On Wednesday August 19 we learned that Yvonne Craig, TVs first Batgirl, had passed away at the age of 78.
You can read a word
from her family here and her
official obituary here.
Of course she had a varied and distinguished career. She was well loved y her family and friends. But it is her role as Batgirl that interests me today.
I have mentioned before how Yvonne Craig's Batgirl was
one of my first crushes as a child.
What was not to love really? She was smart, she kicked ass, and she was able to do everything Batman could do. I thought she was cool as hell and she left a pretty deep impression in my young mind. I would be later when I made one of my first witch characters that I would realize that I was unconsciously rebuilding Batgirl in many of my PCs. That first witch had red hair, wore a lot of purple and had began life as a librarian for my wizard character. So yes she even started out with a secret identity.
Batgirl was great and Yvonne Craig was part of that reason. In the 60s she showed us that not only could a super heroine could do what a super hero could, but an actress could do do what an actor could do.
One thing I always knew about Yvonne Craig was she grew up in near-by (near by to me at the time) Taylorville, IL. It is always nice when a local kid does good.
There is a lot I could say about Yvonne Craig, but honestly the best tribute came from comic writer Gail Simone.
http://www.playboy.com/articles/remembering-the-revelatory-yvonne-craig-by-batgirl-writer-gail-simone
Let's not forget she was also Marta, the Orion Slave Girl, who was working with Garth of Izar in "Whom the Gods Destroy"
