My all time favorite superhero is Batgirl. Why? She is funny, smart, stylish and she doesn’t put up with foolishness from other people. I knew growing up that she and I would be very good friends. When she became Oracle, I was an adult. It was as if she grew into adulthood as well. It was as if we grew up together.

Pushed

“You know why I don’t have handles on my chair, Grayson? I don’t like to be PUSHED.” - Oracle (Barbara Gordon)*

Barbara Gordon is the daughter of Gotham’s Police Commissioner James Gordon. She has PHD's in Library Science and Computer Technologies. She has a photographic memory and acquired detective skills. But above all that she was Gotham’s “Dark Darling”, Batgirl. She trained with Batman and the rest of the “Bat-Family”. Eventually Barbara decided to give up the Batgirl mantel and settle into a comfortable peaceful life. As a “Killing Joke” the Joker attacks Barbara and her father shooting Barbara and severing her spine. Barbara was confined to wheel chair. Did Barbara give up? No, she honed her other skills – the photographic memory, library science, computer technologies and her hacking skills to become Oracle, the superhero community information broker. One thing that sets Barbara Gordon, Batgirl, or Oracle apart from others is her Independence. Eventually, through scientific advanced surgeries Barbara gained the use of her legs to once again become Batgirl.

We aren’t superheroes! True, we want to know people care, and people support us but we do not want to be told, “What to do” or “How to do it”. Only as an equal will we let people lead us. Spiritual leaders often say, first be a follower before you are a leader. Walk a mile in someone’s shoes before you try to lead them in a new direction. Walking as an equal with someone on a spiritual path is a better choice than forcing them to follow you.

Oracle
First Appearance: As Batgirl, Detective Comics #359, DC Comics 1967

Last Appearances: As Batgirl, Batgirl Special #1, DC Comics, 1988

Last Appearances: As Batgirl Batman: The Killing Joke, DC Comics, 1988

First Appearance: As Oracle, Suicide Squad #23, DC Comics, July 1989

First Appearance: Return of Batgirl, Batgirl #1, DC Comics, July, 2016

Creators: (Batgirl) Gardner Fox (plot), Carmine Infantino (art)

Creators: (Oracle) Kim Yale (plot) John Ostander (script) Luke McDonnell (art)