Batman Family - The Tragic Family of the 1980s:
As the 1980s began, Batman, Robin (Dick Grayson) and Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) became the Trinity of the Batman Family, starring in action packed adventures in 'Detective Comics' and 'Batman'. Yet in 1982, the character of Dick Grayson, the first Robin the Boy Wonder, became a big part of DC’s The New Teen Titans, taking up his more mature persona of Nightwing.
As DC editor Len Wein observed, Batman alone on missions and in general storylines became a negative aspect, with a sidekick not balancing his dark demeanor with bright optimism. To fill the void, the character of Jason Todd first appeared in March 1983’s Batman #357 and was given the mantle as Robin by Grayson in February 1984’s Batman #368. A year later, Marv Wolfman and George Perez’ 12 issue saga “Crisis on Infinite Earths” was published.
This resulting in the DC continuity rebooted for the first time in its history, with many characters' origins altered or retconned. In the case of Jason Todd, his acrobat-family circus-carbon copy of The Flying Graysons background ceased to exist, and Todd was given a new beginning in June 1987’s Batman #408.
However strong the current Trinity within the Bat-Family stood, tragedy struck for both Batgirl and the new Robin. In May 1988, by Allan Moore and Brian Boland's The Killing Joke.
was released. In one of the most traumatic moments within DC’s lore, the Joker enters Commissioner James Gordon's home, shoots his daughter Barbara, which paralyzed her from the waist down. Barbara officially retired her guise as Batgirl in 1988’s Batgirl Special #1. As for Jason Todd, his updated persona was quite rebellious and fans of the Robin mantle did not respond positively to this stark change. Because of this, Jason’s destiny was decided in Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo
"Batman: A Death in the Family", published in 1988/1989’s Batman #426 - 429. With a $0.50 charge for each call of a 1-900 number and after the 36-hour period window for voting, Jason Todd's fate was sealed by the readers and he was killed by the hands of the Joker. Although this was a dark period for the guilt stricken Dark Knight, like the phoenix the Batman Family would rise from the ashes when new additions would arrive entering the 1990s.
Batman Family - Rising from the Ashes in the 1990s:
Even after the tragedies to Jason Todd and Barbara Gordon in the late 1980s, the Batman Family becomes whole again thanks to Marv Wolfman and Pat Broderick's Timothy Drake, debuting in the storyline "Batman: Year Three" (1989’s Batman #436) with his origin told in “Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying”. Officially introduced as the third Boy Wonder in 1990’s Batman #457, with the update of the Robin costume by Norm Breyfogle
Kim Yale and John Ostrander created the genius computer hacker persona of Oracle, who debuted in 1989’s Suicide Squad #23. It wasn't until Ostrander and Yale's Suicide Squad #38 from February 1990 that it was revealed that Barbara was Oracle and she remained an important part of the Suicide Squad throughout 1990.
As Oracle and Drake would become the newest heroes within the Bat-Family in the early 1990s, the Batman will face his toughest opponent to date in the iconic “Knightfall” saga. Facing off against one of his toughest villains, Bruce Wayne’s back is broken by Bane (1993’s Batman #497)
While Bruce heals, he gives the Batman mantle to St Dumas Azrael member Jean Paul Valley who transitions to the lethal Azrael Batman. Once Bruce healed, he had to fight Azrael for the mantle back and was victorious. Although for a short period after the conclusion of “Knightfall” Dick Grayson would become Batman (1994’s ‘Batman: Prodigal’), Bruce Wayne officially returning to being the Caped Crusader. The remainder of the 90s continued to prove to be one of the Batman Family’s
The remainder of the 90s continued to prove to be one of the Batman Family’s toughest eras, from battling The Apocalypse Virus spreading across Gotham (1996’s ‘Batman: Contagion’) to saving Gothamites and the city during the period of unrest known as ‘No Man’s Land’ (1999). Nevertheless, with new additions such as mechanic Harold Allnut, Stephanie Brown’s Spoiler and Cassandra Cain’s Batgirl, the Bat-Family’s rebuild made them stronger than ever during a tumultuous time.
to training abroad to heighten his combat skills, Tim Drake was a perfect balance of the first Robin's humility, the second Robin's rebelliousness and his own amazing detective skills. While Tim was staking his claim as the new Robin, Barbara Gordon triumphed over her disability caused by the Joker in 1988’s ‘The Killing Joke’. As Batgirl retired, Kim Yale and John Ostrander created the genius computer hacker persona of Oracle, who debuted in 1989’s Suicide Squad #23.