History ComicBook / Batgirl2009

Stephanie Brown is the daughter of the Cluemaster, a member of Batman's rogues gallery, and she began operating as the masked vigilante "the Spoiler" when her father managed to abandon his habit of [[CriminalMindgames leaving clues to his crimes]]. Guest-starring in multiple [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Gotham-based series]], Stephanie began a romantic relationship with Tim Drake [[ComicBook/{{Robin}} (Robin)]] and formed a friendship with then-ComicBook/{{Batgirl|2000}} Cassandra Cain. Eventually she assumed the Robin identity herself when Tim briefly rejected the costume, but her earnest efforts to help ended up instigating a massive gang war in Gotham and she was captured by Black Mask. In [[ComicBook/BatmanWarGames the original story]] she was killed by Black Mask, but a later {{retcon}} revealed that she survived her injuries and her death had been faked to smuggle her out of the country.

When it was decided to launch a new self-titled ''Batgirl'' series, [[DyingToBeReplaced the executives decided not to use the currently-existing Batgirl as its star]]. In the first issue, Cassandra Cain, who had worn the mantle since the BatFamilyCrossover ''Comicbook/BatmanNoMansLand'' in the 1990s, retired as Batgirl in the wake of the death of Batman. Stephanie, who had an established friendship and even a pleasant working relationship with Cassandra, [[LegacyCharacter decided to use the costume and assume the mantle of Batgirl]]. [[ComicBook/{{Oracle}} Barbara Gordon]], the original Batgirl, found out about this and at first tried to stop her, but after seeing [[{{Determinator}} a demonstration of her bravery]] vows to guide and help her. The series was LighterAndSofter than many of the other Bat-related titles being published by DC and is an embodiment of the [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools Tropes Are Not Bad]] ideal: Its [[PluckyGirl upright and cheerful protagonist]] still faces the same horrors and challenges facing any hero, but perseveres without ever losing her positive outlook.

The series ended in August 2011 with the ComicBook/{{New 52}} ContinuityReboot of the [[Franchise/TheDCU DC Universe]], after which a new ''[[Comicbook/{{Batgirl 2011}} Batgirl]]'' series was released featuring Barbara Gordon as the titular character. A one-shot featuring Stephanie Brown as Batgirl was published in ''Batman, Inc.: Leviathan Strikes'', containing her planned ''Batman, Inc.'' crossover issues that were never published due to the reboot. Years later, Steph got some more closure (particularly regarding her on-off romance with Tim Drake) in a {{ComicBook/Convergence}} mini-series before her return in ''Comicbook/BatmanEternal'' where she became Spoiler again.

For the character page covering the Batgirl persona and the various women who have worn the identity, see Comicbook/{{Batgirl}}.

* BatFamilyCrossover: One issue crosses over with the "Collision" event from the ''Comicbook/RedRobin'' ongoing, where ComicBook/RasAlGhul and the League of Assassins menace Gotham and the Bat-Family.

* TheCavalry: The Comicbook/TeenTitans are summoned when Batgirl shouts "ComicBook/{{SHAZAM}}!" and arrive right in the midst of her battle with the Reapers.

** [[InvokedTrope Within the series]] Stephanie is [[{{Squee}} very excited]] at the possibility of a team-up with the Comicbook/BirdsOfPrey. She attempts to actually name their inevitable team-up and, after trying variations on the extremely simple "Batgirl and the Birds," settles on "Team Batgirl vs. the Birds vs. Casper the Not-So-Friendly-Tech-Thief In: [[OddlyNamedSequel2ElectricBoogaloo The Lightning Saga]]."

* {{Crossover}}: With ''Comicbook/RedRobin'' and ''[[Comicbook/GrantMorrisonsBatman Batman, Inc.]]'' in different issues.

** A photo of all three Batgirls with [[ComicBook/BoosterGold Skeets]] and the Comicbook/{{Blackhawk}}s in 1944.

* LaserGuidedAmnesia: When Oracle and the Calculator [[BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind are fighting within their minds]] Oracle "deletes" the Calculator's memories of her real identity. However, it is revealed in ''Comicbook/BirdsOfPrey'' [[DeconstructedTrope that her messing with his mind has had some horrendous consequences that the Calculator believes will ultimately prove fatal]].

