q

(** is essential, * is recommend, no stars is optional)

prereqs

batman chronicles #5 pages 1-20** (oracle backstory)

hacker files #5-6* (oracle additional context)

showcase ‘94 #12 pages 1-19* (oracle additional context)

the longbow hunters #1-3 (canary additional context)

huntress: cry for blood #1-6** (huntress context/backstory)

huntress: year one #1-6* (huntress backstory expanded)

birds of prey minis

birds of prey: black canary/batgirl #1**

birds of prey: batgirl/catwoman #1*

birds of prey: black canary/oracle #1**

showcase ‘96 #3 pages 1-19*

birds of prey: manhunt #1-4**

birds of prey: revolution #1**

birds of prey: wolves #1**

birds of prey: the ravens #1*

birds of prey 99 (including crossovers)

birds of prey (1999) #1-19**

nightwing (1996) #45**

birds of prey (1999) #20**

nightwing (1996) #46**

birds of prey (1999) #21-35**

joker: last laugh #1-2**

birds of prey (1999) #36**

joker: last laugh #3**

birds of prey (1999) #37-53**

birds of prey: catwoman/oracle #2*

birds of prey (1999) #54-56**

birds of prey: secret files & origins 2003 #1**

birds of prey (1999) #57-84**

batgirl (2000) #67* (birds of prey tie in)

birds of prey (1999) #85-100**

black canary (2007) #1-4 (dinah and sin solo)*

birds of prey (1999) #101-127**

additional birds of prey runs

birds of prey (2010) #1-15**

birds of prey (2023-) #14-now*

birds of prey do not read

birds of prey (2011)

batgirl and the birds of prey (2016)

harley quinn and the birds of prey #1-4

birds of prey: sirens of justice #1-2

birds of prey (2020)

birds of prey (2023) #1-13

personal stance: when helena was operating solo in the suit early nml she was definitely the batman. batgirl becomes a somewhat more applicable title once bruce returns (during the short arc they work together as partners) but it doesn’t fully capture her role.

i often refer to her as batgirl or the bat when referring to her in that era for simplicity, but it’s important to remember she wasnt really the batgirl. her wearing what later became a batgirl suit during her batman arc is the main factor in why people believe she was simply batgirl.

however, after the arc where she wore the batsuit, she has been canonically referred to as batgirl. though i don’t fully agree with this decision, that seems to be the current canon. there seems to be a disconnect at dc itself about this issue though.

it’s also important to note that dixon, a writer who’s been known for his misogyny, was a writer on secret files which fully canonized her being called batgirl.

her being called batgirl rather than batman is often rooted in the misogynistic view that a woman cannot hold the batman mantle. for all intents and purposes, she was batman in the same way dick grayson was batman. bruce was gone and she filled in the gaps. gotham needed a batman and that became her. the only reason she doesn’t wear a cowl like his is for anonymity.

thank you for reading!!