Oracle Fans Unite Online to Create Art and Activism

Barbara Gordon is way cooler as Oracle than she ever was as Batgirl. This also takes away the coolest disabled character in the DCU. Besides, Cassandra Cain was the coolest Batgirl ever.

There is no such thing as "wheelchair-bound." She uses that chair as a tool to extend her physical capacities. Would you say that Batman was "bound" to his car??

There is no such thing as wheel-chair bound. She uses that chair as a tool. Would you say that Batman was "bound" to his car??

Here's an idea for everyone, how about we all relax and see exactly where this is going before we grab the pitchforks and torches.

I'd toss in Freddy Freeman (Captain Marvel Jr.) and Dr. Mid-Nite as probably the OLDEST disabled (or whatever term you prefer) characters in superhero comics...and what about Matt Murdock (Daredevil)?

I'd say Professor X is probably actually the better known example of the disabled in mainstream comics, but I'll grant you that Oracle is probably the second.

Some people are saying she'll just get paralyzed again at some point. As lame as that would be... didn't Aquaman get his hand cut off within a few months of having it back?

I'm curious, does ANYONE else remember the little snippet we were given about Barbara's future role in the Batman Inc outfit that was in the Reborn one-shot? At the same time Batgirl was sent to England and Dick was assured he'd still be in a batsuit, Babs was given Internet 2.0, and there was a picture of her 'avatar' wearing a Batgirl suit.

So, Batman Inc isn't getting completely dumped, but most of it's plan has been changed. Is there ANY possibility that Babs is still going to be in the wheelchair except when she's TRON-ning around in her new playground?

So when this reboot happens, will Obsidian be reverted to "straight" and we can all believe that it's just a matter of time that he comes out again?

I first knew the character as Batgirl when I was a kid and in a nutshell the way many people feel about her being taken out of the wheelchair is kind of the way I felt about her being put into it. Something needless, dumb, and more than a little cruel.

I grant that Oracle was a cool way to deal with the aftermath of Killing Joke but the fact remains that it was something born of senseless grimdark. Born from these lovely words from DC editorial "cripple the bitch".

That said, in my opinion the more respectful thing to have done would have been as part of ending the previous continuity (which would be a better way to go than this sort of reboot-not-a-reboot jazz) and conclude Oracle's story in a way that would speak to everything she meant to people who came to that character as Oracle and give those fans some meaningful closure before starting the new one.

Even so, I don't really trust DC Comics anymore with much of anything let alone making a good Batgirl comic that would have the kind of charm I associate with the character.

Maybe the real truth here is that when writers and editorial choose to go to the extreme everyone loses. I lose Batgirl so you can get Oracle but then you lose Oracle so I can get Batgirl back ..at least until another writer comes along undo that. Same with Steve Rogers and Bucky.

I never had a desire to take anyone's hero away from them. I just never wanted to see mine gunned down in the first place.