* SecretIdentity: Batgirl is really Stephanie Brown, freshman at Gotham University and formerly the Spoiler and Robin. Oracle is really Barbara Gordon, assistant professor of computer science at Gotham U, the original Batgirl and current leader of the Comicbook/BirdsOfPrey. Proxy is really Wendy Harris, formerly of the WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}} (by way of the Comicbook/TeenTitans) and daughter of the Calculator.

** Barbara Gordon is simultaneously starring in both this series and ''Comicbook/BirdsOfPrey'', and Stephanie will often refer to her absences as being related to "the Birds." In a one-shot crossover with ''Bruce Wayne: The Road Home'' Stephanie [[{{Squee}} is overjoyed]] at the possibility of a team-up with the Birds, saying "it's about time," and describing it as "Batgirl and the Birds...the Birds and Batgirl...[[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny Team Batgirl vs. the Birds vs. Casper the Not-So-Friendly-Tech-Thief In: The Lightning Saga.]]"

** In issue #23, Batgirl summons the Comicbook/TeenTitans assistance by shouting "ComicBook/{{SHAZAM}}!"

* TelescopingStaff: Stephanie's WeaponOfChoice is a collapsible staff that she wields to bruising effect. In the crossover with ''Red Robin'', she calls it her Boomstick, because she shouts 'boom!' as she hits things with it.

* SimpleStaff: Stephanie's WeaponOfChoice is a collapsible staff that she wields to bruising effect. In the crossover with ''Red Robin'', she calls it her Boomstick, because she shouts 'boom!' as she hits things with it.

* ItIsPronouncedTroPAY: It's not made clear what the pronunciation ''should'' be, but...
-->'''Red Robin:''' [-Dammit.-] ''[sigh]'' I need your help.\\
'''Stephanie:''' ''Pwned!''\\
'''Red Robin:''' I don't think that's how you say that.

Stephanie Brown is the daughter of the Cluemaster, a member of Batman's rogues gallery, and she began operating as the masked vigilante "the Spoiler" when her father managed to abandon his habit of [[CriminalMindgames leaving clues to his crimes]]. Guest-starring in multiple [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Gotham-based series]], Stephanie began a romantic relationship with Tim Drake [[ComicBook/RobinSeries (Robin)]] and formed a friendship with then-ComicBook/{{Batgirl|2000}} Cassandra Cain. Eventually she assumed the Robin identity herself when Tim briefly rejected the costume, but her earnest efforts to help ended up instigating a massive gang war in Gotham and she was captured by Black Mask. In [[ComicBook/BatmanWarGames the original story]] she was killed by Black Mask, but a later {{retcon}} revealed that she survived her injuries and her death had been faked to smuggle her out of the country.

** In that same issue, Scarecrow's fear gas revealed Stephanie's deep-rooted fears of being a failure as a superhero and as a girlfriend to [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]]. In the Batgirl/Red Robin crossover in issue #8, her fears are assuaged when Tim tells her he is proud of what she has become.

* UnwantedAssistance: Batgirl wants to get Clancy Johnson to stop being the Grey Ghost before he hurts himself or gets somebody else hurt. She recognizes that [[NotSoDifferent other heroes all did the same thing to her]], but she notes that he is doing it specifically because he wants to please her.

** When trying to dissuade Stephanie from continuing as a costumed crimefighter, Barbara points out that her history is ''so bad'' that she actually used Stephanie as an example of why other teenage girls should not become vigilantes, including presenting photographs from her faked autopsy. This occurred in the first volume ''Comicbook/BirdsOfPrey'', where the teenage runaway Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe used a homemade costume to fight crime as Batgirl.

* {{Adorkable}}: Her generally upbeat attitude combined with her GenreSavvy exterior push her into this territory, but with her making references to ''Franchise/StarTrek'' and ''Franchise/HarryPotter'', Steph crosses the line into dorky. She solidifies both the dorky aspect and the adorable aspect in her interaction with Gage when she bumps into him outside of costume.

