Why Barbara Gordon Should Succeed Bruce Wayne as The Next Batman

Today’s comic fans are looking to add as much realism to their stories as possible. That means characters are put in realistic scenarios, fights inflict real wounds, and the aging process is taking place. 

Take, for example, the movies Batman v Superman and Justice League, Bruce Wayne appears to be in his late 40s, if not early 50s. And if the rumors are correct, a 70-plus-year-old Michael Keaton will don the cape and cowl in at least one more movie (if not more) over the next year or two.

In the comic books, the aging scenario is nothing new. Over the years, several characters throughout the various Batman storylines have taken up the Dark Knight’s mantle.

Let’s let it surface one more time - Bruce is getting old, his wounds won’t heal as quickly as they used to, and he’s slowing down. He’s simply getting tired.

Gotham needs a hero - Who’s it going to be? 

Robin would be the obvious place to start looking. Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, and Tim Drake all have been Robin and trained under Bruce. All of them have taken the next step at one time or another. Even (Robin) John Blake in the movie The Dark Knight Rises discovers the Batcave and will presumably take over for Bruce.

But there’s one option that has been overlooked - Barbara Gordon.

In the 60s and 70s, Barbara Gordan was a “light in the dark” during the women's liberation movement. In a male-dominated world, she first appeared in comics and TV’s Batman series in the mid-60s. She was a counterpart, or “the extra help,” when the Dynamic Duo was in a bind. She held her own in a fight and proved herself to be a brilliant detective. But she still wasn’t considered Batman’s equal. 

A lot has changed since then.

With modern superhero movies drifting towards women (Captain Marvel, Black Widow, Wonder Woman, etc.), the move to succeed Bruce Wayne makes perfect sense.

As the daughter of Commissioner Gordan, Barbara’s familiar with police work. It’s in her blood to fight crime. In fact, she’s an amazing detective. She just chose to do her police/detective work wearing a mask and cape instead of being employed by her dad.

What Barbara lacks is brute strength. She’s not going to win any arm wrestling or powerlifting contests with the likes of Bane - but then again, she doesn’t need to.

She more than makes up for it with her brain. Barbara is Bruce’s equal (if not better) in strategic planning, technological genius, and detective work.

Barbara has a few surprises if it comes down to a fight. Not only is she capable of making a technologically advanced Batsuit to help protect her, but she’s a master of martial arts - several of them. She has been training in them almost her entire life. She has proven that she can not only take care of herself, but she’s more than capable of taking down some of the biggest and baddest supervillains in the DC universe. 

So, like the Dread Pirate Roberts in The Princess Bride, someone eventually needs to replace our hero. This time it’s a woman. 

Barbara Gordon can still be that light in the dark.