About That Alysia News Thingie

Just to clarify, I didn’t write it or have anything to do with it, I was just responding.

For those who missed it, it was a Bleeding Cool story that implied that Alysia may get a vigilante identity in Batgirl. I am not in that loop, I have ZERO knowledge of such a thing, if it’s true.

But it made a bit of a stir, in a good way and a sad way both, when I commented on the story, so I thought I would clarify a bit. A lot of people asked me about it, so here’s a bit more detail.

My memory is a bit fuzzy, so forgive me for being a bit vague.

Again, this is NOT reflective of Alysia now. If she’s going to get a vigilante identity, I am not aware of it (which is fine, I don’t write the book anymore).

But I am not against it at all, in fact, I did pitch such a thing. It was foreshadowed in the book that she had a baseball bat and was prepared to kick ass if necessary.

The idea was, after the Joker’s goons showed up in their apartment, and the thing with James Gordon, Jr., Alysia was going to be fed up and create an activist vigilante, a character who tried to help the poor people of Cherry Hill, while fighting against the corruption of people like Knightfall. 

She was going to be called Mouse (this was before the Movement, the name was too good not to use), and she would be a costumed vigilante (her costume would be made up of stuff bought at a used clothing store, like Misfit), and would carry a bat. She has gymnast skills from school, so that would be her edge, and she would take fighting lessons from Black Canary.

Then the plan was for Barbara to be injured, and Alysia finds out by coming home and seeing Barbara passed out, still half-wearing the Batgirl costume. So Alysia would fill in for Batgirl for several months while Barbara recuperated, and Barbara would be giving her information on a headset, while sitting in her room in front of a computer, foreshadowing Oracle. 

There was a lot more, it would have been really cool.

But at the time, any POSSIBILITY of hinting at an Oracle identity was considered absolutely out of the question (I think they have lightened up on that now) and they didn’t want anyone else in the batsuit and the idea was turned down flat. 

So it was something I was in favor of, if it’s done well in Batgirl, I totally support it. I love Alysia being just a friend in the book, but I also think there would have been tremendous value in her actually having the Batgirl mantle, even if it was temporary.

As for her being the ‘first’ trans hero, as the story said, I think most people are aware that that is a very unlikely claim that ignores several characters that fit that definition to varying degrees. 

Anyway, that’s it, would have been cool. 

DC has lightened up on the editorial aspect a lot in the past several months and it’s really showing. I think with the New52, there was an attempt to sort of reign things in a little bit. I am glad they are taking more chances now, some of my favorite books are being produced by new teams with new freedoms. That’s a great thing.