--->'''Supergirl:''' [[Disney/TheLittleMermaid Look at this stuff! Isn't it neat!]]\\

* GrapplingHookPistol

When it was decided to launch a new self-titled ''Batgirl'' series, [[DyingToBeReplaced the executives decided not to use the currently-existing Batgirl as its star]]. In the first issue, Cassandra Cain, who had worn the mantle since the BatFamilyCrossover ''Comicbook/BatmanNoMansLand'' in the 1990s, retired as Batgirl in the wake of the death of Batman. Stephanie, who had an established friendship and even a pleasant working relationship with Cassandra, [[LegacyCharacter decided to use the costume and assume the mantle of Batgirl]]. [[ComicBook/{{Oracle}} Barbara Gordon]], the original Batgirl, found out about this and at first tried to stop her, but after seeing [[{{Determinator}} a demonstration of her bravery]] vows to guide and help her. The series was LighterAndSofter than many of the other Bat-related titles being published by DC and is an embodiment of the [[TropesAreTools Tropes Are Not Bad]] ideal: Its [[PluckyGirl upright and cheerful protagonist]] still faces the same horrors and challenges facing any hero, but perseveres without ever losing her positive outlook.

Stephanie Brown is the daughter of the Cluemaster, a member of Batman's rogues gallery, and she began operating as the masked vigilante "the Spoiler" when her father managed to abandon his habit of [[CriminalMindgames leaving clues to his crimes]]. Guest-starring in multiple [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Gotham-based series]], Stephanie began a romantic relationship with Tim Drake [[ComicBook/RobinSeries (Robin)]] and formed a friendship with then-ComicBook/{{Batgirl|2000}} Cassandra Cain. Eventually she assumed the Robin identity herself when Tim briefly rejected the costume, but her earnest efforts to help ended up instigating a massive gang war in Gotham and she was captured by Black Mask. In the original story she was killed by Black Mask, but a later {{retcon}} revealed that she survived her injuries and her death had been faked to smuggle her out of the country.

* ActionGirl: Stephanie herself, as well as [[HandicappedBadass Barbara and Wendy]]. And the Teen Titans, when summoned as TheCavalry in the penultimate issue, are all girls--Supergirl, Miss Martian, Stargirl, and Bombshell.

* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: When ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} guest-stars in issue #14 she is better than Batgirl at seemingly everything. Apart from her natural superpowers, she also has a greater zest for college life than Stephanie ever had and can easily follow the [[TechnoBabble explanation for rampaging Draculas]] because she is of the science guild. However, unlike most examples of this trope, Stephanie likes her all the more because [[TheAce she is just so awesome]].
* AmazonChaser: Once she finishes beating to a pulp a train hijacker in issue #9 he can only comment how beautiful she is.

* AnimalThemedSuperbeing: A Bat themed hero of course, with guest appearance by two robin themed heros and a cameo by a canary themed superhero.

* BadassNormal: Like the rest of the Bat-family, Stephanie relies on skill, training, determination (and plenty of gadgets) to triumph over creatures with abilities far beyond normal man. She also rocks the trademark Bat-Family BadassNormal willpower: she fights off the effects of not only Scarecrow's fear gas, but also the Black Mercy... an alien super-hallucinogen that's previously sidelined Franchise/{{Superman}} and Franchise/GreenLantern.
* BatFamilyCrossover: One issue crosses over with the "Collision" event from the ''Comicbook/RedRobin'' ongoing, where Ra's al Ghul and the League of Assassins menace Gotham and the Bat-Family.

* CharacterDevelopment: The theme of the series seems to be growing up in both the literal and figurative sense, with Stephanie Brown going to college and also approaching superhero work with a more mature and developed attitude. Wendy continues her character development that began after her brutal mauling in the Comicbook/TeenTitans series, where [[WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}} she and her brother Marvin]] were minor supporting characters until their brutal exit from the series. She is coming to grips with being a paraplegic and reinventing herself as the superhero-in-training [[PlayFulHacker Proxy]] with the counseling and guidance of both Dr. Leslie Thompkins and Barbara Gordon.

* CherryTapping: Supergirl is so unimpressed by the Reapers that when she fights [[SuperSpeed Slipstream]], she defeats him with an OffhandBackhand while ''checking her nails''.

