fighting against corrupt Gotham City cops. Even more important than physical combat would be what Batgirl could accomplish systemically. With her background as Oracle, she could use her mind as much, if not more than, her fists.
No matter which direction the creative team goes in, audiences have become accustomed to multiple villains in superhero movies.Batgirlpromises to be a dark and ideally faithfulcompanion to her comic book runs.
