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renaroo · 4 years

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That Time Ted Kord and Barbara Gordon Invented Sexting in the DCU

[Birds of Prey (1999-2009) #25]

There’s a lot of things I would like to end the decade on, and I’ve got a Cassandra Cain post I want to get up, but I am called to talk about one of the most important, most obscure parts of the DC Universe that happened 20 years ago. Also I’m shameless and encouraged by @secretlystephaniebrown and @shobogan so here we go.

DC, and most comics really, have this bad habit of minimizing or erasing past relationships of characters in order to “simplify” romantic narratives with an endgame pair.

In some ways, I suppose I get it. There is a certain joy I can take from the notions of pure love and meant to be, and with these two characters in particular -- Ted Kord (Blue Beetle II) and Barbara Gordon (Batgirl I/Oracle) -- I have very passionate feelings toward other pairings with them.

But my god. What is lost in the world and in your perspective on both of these characters if you do not know their history together. No, seriously! It’s great!

Ted and Babs are both well established nerds in the DCU even before the 90s. On every team Ted’s a part of he is one-half prankster and one-half tech support, to his continued chagrin. And Babs’ technical skills and eidetic memory are among her most famous traits, even when she was the Batgirl of the Bronze Age.

By the 90s both of them had also been through a lot -- Ted had gained and lost a dozen teams it felt like by that point, Barbara had survived her attack by the Joker but had only begun to establish herself more widely in the superhero community as Oracle, and the Birds of Prey were literally just starting out.

Babs had Dinah, but was still not revealing her identity to Dinah, she needed a friend. And, online in a techie forum, she made one:

[Birds of Prey (1999-2009) #2]

This friendship blossoms for a while as purely digital space across quite a few issues -- a lot of good issues of the early Chuck Dixon run which is an under-read treat these days, I feel. It still has its... Dixon on it, but the characters are great and this relationship is just one example of them.

Ted helps Babs out quite a bit and finally, they’re ready to meet in person.

[Birds of Prey (1999-2009) #15]

They’re honestly adorable, and pretty much instantly know each other’s identities. For one, Babs knows all the identities on the Justice League roster. For two, Ted can put together pretty quickly what tech-related superhero would have access to that kind of information.

For three, they went to a meet up in color coordination with their hero identities. Which of course is protocol in comics but still.

Point stands.

Ted stays in the picture for a long time after this, he’s a good friend and confidante to Babs and they’re genuinely interested in each other’s company. Platonically or romantically? It doesn’t seem to really matter until it’s finally the end of a long and tough arc, and Ted is forced back into wearing his Beetle suit again.

And they have a serious conversation about their relationship that ends like most interactions with Ted do: a good laugh.

[Birds of Prey (1999-2009) #25]

Ted and Babs actually relied on each other a lot as friends after that. Ted was Beetle on and off again, but Babs could tell that something was up and was firm in pushing Ted to go to a doctor to get himself looked at.

If she hadn’t, Ted could’ve gone without treatment for a severe heart condition that had already cost him 3 heart attacks without him realizing it.

[Birds of Prey (1999-2009) #40]

And, the first person he tells, is Babs.

[Birds of Prey (1999-2009) #41]

Unfortunately, about this time is where comics get. Weird and difficult because as writers move books or even just as storylines naturally shift for bigger parts of the stories, things get dropped unless it’s picked up elsewhere.

A few comics like Formerly Known as the Justice League (2003-2004) would call back to their relationship and it would be in the pseudoromantic and fun banter that had had for the 90s and early 2000s, but it never picked up as a focus again.

[Formerly Known as. Justice League (2003-2004) #5]

By 2006, Ted was dead, murdered by Max Lord after he got on the right trail for what was happening with Checkmate and the OMAC Project that Bruce had on the back burner. And he was alone, after almost all of the superhero community ignored or downplayed the importance of what he was finding (except for Booster).

Unfortunately, that included Barbara.

She’s not outright dismissive and she’s not cruel or condescending to him in the ways other heroes are at the final hour, but her attention is elsewhere. They grew apart from where they were, Ted’s reputation was at an all time low to other heroes while Babs’ and the Birds of Prey were at their height.

