Oracle Was Almost Redesigned as a Dark New “Vampiric” Batgirl

Barbara Gordon AKA Oracle almost returned as a vampiric Batgirl after her paralysis in The Killing Joke. Iconic comic book artist Alex Ross illustrated concept art for the idea in Rough Justice: The DC Comics Sketches of Alex Ross, which documents his creative process.

When Barbara Gordon was shot and paralyzed by the Joker, her new role as Oracle seemed to be a permanent shift in the DC status quo. Since then, Barbara has come back to her masked persona without any real complications. Long before Batgirl’s return in comics, there was a concept for her comeback to also involve some rebranding.

Beloved writer Paul Dini pitched the idea alongside Alex Ross for Batgirl’s return in 2000, featuring a new black and red costume. Originally, Dini shared his idea with Ross for Barbara Gordon to use the Lazarus Pit as a source of healing. However, Oracle’s rejuvenation would come with a catch, and a darker, vampiric rebirth. As reflected in her wardrobe change, Batgirl would become a more mature hero. In Rough Justice, Ross wrote on the scrapped idea, saying, “It involved curing her via the infamous Lazarus Pit that’s Ra’s al Ghul had used to maintain his immortality for centuries. The process would leave her a darker, more compromised hero, almost vampiric in ferocity, while returning her to her Batgirl lifestyle. We knew there was a plan to bring back the Batgirl persona in the comics, and we pitched Paul’s idea with these sketches in tow. No luck.”

Ross wrote a note on his sketches comparing the color scheme and angular bat emblem to Batman Beyond, which Dini had been working on at the same time as the pitch. The new black and red costume also evokes the future Batwoman design, as Kate Kane would go onto have a similar uniform. Although Dini and Ross’ pitch wasn’t fully realized, it might have been a catalyst for Kate’s suit design.

Oracle’s return to crimefighting as Batgirl would still be a compelling premise for comics to explore. With DC’s Black Label imprint, stories set outside of mainstream continuity can find readership. Fans would be eager to see the creative duo of Paul Dini and Alex Ross reunite, especially for a story that should have been told a long time ago. Now able to fight the Joker again following her years of paralysis, Barbara Gordon’s revived Batgirl would be a feared force in Gotham City.

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