6. Batgirl (Stephanie Brown) (DC Comics)
Well, here is where my opinions get controversial. Or at least, as controversial as you can get writing about fictional characters.
I don’t believe Stephanie was the best Robin (No, we’ll get to him later in this list) but I wouldn’t hesitate to call her the best Batgirl. True Barbara Gordon was Batgirl first, but Barbara came into her own truly as Oracle, not as Batgirl. Cassandra Cain on the other hand is a character I never really formed an attachment to. But Stephanie? I wholeheartedly adore Stephanie.
Stephanie Brown’s brief tenure as Batgirl was an absolute joy to read and ran on pure unadulterated fun. The first issue of Stephanie’s Batgirl run I read was #14, in which she and Supergirl have to fight 24 Draculas in the span of one issue. I don’t care who you are, that’s amazing. Stephanie brought a cheerful upbeat energy to the book that hasn’t been matched since. I do love the current Batgirl of Burnside stuff going on, but I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t rather have Stephanie back under the mask. Well, at least she survived the New 52 reboot as Spoiler, the DCU would be a worse place without her.
