Helena Bertinelli (New Earth)
From DC Database
Every hero has a story, not that I'm some kind of hero. But there comes a point when to survive, the hunted must become the Huntress. 
- -- Helena Bertinelli
Contents |
History
The Huntress is a vigilante operating out of Gotham City, and a member of the Batman Family. She is also a devout catholic, and is very in touch with her italian heritage. Her career is inspired by a personal vendetta against organized crime, responsible for killing her entire family. At first, her ruthless methods and willingness to kill made her an outcast from the heroic community, but in time she learned to temper her methods and became accepted by her peers. She has also been a member of the Justice League and the Birds of Prey.
Origins
Maria Panessa Bertinelli, wife of Franco Bertinelli of the Mafia family in Gotham City, was the subject of frequent beatings from her husband, though he was sure never to beat her face. Maria decided to have an affair with a man named Santo Cassamento. As a result, Maria became pregnant, with her husband knowing it was not his own child and still beat Maria. Maria gave birth to a girl whom she named Helena Rosa. For eight years, Helena grew up in a mafia household, never suspecting the criminal dealings that took place there.
When Helena was eight years old, a man barged in to the Bertinelli household during dinner and shot Franco, Maria and Pino Bertinelli, sparing Helena. The hit came from Mandragora who wished for no vendettas against him. Helena's biological father passed the order along with a modification that "the sister" be spared. Santo was referring to Maria. But the gunman confused Maria with Helena and so Helena was spared, though she was not supposed to be.
Helena was placed under the care of her Uncle Tomasso's nephew, Salvatore Asaro. She was taken back to the old country, Sicily, where she would be kept safe and where the family was still strong. When arriving, she was terrified. Helena remained there for a number of years. Watching her cousin and uncle train and practice with weapons and hand-to-hand combat. However, the nightmares stayed with her. One night, her cousin showed her that only she could stop the nightmare by putting an end to those who murdered her family: blood cries for blood. When taken into the barn, she asked her cousin to teach her how, picking up a crossbow on the wall. She trained until the age of fifteen when she was sent to a boarding school in Switzerland to protect her from the Italian authorities who were cracking down on the Mafia. When reading and seeing what was happening, she realized that everything she had been told was a lie about the Mafia. She realized that the Mafia was a force of corruption and evil and for a hundred years, it had been headed by her own family in Gotham City. At age sixteen, she finally returned to Gotham City to spend Christmas with her uncle. However, she hated everyone there. During the party, Helena witnessed her family finally frightened of something. Batman had crashed the party and fought with them. Helena realized that she could fight them too.
Helena returned to Switzerland for school where she plotted her vengeance. She went to her old house in Sicily (which had since been abandoned as a result of her uncle and cousin being arrested), and took a crossbow and a number of items for her crusade. Enrolling at the university in Palermo, she learned all about the Mafia. She constructed her costume and a number of weapons. She thought herself as a nun, totally devoted to her quest. She returned to Gotham in pursuit of vengeance as the Huntress.
Huntress ended the lives of Mandragora and the assassin who murdered her family. Sometime later, Nightwing and she began a brief romantic relationship while working together on a murder case of a police officer with connections to the Mafia.
No Man's Land
During the "No Man's Land" Declaration in Gotham City, she briefly donned the guise of Batgirl to better inspire fear into the criminals of Gotham City, though she would also work in the guise of Huntress. She began the habit of marking territories in No Man's Land, all of which would be adopted by the criminals and GCPD. Though Batman knew the entire time that it was Huntress under the cape and cowl, he eventually ordered her to give it up. Batman would give Huntress' Batgirl outfit to Cassandra Cain. Helena continued to be Huntress in No Man's Land, allying herself with a renegade police officer to the point where she assisted in capturing Nightwing and Oracle (though in the end, she helped them escape). On Christmas Eve, the Joker attacked her. Joker shot the Huntress five times that night. She survived the encounter and fully recovered, earning Batman's respect.
Justice League
To curb Helena's violent attitude, Batman nominated her for a position in the Justice League. However, Batman revoked her membership when she was about to kill Prometheus. After a series of murders which seemingly pointed to her as the killer, Huntress became wanted by Batman and Nightwing. Fortunately for her, she tumbled into the bay where she was picked up and rescued by the Question. She was taken to Canada where she was trained by the Question's sensei for three months. The two then traveled back to Gotham where she shared the story of her becoming the Huntress. The time Question and Huntress spent together sparked a relationship. However, when Huntress discovered who had been framing her, she discovered more then she bargained for. She discovered her true father as being Santo Cassamento and he was responsible for the death of her family. As a result, Helena asked a favor of her Uncle Tomasso. Santo was lured to the docks and was killed by Tomasso's men. The Question did not approve of what Helena had asked, and inquired when the killing would stop. He left her as she threw her golden cross into the water.
Birds of Prey
Batman eventually funded Helena for a new uniform and a new bike. She would later return the favor by saving his life when he took a fall in Crime Alley by fighting off attackers and putting him into the Batmobile. Huntress would later remark that he'd never thank her for her heroism. The Scarecrow, working with the mysterious Hush, drugged her, and manipulated Helena into attacking Catwoman, who she perceived as her old self. With the aid of Batman, the Scarecrow's drugs wore off and Helena made a full recovery. The Huntress soon found herself allied with Oracle and Black Canary and continues to fight crime in both Gotham City and Metropolis as an official member of the Birds of Prey.Powers and Abilities
Abilities
Peak Human Condition
Master Martial Artist: one of the many disciplines she has learned is Dragon Style Kung Fu.
Master Archer: was seen splitting a bullet sized mini-rocket in mid-air.
Expert Detective
Paraphernalia
Transportation
Motorcycle
Weapons
Crossbow, knife, twin-pistols, metallic staff
Notes
- The Huntress was created by Joey Cavalieri and Joe Staton.
- Her first costume was modeled after that of the heroic Earth-Two version.
Trivia
- In the animated show, Justice League Unlimited, the Huntress is voiced by Amy Acker.
- Helena has had a one night stand with Nightwing (Dick Grayson)
See Also
- Discuss Helena Bertinelli (New Earth) on the forums
- Appearances of Helena Bertinelli (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Helena Bertinelli (New Earth)
- Fan-Art Gallery: Helena Bertinelli (New Earth)
- Quotations by Helena Bertinelli (New Earth)
- Images featuring Helena Bertinelli (New Earth)
Recommended Reading
- Huntress (Volume One)
- Huntress (Volume Two)
- Nightwing/Huntress (1998)
- Batman/Huntress: Cry for Blood (2000)
- Huntress: Year One
Links and References
- The Huntress at Wikipedia
- Huntress at the DC Animated Universe Wikia
- Huntress profile at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe
Footnotes
  This character is or was an incarnation of or an ally of Batman, and a member of the Batman Family. This template will automatically categorize articles that include it into the "Batman Family members" category. |
 This character is or was primarily a member of the super-hero team known as the Outsiders, in any of its various incarnations. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Outsiders members" category. |