** [[InvokedTrope Within the series]] Stephanie is [[{{Squee}} very excited]] at the possibility of a team-up with the Comicbook/BirdsOfPrey. She attempts to actually name their inevitable team-up and, after trying variations on the extremely simple "Batgirl and the Birds," settles on "Team Batgirl vs. the Birds vs. Casper the Not-So-Friendly-Tech-Thief In: [[ElectricBoogaloo The Lightning Saga]]."

* DressedInLayers: ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} [[ClothingDamage rips off her shirt]] to reveal her uniform beneath it and asks if Stephanie is going to do the same. "[[LesYay Not unless you wanna see my bra]]."

* DyingToBeReplaced: Cassandra Cain does not die, but the series was conceived with the intention of Stephanie being Batgirl and, as such, they had Cassie renounce the identity and costume in the first issue. It was later revealed that [[BatmanGambit this was all part of a plan by Bruce Wayne]] that ultimately lead to Cass taking up the Blackbat identity.

** Riot has the same power-set, right down to former PowerIncontinence, to Jamie Madrox from Marvel.

-->'''Batgirl:''' Here's the deal -- Me? I'm a "punch first, ask questions later" kinda gal. Him? He's a [[EnfanteTerrible stabber]].

* {{Handwave}}: The Explanation for [[RefugeeFromTVLand twenty-four Draculas running around campus]] does not make sense, but it gets the background out of the way so [[CoolVsAwesome Batgirl and Supergirl can fight Draculas]].

* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: As Batgirl leaps out of a helicopter in issue #23, she tells Detective Gage (Who she has had a crush on for the entire series) to give Barbara Gordon a call and ask her on a date. In an interview, Bryan Miller explained that he felt that scene was indicative of real growth in Stephanie's character; not that she would recognize she and Gage could never have a relationship, but that she would actually think to recommend he get involved with somebody else.

* PrecociousCrush: Stephanie has become somewhat infatuated with the detective that is shaping up to be [[TheCommissionerGordon her contact with the local police]], but the age difference (And the implication that he has some serious relationship baggage) will probably preclude any sort of actual relationship.

* SecretTestOfCharacter: According to revelations made in the one-shot crossover with ''Bruce Wayne: The Road Home'' the''entire'' series has been a test set up by Bruce Wayne to see if Stephanie can grow as a crimefighter and as a person. When Stephanie discovers this [[WhatTheHellHero she is extremely upset and slaps him across the face]].

** When fighting a super-powered foe that can become invisible, Batgirl (and later Oracle and Proxy) refers to him as WesternAnimation/{{Casper}}.
** Stephanie's mom, growing concerned that her daughter is spending too much time at school and 'work study,' advises her "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you'll miss it." Stephanie then informs her that that is from a movie that the two of them watched. The quote itself comes from ''Film/FerrisBuellersDayOff''

* TelevisionPortal: Isn't it just like {{Dracula}} to leap off the movie screen and start attacking audience?

** When Kara and Steph first team up, Supergirl wants to charge in and take down the villains, but Stepth suggests that it is not a good idea. Then Kara asks her, "It's the first Supergirl-Batgirl team up, what can go wrong?". Steph made sure to give her a sarcastic "You were saying?" when the pair is overwhelmed by Toyman's robots.

** She looked up to Batman during her tenure as Robin, and even asked him for validation during her death scene in War Games. When Bruce returns, however, [[WhatTheHellHero she lets]] ''[[WhatTheHellHero him]]'' [[WhatTheHellHero have it]] instead of looking for his approval, as she recognizes that he was not a very good mentor/father figure.

** Batgirl and Oracle worked out a sequence of code words and names to use in the event that they needed to contact one another but were unable to use their regular means. The pseudonym "Fay Wray", the starring actress in ''Film/KingKong1933'', means "[[BruceWayneHeldHostage Blonde, in dress, in distress]]."

* DeathIsCheap: "I've just been worried that if you ever popped up again - and I mean, who ''really'' stays dead nowadays anyways, right? You missed [[ComicBook/BlackestNight the zombies]], by the way."