So she gave him the final clues that would lead to the discovery of OMAC. And would send Ted to his death.

[Countdown to Infinite Crisis (2005) #1]

One thing I do appreciate, though, is that unlike a lot of comic character deaths, Ted’s did actually have impact, and it had it for years. Especially for those closest to him.

I could (and probably should) do an entire history lesson on Booster Gold and the impact their relationship has had over the years, but we’ll stick with Babs here, because Babs was allowed to grieve and honor her friend, too.

Something that wouldn’t happen in the future with other characters important to Babs’ life.

Ted was special, though, and Birds of Prey knew that and had an issue that spent a lot of very good time honoring that and his history with Babs and the rest of the team.

Which is where we get our confirmation that Babs and Ted were Cyber-Doing it before it was ever popular in one of my favorite exchanges of all time

[Birds of Prey (1999-2006) #96]

Now, am I going to wax poetically about the tragedy of Babs and Ted’s forgotten fling to force the diehards into multishipping admittance with my undeniable canon fact?

Yes.

I mean no! Not really -- I’m a diehard Boostle shipper who doesn’t budge for much and my shipping opinions for Babs are pretty firm as well.

What I’m attempting to get at here is that they have a good history, that their characters and understanding their relationships with others, make them more interesting and complex characters with fun and joy to be explored in multiple angles, even when you have your penned, perfect ending for them.

And I think erasing that in favor of perpetuating this idea that people come out of the womb with this set romantic path that any deterrence there from has to be either meaningless or actively horrible is at best less fun you can be having in these expansive universes, and at worst actively hurtful to people’s world views and expectations.

But also.

Babs and Ted were actively sexting in 1999 and that is an important - neigh, historically significant -- event in the wider DCU so.

Booster Gold has to have a storyline someday where he has to save this moment from never happening. And I will co-write it with you, Dan Jurgens, please.

#Barbara Gordon #Ted Kord #Oracle #Blue Beetle #Batgirl #DC comics #meta #long post #Rants of Unusual Size #opinions opinions opinions #Birds of Prey (1999 2009)#Formerly Known as the Justice League (2003 2004)#Countdown to Infinite Crisis (2005)#hilarious #character death tw #sex tw #kinda #They Cyber Did It

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romancemedia · 4 years

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Underrated DC Shows

Ever since my childhood, I have always been a Major DC fan and my love for the franchise has continued to grow as I got older as I enjoy watching some of my favourite DC shows, wether its the from the DCAU or the live action shows we see today. However, there are some shows that aren’t always given the recognition they deserve and here are my top picks.

The Batman

The Batman was one of the many Batman television series created over the years and one of the most under appreciated ones of all time. The Batman focuses on Bruce Wayne’s early years as the Dark Knight, from when he was originally pursued by Gotham PD up until he is known as Gotham’s protector and guardian, mentor to Robin and Batgirl and a member of the Justice League. The Batman lasted for 5 seasons, making a total of 65 episodes and a television movie from 2004 to 2008. This show was absolutely amazing. Everything about the series was incredible from the character growths to the season story arcs. I enjoyed watching Batman grow into the hero and legend that he is, including his partnerships with Robin, Batgirl and James Gordon. It was also refreshing to see new characters never seen before such as Ethan Bennett and Ellen Yin. Although they were less present in the shows later years, they were great nonetheless.

Every season of the show had a character story arc while also showing the growth to Batman’s legacy. Season 1 was him being pursued by the police and encountering his rogue gallery for the first time. Season 2 shows his new secret partnership with Ellen Yin until he is finally recognised as Gotham’s Guardian. Season 3 was the debut of Batgirl, determined to prove herself to the Dark Knight and become his sidekick. Season 4 featured the debut of Robin and the official Batman team being formed and the final season featured Batman and Robin teaming up with members of the Justice League. It was incredible to watch how Batman’s legacy was formed over these five amazing seasons. Although the series was ultimately successful, it is still considered greatly underrated since no one seems to discuss its greatness compared to other DC animated series such as Justice League, Batman Beyond or the Teen Titans.

