Batgirl's Identity Revealed... It's A Spoiler!

The New Batgirl... who is she?
The new Batgirl series has finally begun this week, and I have yet to pick up my copy since the books were delayed. However, thanks to the folks of DC, the whole world now knows the identity of the new Batgirl in town... and no, it's not Cassandra Cain or Barbara Gordon. The chick with the cowl is a girl who's never worn the costume, yet has fought alongside Batman and his allies for quite a long while now.











SPOILERS!!!!













Literally, it's a Spoiler!!!








The new Batgirl is... Stephanie Brown, aka The Spoiler!
STEPHANIE BROWN... yes, THE Steph Brown. Also known by her original costume identity as "The Spoiler", she was introduced as a supporting character to Tim Drake, the third Robin and currently the new Red Robin.

The Spoiler... Stephanie's original costumed identity
As the daughter of The Cluemaster, a low tier Gotham City criminal, Stephanie originally took up the identity of The Spoiler to stop her father from returning to a life of crime, which she succeeds in doing with the assistance of Batman and Robin. Afterwards, Steph and Tim began a relationship, as crimefighters and then as on and off lovers. At one point, Stephanie found herself pregnant with the child of an ex-boyfriend. With the help of Robin, she carried and safely delivered the child to term, but painfully had to give it away for adoption for the promise of a better life she couldn't provide as a young mother. Since then, Stephanie and Tim's relationship became even closer... for a while at least.

Stephanie as the fourth Robin

Eventually finding out his son's dual identity as the Boy Wonder, Jack Drake confronted Bruce Wayne and forbade Tim from donning the mantle again. A worried Steph wonders what has become of Robin, until Batman shows up and offers to train her himself. He gives her the Robin costume, making Stephanie the forth person to take up the identity. However, this is a short-lived change, as her recklessness and disobedience forces the Dark Knight to fire her. Wanting to prove herself again, Stephanie as The Spoiler steals and activates one of Batman's contingency plans to deal with the criminal underworld, not knowing any of the factors involved. This backfires and begins the "War Games" saga, placing Gotham under siege. In the ensuing chaos, the criminal Black Mask captures Stephanie and tortures her for information regarding Batman. She manages to escape, but is severely injured, and even with medical assistance from Batman's ally Dr. Leslie Thompkins, Stephanie seemingly dies from her wounds, with Batman himself at her side.

Later on in the War Crimes saga, it is revealed that Dr. Thompkins intentionally withheld medication that could have saved Stephanie's life. She did this in order to deliver a painful message to the youth who would follow Steph's example. Of course, all of this proved to be one big hoax; Stephanie was actually alive and well, and the patient who died was a girl who overdosed and looked exactly like her. Hiding with Leslie in Africa, she eventually returns to Gotham, reuniting with Batman and Robin and resuming her crime fighting escapades. At one point, she even worked as a freelance operative for the Penguin, but this too was just a temporary stint.

Currently, Stephanie's relationship with Tim is rocky at best. Under orders from Batman himself, she distracted Tim from his search of the Dark Knight after he went missing following the events of Batman R.I.P. After assuming the mantle of Red Robin, Tim has become more distant than ever, and his refusal to accept Batman's death has made him severe ties with his allies, Steph included. With her new future now as the new Batgirl, will Stephanie ever reconcile with the former Boy Wonder, or will her new identity alienate the two even more? Time will tell I suppose. For now, go and pick up Batgirl #1, available in stores now.