When it was decided to launch a new self-titled ''Batgirl'' series, [[DyingToBeReplaced the executives decided not to use the currently-existing Batgirl as its star]]. In the first issue, Cassandra Cain, who had worn the mantle since the BatFamilyCrossover ''Comicbook/BatmanNoMansLand'' in the 1990s, retired as Batgirl in the wake of the death of Batman. Stephanie, who had an established friendship and even a pleasant working relationship with Cassandra, [[LegacyCharacter decided to use the costume and assume the mantle of Batgirl]]. Barbara Gordon, the original Batgirl, found out about this and at first tried to stop her, but after seeing [[{{Determinator}} a demonstration of her bravery]] vows to guide and help her. The series was LighterAndSofter than many of the other Bat-related titles being published by DC and is an embodiment of the [[TropesAreTools Tropes Are Not Bad]] ideal: Its [[PluckyGirl upright and cheerful protagonist]] still faces the same horrors and challenges facing any hero, but perseveres without ever losing her positive outlook.

* BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind: Oracle and Calculator face off within Barbara's subconscious.

When it was decided to launch a new self-titled ''Batgirl'' series, [[DyingToBeReplaced the executives decided not to use the currently-existing Batgirl as its star]]. In the first issue, Cassandra Cain, who had worn the mantle since the BatFamilyCrossover ''Comicbook/BatmanNoMansLand'' in the 1990s, retired as Batgirl in the wake of the death of Batman. Stephanie, who had an established friendship and even a pleasant working relationship with Cassandra, [[LegacyCharacter decided to use the costume and assume the mantle of Batgirl]]. Barbara Gordon, the original Batgirl, found out about this and at first tried to stop her, but after seeing [[{{Determinator}} a demonstration of her bravery]] vows to guide and help her. The series was LighterAndSofter than many of the other Bat-related titles being published by DC and is an embodiment of the TropesAreNotBad ideal: Its [[PluckyGirl upright and cheerful protagonist]] still faces the same horrors and challenges facing any hero, but perseveres without ever losing her positive outlook.

* AlphaBitch: Jordanna, who might actually count as a friend of Stephanie, is also rude and teases anybody she thinks odd. Steph is her usual target (primarily because she thought Steph was trying to be a ClassClown and because she caught her eavesdropping on her). She also uses the death of another student to get out of taking a test she found difficult and insulted Steph when she refused to the same, something which REALLY pissed Steph off.

* CharacterDevelopment: The theme of the series seems to be growing up in both the literal and figurative sense, with Stephanie Brown going to college and also approaching superhero work with a more mature and developed attitude. Wendy continues her character development that began after her brutal mauling in the Comicbook/{{Teen Titans}} series, where [[WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}} she and her brother Marvin]] were minor supporting characters until their brutal exit from the series. She is coming to grips with being a paraplegic and reinventing herself as the superhero-in-training [[PlayFulHacker Proxy]] with the counseling and guidance of both Dr. Leslie Thompkins and Barbara Gordon.

* ChildrenAreInnocent: Stephanie is a firm believer that kids should have a chance to ''be'' kids, and Damian Wayne's upbringing and current lifestyle disturbs her to no end. When she discovers that he does not even know how to ''play'', [[{{Tearjerker}} apart from causing her heart to break just a little bit]], she brings him to a moon bounce so that he get a start on learning how to be a child.

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: [[ComicBook/KlarionTheWitchBoy Klarion]], whose frame of reference is quite different from that of a human. For instance even though he's not a bad guy he thinks he has to just let his familiar run around killing people and ripping their hearts out because it would be cruel for him to magically imprison Teekel. Steph convinces him otherwise.

** Issue #19 partially deals with Barbara's life and plans [[spoiler:now that Oracle is [[FakingTheDead dead]].]] That storyline concluded in ''Comicbook/BirdsOfPrey'' (Vol. 2) #10, which was released the same day and included Batgirl as a character.

* CoolVsAwesome: He might be [[RefugeeFromTVLand a film-spawned hologram]] instead of the real thing, but it is still [[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny Batgirl and Supergirl fighting]] ''[[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny Draculas]]''.

* DeathIsCheap: "I've just been worried that if you ever popped up again - and I mean, who ''really'' stays dead nowadays anyways, right? You missed the zombies, by the way."

