Batgirl: Year One Vol 1 1
From DC Database
I have to find another path. Divine my own future. One uniquely mine. Not a page from someone else's book. Not a fate that begins and ends on page one. 
Appearing in "Masquerade"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Bruce Wayne
- J. Devlin Davenport (Behind the scenes)
- James Gordon
- Jason Bard
Villains:
Other Characters:
- Boyle
- Donald
- Dragoncat (First and only known appearance to date)
- Murph (First and only known appearance to date)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Masquerade"
Young Barbara Gordon wants desperately to become a police officer on the Gotham City Police Department. However, her father Captain James Gordon, refuses to entertain the notion, citing the fact that Barbara doesn't even meet the Academy's height requirements. Undeterred by this, Barbara tries to find a position within the FBI, but with no avail. She takes martial arts classes but realizes that she needs training that is more extensive. She decides that the only way to serve the cause of justice is by becoming a vigilante. She steals her father's sealed files and learns the location and security codes for the Gotham City headquarters of the Justice Society of America. She wants to ask Black Canary to give her physical combat training. She leaves a letter on the JSA meeting table and makes certain that the mansion security cameras capture her image on film.
Notes
- Batgirl: Year One is a nine-issue limited series. This issue adds to the beginnings of Batgirl's origin as originally presented in Detective Comics #359. Although she was inspired by Batman, Batgirl: Year One reveals that her main idol was Black Canary.
- This issue features several flash-forward scenes involving Batgirl fighting Killer Moth. These scenes do not chronologically take place until issue #2. Thematically, these future flashes foreshadow Barbara's ultimate career as Oracle.
- Although Bruce Wayne does appear in costume in this issue, he does not appear as Batman.
- Behind the scenes appearance of J. Devlin Davenport.
Trivia
- An issue of the Gotham Gazette is seen, featuring a photograph of the Justice Society of America. Members include: Hourman (Rex Tyler), Atom (Al Pratt), Johnny Thunder, Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson), Black Canary (Dinah Drake Lance), Doctor Mid-Nite (Charles McNider) and the Flash (Jay Garrick).
- This comic book features advertisements for the following products:
- —Robotech: Battlecry video game
- —Mechwarrior Mercenaries video game
- —Haven: Call of the King video game
- —World Wrestling Entertainment Magazine subscription service
- —Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, Inc.
- —Sonic the Hedgehog video game collection series
- —Starburst fruit candy
- —Wild Arms 3 video game
- —Nintendo Gamecube
- —Mechassault video game for Xbox
- —Freevibe anti-drug public service announcement
- —Super Bubble Pop video game
- —Midway Games - Defender video game for Nintendo Gamecube
- —Austin Powers: Goldmember DVD
- —Contra: Shattered Soldier video game for Playstation 2
- —Transformers - Season 2 television series DVD collection
See Also
Recommended Reading
- Detective Comics #359 (First appearance of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl)
- Batgirl Special (Final appearance of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl)
- Batman: The Killing Joke (The Joker cripples Barbara Gordon)
- Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe II (Batgirl profile)
Links and References
- Barbara Gordon article at Wikipedia
- Batgirl biography page at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe
- Batgirl: Year One series index at the Grand Comics Database Project