Green Lantern: The Animated Series

Green Lantern: The Animated Series focused on the adventures of Hal Jordan and his team as they traveled throughout space to stop the villainous Red Lanterns and later the Manhunters from taking over the universe. The series had everything for everyone, something we could all enjoy, action, humour, superheroes, mystery, suspense and romance. Green Lantern lasted from 2012-2013, making 26 episodes over the course of one year and is one of the very few CGI DC shows alongside Beware the Batman.

Hal Jordon is the team’s leader who was determined to protect the galaxy after learning of the threats of the Red Lanterns and later the Manhunters. Although many question his methods, he always manages to come out on top and again proves himself a true hero and leader. Kilowog is Hal’s former drill sergeant who trained him. Kilowog and Hal are greatly different as Kilowog is serious, gruff and by the book, but sees that despite Hal’s crazy plans or methods, he knows he what he’s doing. Aya is an artificial intelligence, serving as the nagivation computer to the Intercepter space ship, but as she spends time with the crew, she begins to grow and become her own person and wishes to become a Green Lantern herself. Finally, the last member is Razer, a reformed member of the Red Lanterns who joins Hal Jordon’s team after he is offered a second chance. Razer begins to grow, becoming a loyal and reliable teammate and along the way, allows love to enter his heart once again.

Green Lantern: The Animated Series was so underrated. It was so much fun and amazing to watch as I enjoyed watching the crews adventures and relationships growing, becoming true friends and family. One of the greatest things about the show was the love story between Razer and Aya, becoming one of DC most underrated couples. Unfortunately, although the series itself was popular the reason behind its cancellation was because of the poor toys sales and the negative reviews of the 2011 live-action Green Lantern movie.

Birds of Prey

Birds of Prey was a short lived live action DC show that consisted of 13 episodes and aired for only a year from 2002-2003. Birds of Prey focused on the trio of female heroines, Huntress, Oracle and the future Black Canary as they tasked themselves with protecting Gotham City following the disappearance of Batman. Huntress is Helena Kyle, the daughter of Bruce Wayne and Selena Kyle, who never knew her father and tragically lost her mother when she was a teenager after she was killed by the Joker. Oracle is Barbara Gordon who was formerly known as Batgirl until she was shot and paralysed by the Joker and now operates from their clock tower hideout as tech support and mentor. Dinah is a young metahuman teenager who harbours a variety of abilities and is learning to control and harness her growing powers with help from Barbara and Helena.

Birds of Prey was such an underrated series and it had such great potential. The series featured great action and the special effects weren’t so bad. I also enjoyed the romantic relationship between Helena Kyle and Jesse Reese, a detective with the Gotham PD. It’s a shame it only lasted for one season as I could see it had so much greatness within in it, but sadly it was one of the very rare shows that never had a chance to truly shine.

Constantine

Constantine was one of the many shows within the Arrowverse focusing on the adventures of John Constantine, a demon hunter who protects the world from supernatural threats while struggling with personal demons from his past. In his adventures, John gains help from his friends/team, Zed Martin, a psychic artist, Francis Chas, John’s oldest friend with survival magic and Manny, an angel assigned to watch over John. The series lasted for 13 episodes from 2014-2015. Although Constantine’s character has been revived in the Arrowverse, making a guest appearance on Arrow until becoming a main cast member on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, I still miss the old series and characters as John had a lot of great and mysterious adventures.

Overall, it’s a shame that a lot of these shows weren’t given proper recognition as they had were very special in their own unique ways.

#My Thoughts #DC #The Batman #Green Lantern The Animated Series #Birds of Prey #Constantine #Batman #Batgirl #Robin #James Gordon #John Constantine #Barbara Gordon #Bruce Wayne #Hal Jordan #Oracle #Kilowog #Dinah Lance #Helena Kyle

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pocsuperheroes · 6 years

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Hi can you tell me some Latona superhero’s from DC Thanks :)

I assume you mean Latina so all go off that but if I’m wrong I’m sorry. And sorry this took so long!

