How do you stay not bitter over Stephanie Batgirl? I was a huge fan of the character and the book and was extremely upset when the New 52 came along and took it away. Now all the attention the Cameron Stewart Batgirl book is getting is reopening old wounds

Firstly, let me thank you for reading Steph’s run as Batgirl. It was a joy to write and create — hopefully in equal amount to that which you experienced upon reading. 

Secondly — this is where I might come off as blunt and cross, but I’m just being honest, and in no way trying to diminish the loss/lack/want you’re feeling with regards to that character — being bitter about something that happened almost 4 years ago - here and now - would just be silly.

From a writing standpoint, when you step onto a title/take over a character in the world of the “Big Two”, it’s a rental property. You’re playing with someone else’s toys in someone else’s sandbox. ANY amount of time a writer has to play - be it one issue, or, in our case, twenty-five, is a positive. At some point, the run will end. At some point, sales will dip. At some point, Editorial will rightly so feel there needs to a shake-up to get things back on track from their side of things. 

I was given two issues’ notice to wrap things up. Since I was ahead, that was more notice than many other writers got on their respective titles. So I had a chance to really refine and streamline and crystallize what I wanted to say about Stephanie Brown in those two issues. If we had gone on for another 5/10/20 issues, would the final issue have been the same? Would it have resonated as well? Would it have been as bittersweet? There’s no way to know for sure.

As for what’s happening (or not) in the present, I would challenge you to not waste emotional energy on what “the other fans are getting from their characters”. It’s an exhausting pursuit that will likely leave you angrier than when you started. 

Yes, Steph isn’t as present; she’s here and there in Eternal, as Spoiler. She’ll apparently be back in the side-ribbing as a Batgirl for Convergence. Gail did a wonderful job with my special friend in “Batgirl: Future’s End”.  We even snuck in the “spirit” of Stephanie through Babs as Nightwing in Smallville Season 11. Do I miss writing her? Every day. Do you miss reading her? Sounds like we’re in the same boat.

However:

Don’t focus on what you don’t have, but what you do — that’s the Stephanie way!