10 Most Impressive Batgirl Victories in DC Comics

Published Aug 29, 2026, 10:30 PM EDT Emedo Ashibeze is a tenured journalist and critic specializing in the entertainment industry. Before joining ScreenRant in 2025. he wrote for several major publications, including GameRant. The wider Bat-Family features some of the most skilled martial artists in the DC Universe, and Batgirl continuously stands out among the iconic Gotham vigilantes. Whether wearing the cowl as Barbara Gordon, Cassandra Cain, or Stephanie Brown, the heroines have repeatedly proven that they are far more than just sidekicks operating in the Dark Knight’s shadow. Throughout their tenures, they have faced deadly assassins, criminal masterminds, and even supernatural threats. They skillfully employ tactical ingenuity, along with advanced gadgets and elite battle prowess, to combat formidable foes, oftentimes coming out on top. This piece highlights some of the most remarkable triumphs the wielders of the Batgirl mantle have ever achieved across DC history. Stephanie Brown Defeats Clayface Stephanie Brown is widely recognized as one of the most celebrated heroes to wear the Batgirl cowl. Before taking up the role, she operated as the vigilante Spoiler and even had a brief stint as Robin. Despite often facing skepticism from her peers and mentors, her unyielding spirit carried her through, and she emerged as a formidable crimefighter. She is exceptionally quick-witted and resourceful, as showcased when confronting Clayface in Batgirl (2009) #13. The shapeshifting villain infiltrated Gotham Bank, copying Batgirl’s appearance to deceive responding officers. Stephanie boldly instructed a guard to shoot her, knowing her blood would prove her identity. This created an opening for her to use the bank’s sprinkler system to freeze the monster solid. Barbara Gordon Defeats James Gordon, Jr. Barbara Gordon is best known as the original Batgirl, recognized for her genius-level intelligence and combat skills. She is the daughter of Commissioner James Gordon and the sibling of the terrifying sociopath James Gordon Jr. Her brother possesses a chillingly calculating mind and sadistic nature, relentlessly antagonizing her over perceived childhood favoritism. This conflict serves as a great source of agony for Barbara, making confrontations with him especially harrowing. In Batgirl (2011) #19, however, she overcomes this emotional turmoil when James threatens their mother at knifepoint. Suffering from a severe concussion, she pushes past her limits and strikes him with a Batarang, causing him to plummet into the murky bay. Barbara Gordon Defeats the Ventriloquist The Ventriloquist has long been one of Gotham’s most threatening villainous aliases, but Shauna Belzer brought a macabre twist to the mantle. Rather than relying on simple stagecraft, she possesses telekinetic powers that can move objects and control corpses. She frequently employs the doll Ferdie, a vicious dummy named after her deceased brother and fitted with sharp drills. Barbara faced off against her in Batgirl (2011) #21, when she entered a dark house filled with rotting corpses and a celebrity held hostage. When Ferdie ambushed Batgirl and drilled into her shoulder, Barbara countered by embedding an explosive Batarang in his wooden skull. Once the dummy shattered, Barbara decisively ended the fight by knocking Shauna out. Cassandra Cain Humiliates Klarion the Witch Boy Cassandra Cain is another of the most widely recognized Batgirl personas, trained from birth as a deadly assassin and denied the ability to speak. This unique background grants her unparalleled combat instincts, making her one of the most skilled within the Bat-Family. Meanwhile, Klarion the Witch Boy is a formidable chaotic sorcerer far beyond the level of an average mortal. In Young Justice (1998) #21, however, Klarion’s mystical might proved entirely ineffective against Batgirl’s overwhelming speed. As the arrogant chaos lord attempted to weave a spell, Cassandra effortlessly read his intentions before he could cast. She went on to assault him with a rapid succession of attacks, knocking him down and leaving him completely astounded. Stephanie Brown Defeats the Reapers The Reapers represented a formidable threat during Stephanie Brown’s run, operating as a deadly group of