In Batman: The Masked Crusader In Season 1, fans experience a unique reinterpretation of the mythos of The Dark Knight. Much feels adapted to the noir world of Bruce Timm’s 1990s animated series, but major changes have also been made to make the work more diverse.

One of these changes involves a female Penguin. Another involves a massive change to two of Batman’s most important allies: Jim and Barbara Gordon. However, this change seems to be inconsistent with the more recent portrayals of the Gordons in Matt Reeves’ The Batman and the cancelled Batgirl The film still highlights the characters and gives them great potential for the future. Of the two Gordons, Barbara holds the most promise for future storylines.

Who is Batman’s Barbara Gordon?

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The question of who Barbara Gordon is can be twofold. First of all: Her father is Commissioner James Gordon, one of Batman’s best allies. Whether in cartoons, live-action films, TV series or comics, Jim breaks many rules and compromises his code as a law enforcement officer to help Batman. This was especially evident in Gary Oldman’s version of the Gotham Police Commissioner in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy. Gordon knows that vigilante groups are needed to help the Gotham City Police Department.

Gordon’s daughter Barbara decides that an ordinary life is not for her, nor does following in her father’s footsteps. Barbara also wants to become a vigilante.. That’s why she’s nicknamed Batgirl. Unfortunately, she’s undergone a few retcons over the years, but the overall concept of her character is that Bruce accepts her as a partner in fighting crime. She’s ultimately paralyzed after being shot by the Joker in Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s film. Batman: The Killing Jokewhich paved the way for her to become the heroine and information broker known as Oracle. Barbara also began a romance with Dick Grayson/Nightwing.

Although Barbara has experienced many great stories over the decades, she has also experienced her share of bad stories. Batman: Beyond the Past Universe discovered that she was having an affair with Bruce Wayne behind Dick’s back. The deadly joke The film adaptation similarly featured a disturbing story arc in which Batman had sex with a college student, Barbara, who was young enough to be considered his daughter. Fortunately, in most of the comics, the relationship remained platonic, allowing Barbara to work on her superhero career and try to help Bruce with his other sidekicks and Batgirl successors like Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown.

Barbara also remained the voice of reason and the glue that holds the Bat-family together. That’s how the Arkham universe shaped her when Batman died. It’s the same in the comics. The Bat-Family relies on her to take the lead when Bruce isn’t around. She’s always been caring, compassionate and responsible. Until now, the timid Jason Todd (even as Red Hood) sees her as the true north and shining example of the squad.

Batman: Caped Crusader makes Barbara Gordon a lawyer

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The Crusader with cape Barbara isn’t a doe-eyed teenager who looks up to Batman. She’s a more experienced lawyer who wants to take the scum off the streets the right way.She is against violence, but can understand when someone like Batman tries to clean up Gotham in this way. Nevertheless, Barbara acts according to the rules. She is the rival of the Crusader with cape Harvey Dent. Harvey is a district attorney who is more obsessed with his mayoral campaign and raising money, even if it comes from a shady mob boss like Rupert Thorne.

Throughout the show, they engage in verbal confrontations in and outside the courtroom. Barbara sees Harvey as a slap in the face of her field. This connects her directly with Bruce, Harvey’s best friend. Of course, Barbara handles cases that Batman is interested in. She can’t stand it when Harvey Crusader with cape Catwoman was acquitted of a theft charge. In this subtle way, the show once again shows how the justice system favors white men over people of color and marginalized groups. The fact that Jim and Barbara are black speaks even more to representation and visibility.

Jim and Barbara want a better city, which undermines the usual DC stuff where Batman spends most of his time working with Jim. Instead of just focusing on corrupt cops, Barbara shows corruption at the level of white collar crime within the legal framework. That’s why Bruce respects her so much that he even gives her a direct line to call him and Alfred. It’s the kind of trust that Jim develops as well. Barbara as the centerpiece, however, is much more refreshing, especially for fans who are upset with the Batgirl Film was canceled, or who thinks that Batgirl from the HarleyQuinn The TV show is too quirky and lacks depth.

Batman: Caped Crusader doesn’t need Barbara Gordon as Batgirl

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In the Crusader with cape At the end of the first season, Barbara tries to help Harvey testify against Thorne. Unfortunately, he is shot in his Two-Face form. This leaves Barbara with the task of prosecuting corrupt cops Arnold Flass and Harvey Bullock, as well as avoiding Thorne and other gangs who want her off the mob case. She has already had to handle weapons and fend off henchmen who tried to collect a bounty on her head after an inmate in Blackgate made an assassination attempt. This fiasco proved that she was up to the task, and many fans expected her to one day appear as Batgirl.

Batman would definitely see them as capable allies. But a better direction would be to have Barbara Harvey’s legacy honored. He wanted to redeem himself and take down the mob. Barbara can take on that mantle of the white knight by running for mayor. Gotham needs systemic and institutional change. The current mayor is shady, so she would help the city in a monumental way. This wouldn’t be the first time Barbara has taken an authoritarian position. Barbara became commissioner in the Batman #666 Universe, hunts Damian Wayne, while also taking the job in the Over and beyond Universe.

Barbara knew she needed a position of power and influence to continue the war on crime. Crusader with cape Season 2 can offer her that softer, less aggressive position where she does her political duty, faces the media and answers difficult questions. Given her success in fighting gangsters and the fact that her father’s legacy is highly respected, Barbara would have support. If that happens, she would go beyond the role of a commissioner. Even her father’s hands are tied sometimes. But as mayor, she can provide better resources, help clean up the police department, and change things so that Batman can operate without worrying about the police hunting him..

Such a development would make Barbara the ideal partner Bruce needs in his fight against crime. Not to mention there would be room for another Batgirl and maybe even Carrie Kelley in the story. The point is that Barbara is a real heroine who would make a bigger difference in public office. Laws must be changed, the elite must be reined in, and the justice system must put fear back in the hands of crooks. Mayor Barbara Gordon has a beautiful ring to her name that makes her a paragon of virtue and a beacon of hope for the middle and lower classes. A true, unabashed woman of the people, publicly fighting for and inspiring the people.

All 10 episodes of the first season of Batman: Caped Crusader are streaming on Prime Video.

Batman: The Masked Crusader (2024)

Immerse yourself in an exciting film world where noir-style shadows meet cutting-edge action and young Bruce Wayne faces his destiny as Batman.

Release date

1 August 2024

Pour

Hamish Linklater, Christina Ricci, Jamie Chung, Diedrich Bader, Mckenna Grace, Toby Stephens, Reid Scott

Seasons

1

Creator

Production company

Number of episodes

Expand