It looks like things have come full circle for the fist female of the Bat-family. The most iconic version of Batgirl, Barbara Gordon, will be retuning to comics with her own monthly title in September.
 
Introduced in the 1960s, Barbara was the second superhero to claim the name of Batgirl. The original was introduced in the 1950’s along with the first Batwoman in an attempt to give Batman and Robin romantic love interests.  However, the character was completely forgettable and only served to stifle the growing gay rumors surrounding the Dynamic Duo.
 
It wasn’t until Barbara debuted in Detective Comics #359 that the character became fully developed into the icon she’s known as today. This new Batgirl was the complete opposite of her damsel-in-distress predecessor. She was smart, independent and more than capable of holding her own in a fight. Thanks to her inclusion in the third season of the late 1960s television phenomenon, Batman, Barbara Gordon/Batgirl became a household name gaining legions of fans overnight and cementing her status as an icon.

Barbara Gordon remained a strong female force in the Batcave for several years until she was shot through the spinal cord by the Joker in Batman: The Killing Joke. Although Barbara survived, her injury left her paralyzed from the waist down—ending her tour of duty as Batgirl.
 
The character was later revised in 1989 when Barbara reinvented herself as an information broker and expert computer hacker under the name Oracle. From her wheelchair, Barbara became the primary point of contact for several superheroes and even starred alongside other female crime fighters in the comic Birds of Prey.
 
Since Barbara took on the role of Oracle, several other young women have stepped into the boots of Batgirl, but none have risen to the iconic status of Barbara Gordon.

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With a highly publicized company-wide reboot in September, DC Comics is taking the opportunity to return several characters to their former glory. Among them will be a fully healed Barbara Gordon/Batgirl starring in her own ongoing monthly title for the first time.
 
While the decision to put the icon back in the cape and cowl again has upset some fans, others are giddy at the thought of seeing Barbara do what she does best—none more so then writer Gail Simone, the woman who has written the character for several years and will be taking on the primary writing chores on the new book when it launches in September.

“We all have our spirit guide characters into comics, and Barbara Gordon was mine. When I was bullied at school for being the only redhead in my class, Barbara Gordon on the syndicated reruns of the Batman show was like pure crack. I couldn't believe she even existed, and in both the comics and the television show, she wasn't just tough, she was smart. She was whip smart.”