The Question (Renee Montoya): Originally made to be a cop on Batman: The Animated Series but she migrated to the comics where she eventually became a superhero. She is also one of the most prominent lesbian superheroes in comics which has caused her family to disown her and caused trouble in her job. But she is nothing if not a survivor and BA. Victor Sage, the original Question, picked her to be his successor as he was dying of lung cancer. Renee has also had a romance with Batwoman.

I’d recommend reading

Gotham Central mainly Volume 3 Half a Life ( issues #6–10) where she is outed to the whole police station.

52 (the series not the relaunch) where she becomes the Question

DC Comics: Bombshells (2015-2017) #45 onward. It’s an alternative universe but its a fun one. I mean Renee gets to fight Nazi’s what not to love.

I haven’t read but I’ve heard is good

The Question # 37

Question: The Five Books of Blood

Question: Pipeline

Detective Comics Annual # 11, 12

Batman Annual 27, 28

The Question # 37

Birds of Prey # 11,12

Convergence :The Question # 1, 2

More under the cut

Green Lantern (Jessica Cruz): She is a Mexican American who was traumatized after her friends were murdered. This left Jessica Cruz with anxiety issues which would make her role as a Green Lantern hard. Especially since she was forced to accept the ring, unlike most Green Lanterns who accepted it willingly. Even with such hardships she had grown into her role as protector of earth and has formed a strong connection with her fellow Green Lantern, Simon Baz.

Haven’t read but heard is good

Justice League Vol 6-8. (Forever Evil and JL Vol 5 for more context)

DC Super Hero Girls: Spaced Out this is definitely

Green Lanterns: Rebirth She and Simon Baz team up to.

Aquagirl (Lorena Marquez): She is from San Diego and found herself was submerged with the city after an Earthquake. Instead of dying she found that she could breathe underwater. Lorena then proceeded to help Aquaman locate other survivors and take down the man responsible for this a Scientist named Geist. Eventually, she became the second Aquagirl.

I’d recommend reading

Aquaman #15-20 [2004] This storyline is the first appearance of Lorena (specifically issue #16) and it has been collected in Aquaman (2003-2006): Sub-Diego

52: #35-40 [2007] these issues are mainly about Steel (Henry Irons) but she helps.

Haven’t read but heard is good

Teen Titans #17-19 [2004]

Aquaman #26-28 [2005]

Teen Titans #34 [2006]

World War III: The Valiant [2007]

Teen Titans #69 and Teen Titans Annual 2009 where she officially joins the Teen Titans.

Teen Titans #99-100 [2011]

Fire (Beatriz da Costa): She has two main origins that I know of

#1 Her parents were surveyors of the Amazon River Basin. Due to this, she was born among a tribe of people known as the Ge and it was foretold that she would be given powers from the Sky Spirit. Her family was skeptical of this but when she turned 15 she got superpowers which she used to fight crime. She eventually became the head of the Brazilian branch of Wayne Enterprises.

#2 She started as an amateur model in Brazil before becoming a showgirl, stage performer, and an undercover secret agent for the Brazilian government. An unusual career path to be sure. While working as a secret agent she was caught in a pyroplasmic explosion which gave her fire-based super-human powers

Regardless of the version, she is known for her long stint in the Justice League (mainly the Justice League International) along with her friendships/partnerships with fellow league members Tora (Ice) and Sigrid (Ice Maiden).

I’d recommend reading

Justice League International (1987-1989) #14 onward or Justice League International Vol. 2 and Justice League International Vol. 3 onward

Formerly Known as the Justice League (2003)

Haven’t read but heard is good

Justice League International (2011-2012) Vol. 1: The Signal Masters

Super Friends #25

Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders/ Kendra Munoz-Saunders): Okay there have been several Hawkgirls who tend to be reincarnations of the first one so it can be a little confusing. Kendra Saunders is the semi-reincarnation of Shiera Hall. Kendra was her Grandniece but when she committed suicide Shiera’s soul walked in but she retained no memory of her previous lives and refused to believe that she was Shiera. Then three years in one line of dialogue in “Hawkman #1” that Kendra’s mom had been a “beautiful Hispanic woman.” While Kendra Munoz-Saunders is from an alternative universe where she a treasure hunter has wings permanently grafted to her back. And she is definitely latina.