* DidIJustSayThatOutLoud: When Stephanie met Detective Gage for the first time in her civilian identity, having already formed a working relationship and [[PrecociousCrush infatuation]] with him under the guise of Batgirl, she absent mindidly comments on how awkward the situation is. It is only when he asks her what she means that she realized she said it out loud instead of in her inner monologue.

* InnerMonologue: Stephanie has, rather unfortunately, "inner monologue issues." She realizes this, after Barbara pointed it out to her the night before, [[DidISayThatOutLoud when she accidentally says something out loud when speaking to Detective Gage in her civilian identity]].

* ItMakesSenseInContext: The regular use of InMediasRes often means that the initial scenes of an issue can not be explained using information that readers currently possess, forcing them to wait for later panels (Or even ''issues'') to provide the proper context.
* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: As Batgirl leaps out of a helicopter in issue #23, she tells Detective Gage (Who she has had a crush on for the entire series) to give Barbara Gordon a call and ask her on a date. In an interview, Bryan Miller explained that he felt that scene was indicative of real growth in Stephanie's character; not that she would recognize she and Gage could never have a relationship, but that she would actually think to recommend he get involved with somebody else.

* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Clancy Johnson, a.k.a. "The Gray Ghost"]]

-->'''Stephanie:''' But seeing as how Proxy already has load of abandonment issues and none of my [[PluckyGirl can-do]], [[TheDeterminator Devil-May-Care]], [[ThePollyanna Pollyanna]]... uh... unsinkable...\\

** The issue "Field Test" of the first arc of the series, ''Rising'', pit Stephanie against the villain [[ShockAndAwe Livewire]], a CanonImmigrant from the Franchise/{{DCAU}} that first appeared in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries''. Livewire had also guest-starred in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' before being imported into the comics. This episode, "Girl's Night Out," which was her first appearance in Gotham City and any Batman related media, featured her fighting (and being defeated by) Batgirl.

* RuleOfCool: The [[{{handwave}} explanation]] for [[RefugeeFromTVLand twenty-four Draculas]] running around campus does not make sense, but it does not matter since it is [[CoolVsAwesome Batgirl and Supergirl fighting Draculas]].

** When one of Barbara Gordon's male students sends a text message to Jen, the girl siting next to him in class, commenting that Barbara is hot, Jen clutches her phone to her chest and says "Yeah, she is."

** "Strictly for rapport purposes--what is a plucky heroine in need of [[WittyBanter banter]] supposed to call you? Pretty sure [[ComicBook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders Black Lightning]] is already taken."

* SimpleStaff: Stephanie's WeaponOfChoice is a collapseable staff that she wields to bruising effect. In the crossover with ''Red Robin'', she calls it her Boomstick, because she shouts 'boom!' as she hits things with it.

* TeleportersAndTransporters: Clancy Johnson, "The Grey Ghost," apparently has some sort of teleporter that makes him vanish in a flash of light.

[[spoiler:'''Cluemaster:''']] I could say the same about ''you''.\\

[[spoiler:'''Cluemaster:''']] So did I.

* SecretTestOfCharacter: According to revelations made in the one-shot crossover with ''Bruce Wayne: The Road Home'' the''entire'' series has been a test set up by Bruce Wayne to see if Stephanie can grow as a crimefighter and as a person. When Stephanie discovers this [[WhatTheHellHero she is extremely upset and]] [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome slaps him across the face]].

* WhatTheHellHero: Stephanie is ''not'' happy with Bruce's "test," and she lets him know. [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome By]] '''''[[CrowningMomentOfAwesome slapping]]''''' [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome him]].

TEST

** Issue #19 partially deals with Barbara's life and plans [[spoiler: now that Oracle is [[FakingTheDead dead]].]] That storyline concluded in ''Comicbook/BirdsOfPrey'' (Vol. 2) #10, which was released the same day and included Batgirl as a character.

--> '''Wendy Harris (Proxy):''' [[IJustWantToBeNormal What if I don't want to be a hero...]]\\

-->'''Batgirl:''' "Why...why are you doing this?"\\
'''Miranda:''' "Because we ''can''!"

* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: Clancy Johnson, a.k.a. "The Gray Ghost"]]

--> '''Stephanie:''' But seeing as how Proxy already has load of abandonment issues and none of my [[PluckyGirl can-do]], [[TheDeterminator Devil-May-Care]], [[ThePollyanna Pollyanna]]... uh... unsinkable...\\

--> '''Calculator:''' I'm not a monster!\\

-->"That's my girl--Pollyanna to the very end."

-->"Thank you...registered nurse I've never met."

--> '''Klarion the Witch-Boy (dum, dum, dum):''' "You taste like Christmas."\\
'''Stephanie:''' "You say that like it's a bad thing."

-->'''Batgirl:''' "You're supposed to be ''dead''."\\
[[spoiler:Cluemaster]]: "I could say the same about ''you''."\\
'''Batgirl:''' "I got better."\\
[[spoiler:Cluemaster]]: "So did I."

--> '''Batgirl:''' Little late but nice effort.

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: [[ComicBook/KlarionTheWitchBoy|Klarion]], whose frame of reference is quite different from that of a human. For instance even though he's not a bad guy he thinks he has to just let his familiar run around killing people and ripping their hearts out because it would be cruel for him to magically imprison Teekel. Steph convinces him otherwise.

* GratuitousNinja: Wendy remembers the night that she and Stephanie first met (During a {{crossover}} with ''RedRobin'') as the night with the ninjas. Stephanie herself simply describes them as "assassins."

Stephanie Brown is the daughter of the Cluemaster, a member of Batman's rogues gallery, and she began operating as the masked vigilante "the Spoiler" when her father managed to abandon his habit of [[CriminalMindgames leaving clues to his crimes]]. Guest-starring in multiple [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Gotham-based series]], Stephanie began a romantic relationship with Tim Drake [[ComicBook/RobinSeries (Robin)]] and formed a friendship with then-Batgirl Cassandra Cain. Eventually she assumed the Robin identity herself when Tim briefly rejected the costume, but her earnest efforts to help ended up instigating a massive gang war in Gotham and she was captured by Black Mask. In the original story she was killed by Black Mask, but a later {{retcon}} revealed that she survived her injuries and her death had been faked to smuggle her out of the country.

%%* AnimalThemedSuperbeing

%% * {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Klarion.

%%* GrenadeTag

* ChildishPillowFight: ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} suggests to Batgirl that they have a pillow fight when they are spending the night out together, [[FanserviceFauxFight and Batgirl wonders just what kind of movies she has been watching]]. Later in the issue, though the fight itself is not shown, Stephanies' bedroom is covered in pillow feathers.

* LegacyCharacter: She picks up the immediate mantle from Cassandra Cain, becoming the fourth "real" Batgirl in current continuity, but she also struggles with the even larger burden of living up to Barbara's original legacy. This is exacerbated by the fact that Barbara serves as her mentor.

* OffhandBackhand:

->"It's only the end if you want it to be."

* BigBrotherMentor: Barbara Gordon -the original Batgirl- is this to Stephanie. She mentors Steph and plays the role of MissionControl.

* CharacterDevelopment: The theme of the series seems to be growing up in both the literal and figurative sense, with Stephanie Brown going to college and also approaching superhero work with a more mature and developed attitude. Wendy continues her character development that began after her brutal mauling in the Comicbook/{{Teen Titans}} series, where [[WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}} she and her brother Marvin]] were minor supporting characters until their brutal exit from the series]]. She is coming to grips with being a paraplegic and reinventing herself as the superhero-in-training [[PlayFulHacker Proxy]] with the counseling and guidance of both Dr. Leslie Thompkins and Barbara Gordon.

* {{Familiar}}: Klarion the Witch-Boy and his cat familiar Teekl appear in a Valentine's Day issue when Teekl goes on a murder spree after Klarion the Witch-Boy kept him away from his true love.

* ShutUpKiss: Stephanie forcibly kisses Klarion the Witch-Boy ([[{{Sting}} dum, dum, dum]]) in order to distract him and keep him from turning Jordanna into a frog. Stephanie, apparently, [[TastesLikePurple tastes like Christmas]].

* {{Sting}}: Klarion the Witch-Boy verbally inserts his own "dum, dum...'''''dum'''''."