10 Most Inappropriate Batman Storylines

5. Batgirl's Vanity Gets In The Way - Batgirl's Costume Cut-Ups

Detective Comics #371 Batgirl Tights
DC Comics

Throughout 1968's Batgirl's Costume Cut-Ups, Barbara Gordon messes up in several big moments, all because she's worried about how she looks. Or, as Babs herself puts it, her "instinctive female reaction".

First up, the Sports Spoiler Gang escape after Batgirl stops to fix her skewed headgear. After that, the same villainous group escape another time after Gordon stops to wipe mud off her face. In a third meeting between these parties, Barbara again pauses in battle due to a small tear in her tights.

Fortunately for Batgirl, this tights tear and subsequent small exposure of leggy flesh causes the Sports Spoiler Gang to stop in their tracks to take a glance at the heroine's "gams"; a stop that gives Batman and Robin just enough time to crack the skulls of these rogues.

Reflecting back on this tale - from Detective Comics #371 - its ridiculous to see how heavy it leaned into Barbara's biggest weakness being that she was a vain female who was only ever concerned with looking good. Even at the end of the story, when Batgirl helps save the day, it's only down to her looks and body.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer and Presenter, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund and Eli Roth to Kevin Smith and the Russo Brothers, to Kevin Conroy and Frank Miller, to Bret Hart and Sting, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, and Brian Flynn, to many, many more. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is a long-standing season ticket holder and an FSA Award-winner for his time co-hosting the Fearless in Devotion podcast.