Bit of a late night posting, but wanted to do another batgirl post and what better way to do that than with the very first Batgirl(or Bat-Girl really) Bette Kane! Looks like Cass and Steph are curious about her, looks like Barbara has some explaining to do!
Bette Kane is a character that goes way back to the 60s (golden age), alongside with her aunt Kathy Kane. Only Bette reappeared post-crisis, Kathy wouldn't reappear herself til years later (and sorta replaced with Kate Kane, Bette's cousin.)
She's also part of her own team, Titans West (alongside Bumblebee, Herald, Hawk, Dove, Golden Eagle, and Beast Boy). It didn't last long, which is a shame really. I kinda wish that we did get an ongoing comic for this team, but it never really got the chance for that. I mean, doesn't Marvel have something like West coast avengers? It could've worked I bet.
Bette herself didn't really get much of a chance as a character either, she rarely appeared and when she did it always seemed like other characters just look down on her. Made me sad to read, she seemed to really want the chance to be a hero and help people. But I guess other heroes thought she was too vain or an airhead. To me tho, this came off as more 'tell, not show', since she appeared too little to actually show off her flaws.
But like I said, it seems all she want is to help people, I suspect her motivation to help is a combination of vanity, selflessness, and a desire challenge herself. Especially in the athletic sense, since it seemed being a tennis star wasn't enough for her. (Also I guess I should mention her crush on Robin, Dick, as well. It is important, but its not something I really cared about tbh.)
Anyways! Here's a couple more drawings of Bette:
Tennis star Bette! Probably just won a match here.
First draft I did of her, wanted to combine her Flamebird outfits for her. Love her flame cape!
Also, bonus Batgirls(or Batgirl adjacent):
Helena Bertinelli, the Huntress, she gives the best advice! She has her own interesting comic history, esp with the split between pre and post crisis. Btw that first pic of Helena is part of a larger pic but I can't post it till I 'introduce' other characters into the TrWh au.
Also Misfit aka Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe, a chaotic teleporter that gives Barbara quite the headache. Cass and Steph have no idea what to do with her lol!
Well, hope you like all this!