high-tech armored mercenaries. They are also known as the Order of the Scythe and, for a long time, served a mysterious client who controlled their operations. They consist of characters named Slipstream, Jabberwock, Harmony, Miranda, and Figment. In Batgirl (2009) #23, Stephanie drops into a holding facility where the Reapers are viciously rampaging. She does well to hold them all off alone for a while, but eventually requests backup in the form of Supergirl, Stargirl, Bombshell, and Miss Martian. Together, they turn the tide and crush the rogue mercenary team. Barbara Gordon Defeats Harley Quinn Harley Quinn is a manic jester with a penchant for causing trouble wherever she goes. In Batman: Arkham Knight: Batgirl & Harley Quinn #2, she attacks Gotham Square during a traveling circus preview. She releases dangerous wild animals onto panicked crowds, and, spotting the immediate danger, Barbara Gordon springs into action. After neutralizing a rampaging tiger, Batgirl engages Harley in a duel across the grounds. The harlequin swings her oversized mallet aggressively, but Barbara counters with a swift kick that knocks her out of commission and into the path of a hostile hippo. She subsequently saves Harley from being crushed by the monster’s jaws, fully embracing her mentor’s noble teachings. Barbara Gordon Overpowers the Joker Barbara Gordon shares a deeply traumatic history with the Joker, stemming from his attempt to break her in The Killing Joke. He shot and paralyzed her during the storyline, leaving physical and psychological scars that reshaped her entire life. Despite this horrific ordeal, Barbara reinvented herself as Oracle before eventually reclaiming the cowl with the help of a high-tech implant. In Batgirl (2016) #47, the Clown Prince invades her apartment once again, hacking into her implant and rendering her helpless. He demands her help in accessing Batman’s secret tech, aware of her technical skills and determined to exploit them. In a show of bravery and grit, she extracts her implant herself and stabs her deranged assailant, effectively neutralizing him. Stephanie Brown Defeats Scarecrow Scarecrow is one of Batman’s most chilling antagonists, specializing in psychological warfare and terror-inducing toxins. In Batgirl (2009) #3, the villain comes up against the new heroine, armed with a deadly drug known as the Thrill. Stephanie traces him to an abandoned hospital, and they face off there despite warnings from Oracle. During their clash, Scarecrow injects her directly with the potent chemical, forcing her to confront horrific hallucinations of past failures and doubting allies. Rather than collapsing under the emotional weight, Stephanie boldly reaffirms herself and overcomes the harrowing visions. She proceeds to defeat Scarecrow and disappear, leaving him in the hands of Gotham law enforcement. Cassandra Cain Defeats Her Father, David Cain David Cain is the deadly assassin who raised Cassandra Cain to become the ultimate killer. He was the one responsible for conditioning her from birth to read physical movements rather than linguistic communication. This abusive upbringing molded her into a lethal martial artist, but Cassandra eventually rejected her father’s violent legacy to fight alongside the Bat-Family. When David targeted Oracle in Batgirl (2008) #6, Cassandra confronted her father on a stormy night, determined to put him down for good. The brawl represented more than just a fistfight, as the vigilante constantly aired her grievances about her upbringing. She thoroughly overpowered him all the same, beating him into submission and rejecting his teachings completely. Cassandra Cain Defeats Her Mother, Lady Shiva Lady Shiva is touted by many to be the greatest martial artist in the world, and she also happens to be the biological mother of Cassandra Cain. She possesses a murderous philosophy that directly clashes with her daughter’s heroic code, setting them against each other on a deeply philosophical level. In Batgirl (2000) #73, the two engage in a brutal battle to the death, with both parties fighting for what they believe in. It is a brief but ferocious duel, as Cassandra eventually outmaneuvers her mother and snaps her neck. She then suspends Shiva’s body on a hook above the Lazarus Pit, walking away with a face filled with resolve.