Batman The Animated Series: Shadow of the Bat (1993) Overview

Batgirl´s debut.

Season one episode fifty-seven of Batman´s prestige animated series introduces one of his most popular sidekicks besides Robin, Batgirl a.k.a Barbara Gordon. Here she is played by Melissa Gilbert who only got to voice her as Batgirl in this two parter and in the episode Batgirl Returns the following season, after that she was replaced by Tara Strong, who continues to play the character to this day. 

Barbara had appeared before in I Am the Night and in Heart of Steel but in Shadow of the Bat she takes the persona of Batgirl for the first time. She is introduced as commissioner Gordon´s athletic daughter, doing gymnastics and talking to her old man.

In the story, the commissioner is framed for taking money from local crime boss Rupert Thorne. Barbara knows this can't be true and asks Batman for help, asking him to show up at the rally being held by new deputy commissioner Gil Mason in support of Gordon. 

When Batman refuses to follow Barbara´s plans in order to solve the case his own way, Barbara decides to take matters into her own hands, dressing up as the hero in order to catch media attention, believing that Batman´s presence there will help make the difference.

Disguised as Batman, Barbara garners the attention she wanted but gangsters try to murder deputy Gil, she fights them along with Robin, who was there to help a disguised Batman solve the mystery. Barbara unmasks one of the thugs and manages to get a look at his face. News Anchor Summer Gleeson records Barbara in her bat costume and "Batgirl" becomes a new sensation.

After the rough night, Barbara visits Gil to tell him about her discovery but finds him with the man she chased and unmasked the night before, realizing that Gil can't be trusted. Because of this, she decides to use the Batgirl costume once more, ending the first part. 

Part 2 shows Robin watching over Gil on a rooftop and encountering Batgirl, Gil talks on the phone with Two Face and agrees to meet with him at an abandoned subway entrance. The sidekicks arrive at the mobster gathering and find Bruce is being held captive by thugs with machine guns and the dreaded villain.  

Batgirl messes up and gives them away, making Bruce fight off his captors and warn Robin. The criminals flee but not before blowing up the subway tunnel, making the heroes drown in river water. Only Batgirl escapes. 

Batgirl learns of Gordon´s whereabouts and manages to disarm Gil (who is about to execute Gordon) with a batarang. Robin and Batman join the fun while Barbara secures her father. Gil is about to drive away in his boat but Batgirl catches up to him and fights him off, leaving him in a coma. The day is saved once again, this time thanks to Batgirl, the new hero of Gotham. 

A good episode of the series, this two parter is a perfect introduction to the character, showing us the beginnings of an amateur Batgirl in a compelling story with personal stakes, but she is kind of overshadowed by a more experienced Robin at some points.

Filled with the intense urban gothic crime atmosphere that characterizes Batman stories, steady and well paced plot development and formidable combat sequences, this impactful and stable story works greatly and finds itself among season one´s highlights. 

Batgirl would later appear in a few more episodes and become part of the Bat Family, but not as often as she should have in the first two seasons of the series. In The New Batman Adventures (the rebranded third season of the show) Batgirl becomes more prominent along with some other sidekicks.

The title Shadow of the Bat will later be referenced in comics later on, some not having much to do with Barbara. Perhaps it´s meaning derives from Barbara dressing up as Batman, but with a title like Shadow of the Bat I can't help but to draw connections to Robert E Howard´s Shadow of the Vulture, both introducing a tough redheaded lady who aids the protagonist (Red Sonya in the short story). Perhaps this is a reference? Who knows.