For those wondering how – if at all – Grant Morrison’s Batman Incorporated fits in with New 52 continuity, the news that the just-solicited Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes oneshot will feature Spoiler seems a little… unexpected. The oneshot contains the material originally solicited as Batman Incorporated #9 and 10, by Morrison, Cameron Stewart and Chris Burnham. As those with long memories may remember, the original solicit for BI #9 went a little something like this:
Is an exclusive girls’ finishing school a secret training ground for teenaged assassins? Find out the truth as Batgirl undertakes her most dangerous mission yet at the request of Batman.
So, it looks like we’re to assume that in New 52 continuity, Stephanie does exist, but was always Spoiler…? What with the strange “it all holds up, apart from the parts that don’t” (Hi, Batgirl!) continuity the franchise seems to have developed with the September relaunch, it’s possible that Batman has become to The New 52 what Superman was to Post-Crisis continuity. Which is to say, it’s better if you just don’t think about it too much.
September 20th, 2011 at 11:55 am
Due to the condensed timeline, Steph was Robin for two days, Batgirl for a week, a Green Lantern over a long weekend, Kid Flash at lunch, a member of the Nova Corps on her birthday, and governor of Colorado in 2006.
September 20th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
One solution to discontinuities would be to suppose that the merger of timelines created individuals with multiple pasts, only one of which is active in a person’s memory.
SRS
September 20th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Going by the provided image Stephanie is also no longer a young teen, or just drinks a lot of milk.
September 20th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Stephanie was Robin and there’s no reason to think she wasn’t Batgirl. DC has been pretty clear about the fact that all 5 Robins have existed. If they were smart, they’d distance themselves from the “been around for 5 years” line, or, better yet, change it to “been around 10 years,” because what does that really change? People won’t read about a 30 year old Batman? Really??
I would imagine Stephanie gave up the mantle of Batgirl when Barbara was healed, because she believe Barbara is the rightful Batgirl. That’s not really a stretch.
September 20th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
In Batgirl 1, Barbara states she’s been injured for about 3 years. I think it’s mentioned in Nightwing #1 that Bruce had been dead for a year. So the timeline would work (kind of) if we assume that Cassandra Cain was Batgirl for 2 years then dropped the role after the death of Bruce Wayne (which is what happened). Then Stephanie filled in for a year and once Barbara was healed, she left the role of her own accord and went back to the Spoiler role. So these issues would take place in current continuity.
September 20th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
I think people just want to make things more complex than it is. Sometimes DC confuses them by showing old solicit pics in new solicitations. All those pictures of Batman with the oval are old or Stephanie as Batgirl (pre-new 52). Grant Morrison’s lateness caused this pushback and new52 caused the Batgirl to Spoiler change.
September 20th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
I really hate new DCU but I got bad feeling DC going to use this as excuse for chance to kill her off again. I know I said this elsewhere but I am not totally sure what part of twilight zone are from where I said that. CBR is weird or there something with there polls. Sorry but if you vote more for Damien (worst batman character) then Lex Lthor then there something really weird going on. I really hope DC doesn’t let some of people working on Bat Books hatred for Stephanie get to them. Batgirl was one of the better books you put out recently sadly didn’t sell better then should. Sold better then any damien would do (13 on CBR list? Man bizzaro universe is being nice)
September 20th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Damien rocks!
Sure, he was a brat in the beginning and still is, mind you, but he has grown as a character. The idea of a snarky, cocky, non-happy go lucky Robin somehow works. I’ve always felt that Tim and Jason were nothing but clones of Dick, so Damien acts as a nice counterpoint to all the previous Robins.
I believe in Damien Wayne!
Also, I’m glad Steph is still around in the nuDCU, too.
September 20th, 2011 at 5:05 pm
A possible solution, albeit far-fetched, is that the DC Universe is imaginary and there is no rigid logic to things.
September 21st, 2011 at 10:04 pm
given how dc keeps tweaking its time line and that it has 52 earths maybe stephanie back as spoiler is from another earth though given how loose dc plays with time can see her being batgirl and robin then handing batgirl back to babs and retake the spoiler role.