Warning: contains spoilers for Batgirls #11!Superheroes, be it Spider-Man or Batgirl, don’t have the best track record when it comes to dating. When the world is in constant danger, heroes don’t have the luxury of vacations. Not only that, but villains won’t fail to exploit their enemies’ weaknesses, using loved ones as leverage—just how many times has Lois Lane been kidnaped now? It’s no surprise that Batman is a brooding lone wolf; Gotham’s got some of the most unhinged villains in DC Comics. Batgirl, Stephanie Brown, is in a similar boat, despite her past long-term relationship with Tim Drake. Now that her options are open, Steph doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to date again.
Honestly, who can blame her? Just Dick nearly considered breaking it off with Barbara Gordon to protect her. Thankfully, she laughed it off, reminding Nightwing that as heroes, there’s always going to be danger, regardless of who they're connected to. However, there is a more pressing issue when it comes to vigilante dating: time.
Batgirl Is Simply Too Busy For Dating.
In Batgirls #11 by Michael Conrad, Becky Cloonan and Neil Googe, Steph and Cass visit Gotham Zoo with Kyle Mizoguchi and his younger sister, Maps. When they first met, Steph and Kyle seemed to hit it off immediately, and it seemed like the perfect set-up for a fun relationship. While a zoo visit is the perfect date opportunity, the Batgirls were still there on business, trying to find clues on their serial killer case. When Oracle asks Stephanie how her date was, the younger Batgirl immediately deflects, claiming it was “Strictly platonic. Nobody has time for romance right now,” then quipping: “Except you and Dick, apparently.”
Even when Steph and Tim dated, both superheroes who knew one another’s secret identities, the vigilante shtick still caused several problems in their relationship. Dates were interrupted—or canceled when Tim disappeared for days at a time to work cases—and while they still spent valuable time beating up crooks together, it was hardly romantic. Tim Drake is thriving as Robin, and in a way, he always has had a large network of friends, both hero and civilian. Steph has never had many civilian friends, which closes her off from experiencing a fulfilling life as a young adult.
The Superhero Lifestyle Isn't Sustainable.
Becoming heroes at such a young age, the Batgirls and Robins put their personal lives on standstill. Since her days as Spoiler, Stephanie has barely given herself a break. While she once had ions like piano and caring for animals, crime-fighting now consumes her life. In every new issue of Detective Comics, Batman seems only inches away from ditching the Bruce Wayne persona altogether. Strangely enough, Tim Drake, known for being a chronic workaholic, probably has the most balanced life out of the whole Bat-family at the moment.
Kyle Mizoguchi seems like the perfect person to balance out Steph's high energy and remind her of the importance of breaks. It'd be a refreshing change of pace for Batgirl to have a civilian boyfriend—or friend at the very least. Hopefully, in issues, Stephanie Brown can give dating another chance.
Batgirls #11 is now available from DC Comics
