DC Finally Restores Batgirl's Most Important Relationship (It's Not Nightwing)

Warning: Spoilers for Birds of Prey #12!

Summary

• Batgirl's most significant relationship, not Nightwing, demonstrates the importance of her friendship with Black Canary.
• Their professional relationship blossomed into a true friendship over the decades, with Black Canary becoming Batgirl's protector.
• The platonic love between Black Canary and Batgirl has real significance in DC lore and highlights that not all close relationships have to be romantic.

DC Comics is finally admitting it Batgirl's Not the best relationship with Nightwing. Granted, that doesn't mean Dick Grayson isn't Barbara Gordon's best romance. After all, the two aren't just endgame for each other — they're DC's greatest hero romance. However, how could Dick not be Barb's best relationship? Because not every intense relationship, even in superhero fiction, needs to be romantic.

Birds of prey #12 by Kelly Thompson, Javier Pina, Sophie Campbell and Gavin Guidry shows how Batgirl's best and most important relationship isn't with Nightwing, but with Black Canary. These two have been close for decades, mainly because of their work with Birds of Prey, and the fact that they hugged each other after reuniting in this issue is a testament to that fact.

Dinah and Barbara have been close friends for decadesdespite any and all DC retcons, and this friendship has been important in the grand scheme of DC stories, as well as Barbara's overall career as a superhero.

Batgirl's Most Important Relationship is with Black Canary, not Nightwing

Best friends and teammates

The beginnings of Barbara Gordon and Dinah Lance's relationship can at least be traced back Chuck Dixon and Gary Frank's 1996 single shot, Birds of Prey: Black Canary/Oracle #1. The success of the comic was enough to justify its continued production Birds of prey series released shortly after, where their dynamic was further developed. It was Barbara who brought Dinah to Gotham, asked her to be an agent of Oracle, and assigned various missions as a founding member of the Birds of Prey team.

Black Canary's relationship with Barbara Gordon helped usher in a new phase in her post-Batgirl life.

Over time, the Birds of Prey network will expand with additional members, and the closer they work together, the more Dinah and Barb's professional relationship would become the true friendship it is today. In the current Birds of prey title, meanwhile, their friendship grew to the point that when Batgirl began to be mysteriously killed across the multiverse, Black Canary was determined to protect Barbara Gordon at all costs. It's a testament to how close they are Birds of prey No. 12, where their reunion is full of hearts as it is for romantic lovers.

Black Canary and Batgirl's Love Holds Real Significance in DC Lore

Love doesn't always have to be romantic

It would be easy to assume that hearts are depicted Birds of prey #12 implies a secret romance between Batgirl and Black Canary — and some fans probably will — but those hearts also represent their deep platonic love for each other. Romantic love is often emphasized in superhero stories because everyone loves a good romance, especially at DC. But in this case The platonic love between Black Canary and Batgirl is just as important as the latter's love for Nightwing.if not more.

Black Canary's relationship with Barbara Gordon helped usher in a new phase in her post-Batgirl life. When she could no longer make it to the battlefield, becoming Oracle breathed new life into Barb's character and journey, with Black Canary as the anchor to help steer the ship. Even now that she's Batgirl again, DC isn't dismissing that history or underestimating the dynamics that come with it. bat girl Being the creator of the Birds of Prey, as well as his friendship with Black Canary, became more important to his character development than his romance with Nightwing.

Birds of prey #12 available now from DC Comics.