10 Things Everyone Forgets About Batgirl

Barbara Gordon was 19 years old when she was shot by the Joker and the bullet shattered her spine. She was paralyzed from the waist down and spent the next three years in a wheelchair. She then became the nigh indispensable information source to the superhero community called the Oracle. As well as still being a member of the Bat Family, she also led the female-centric Birds of Prey and was a member of the JLA.

Barbara’s father (in this canon) Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon located a hospital in South Africa that was able to return function to her legs. An experimental neural implant was installed at the base of Babs' neck that bypassed the damaged portions of her spine and allowed her to use her legs and assume a full range of mobility. However, this wasn't without risk. If the implant is damaged or fails, Barbara could become paralyzed again or even suffer brain damage.

Even if the implant is functioning perfectly, Barbara has noticed that her mobility can fluctuate from day to day. This may be, in part, to jumping right back into the role of Batgirl so soon after her surgery. She will have days of full mobility and then others when she will require her wheelchair again.

While she is adamant about still being a hero, Barbara Gordon has had to take steps back and look at the bigger picture.