Many different kinds of media have embraced Kendra as Latina even though it was a rocky start. Such as DC Superhero Girls and the CW superhero shows.

I’d recommend reading

JSA Secret Files and Origins #1

DC Comics: Bombshells (2015-2017) #58 onward. In this version, she was raised in a Mexican orphanage.

She makes several appearances in Birds of Prey my favorite is #104. It’s barely any screen time I just find it funny that after dealing with the Secret Six, Oracle gives her with a car a for her troubles.

Haven’t read but heard is good

Earth 2 #2 onward

Empress (Anita Fite): She is the daughter of Donald Fite, of the All Purpose Enforcement Squad (APES.), and his wife Oshi. Oshi was the daughter of a powerful Voodou priestess. Anita’s grandmother preformed a ritual where she asked the Oya, goddess of the wind, fire, and thunderbolts, to “sponsor” Anita and serve as her “Gros Bon Ange” (Big Guardian Angel). Anita Fite grew up displaying considerable athletic abilities and learning Vodou from her mother and grandmother. Her mother was killed when she was young by the villain Agua Sin Gaaz. Anita would join the Young Justice team. However, she was written out when her father was killed and her parents reincarnated as babies that she would end up raising. Which isn’t weird at all…

I’d recommend reading

Young Justice #16 onward even if she ends up raising her own parents

Haven’t read but heard is good

She apparently made several minor appearances in the Wonder Girl miniseries in 2007-2008

Wildcat II (Yolanda Montez): Yolanda Montez was born with meta-human powers due to the genetic manipulation and had retractable claws. Yolanda became the god-daughter of Ted Gran (Wildcat I), a close boxing friend of her father, “Mauler” Montez. She died but has made a come back on Earth 2.

Haven’t read but heard is good

Infinity Inc. #12 onward

she makes appearances in Earth 2

Black Orchid (Alba Garcia): A former army private whose arms had been amputated during her time in a magical alternate dimension which gave her powers as Black Orchid. Currently, she is a member of both A.R.G.U.S. and Justice League Dark.

Haven’t read but heard is good

Justice League Dark (2011-2015) Vol. 2: The Books of Magic

Catwoman (Selina Kyle): Pretty I don’t have to give a backstory on this one. She is half Cuban (as confirmed by Catwoman #81), however, that regularly ignored. But I’m bitter and you can pry her being Cuban from my cold dead hands

I’d recommend reading

Catwoman (1993-2001) #81

Catwoman (2002-2008) Vol. 1: Trail of the Catwoman onward. There is no mention of her being Latina but it is a good series (would have been better if she was confirmed, Latina)

Wonder Woman (Maria Mendoza): The daughter of a local judge in Peru, she was an activist protesting against the brutal excavation of an ancient holy site. The man in charge, Armando Guitez, wanted the power of the runes within the site to gain enough strength to rule the world. When he kills Maria’s father is she sneaks onto the site to get revenge but stumbles upon two runes. The second rune, one of light spirits, is accidentally shattered and she is whisked away by the Sun God of the Incan people. She was gifted with magical powers which she uses to defeat Guitez.

She came from a story written by Stan Lee and it’s not that good to be honest (you can watch Linkara’s review here: X) but I’m a sucker for her design and the idea of a Hispanic magical girl Wonder Woman.

I’d recommend reading

Just Imagine: Wonder Woman

Ya'Wara: When she was a child her plane crashed in the Amazon Rainforest but she was saved by the Forest Mother who would then give her special powers so she could protect the forest. She became a member of the Tapirape tribe. She would later go on to join The Others, who wanted to gather the Seven Artefacts of Atlantis to keep them from falling into evil hands. They would split up the relics with Ya'Wara who took the Globe of Transportation.

I’d recommend reading

Aquaman #7 - The Others, Chapter One onward

Aquaman and The Others

These are the one that comes to my mind and there are probably great (or better) ones that didn’t make it to the list. And a few of these characters I’m not super familiar with so there may be mistakes. Also, some of these are or have poor representation (‘big surprise’). Even so, I hope these helped you.

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