TRIGGER WARNING: Graphic Violence - Article Includes Comic Panel of Barbara Gordon Getting Shot by the Joker!Barbara Gordon’s life-altering injury inThe Killing Joke(1988) may have redefined her character, but it pales in comparison to the brutality ofBatgirl’slatest injury, which has led to a major redesign that’s undeniably hardcore. This reveal also doubles as a major plot twist in the ongoing narrative of a fan-favoriteElseworldsseries, sure to leave some fans exclaiming,“I knew it!”
Barbara’s facial scars and the brutal story behind them have undeniably elevated her to one of DC’s top-tier badasses.
Matthew Rosenberg, Matthew Manning, Otto Schmidt, and Acky Bright’sDC vs. Vampires: World War V#5 may not release until August 05, 2025, but its solicitations have already dropped a major spoiler—Vampire Queen Barbara Gordon lives on.
Variant Covers:
Josh Hixson & Kyle Hotz
Green Arrow and his team successfully infiltrate the vampire strong-hold, but their victory is cut short when they discover the horrifying secret that’s long given vampires a lethal edge over the human resis-tance. The truth is greater and more terrible than anything they could have possibly imagined—and its shocking connection to the Speed Force is only just the beginning!
Fans of the series will remember the inaugural issue’s cliffhanger, where it seemed one of Damian Wayne’s vampire guerilla fighters had burned the queen alive. In issue #2, both Aquaman and Wonder Woman confirmed her death, with the undead Amazon even dubbing Damian the"Queen Slayer.“However,Schmidt’s cover forWorld War V#5 shows Batgirl alive and well, though slightly overcooked.
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Plot Twist! Vampire Queen Barbara Gordon Survives Being Burned Alive by Damian Wayne
Photo Gallery Features Panels FromDC Vs. Vampires: World War V#1 (2024) by Matthew Rosenberg
Schmidt’s cover for issue #5 features Barbara in her signatureDC vs. VampiresBatgirl costume, but with some striking upgrades. The suit now sports a dramatic Medici collar-like addition to her exaggeratedly long cape and appears to have armored enhancements, likely fireproof given her recent ordeal. However,the true redesign isn’t in the suit—it’s in Barbara’s scarred face and noticeably shorter hair.These changes serve as a stark reminder that Batgirl survived being burned alive and falling dozens of stories, leaving an indelible mark on her character.
Barbara’s facial scars and the brutal story behind them have undeniably elevated her to one of DC’s top-tier badasses. Though this narrative exists outside of mainstream continuity, it underscores that somewhere in the multiverse,there’s a Batgirl who not only killed the former vampire king, Dick Grayson, but also survived an assassination attemptthat left her burned beyond recognition. While she may be the villain of this tale, this version of Barbara is one of the coolest interpretations in years, highlighting her unmatched ambition, resilience, and tenacity.
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Batgirl Being Burned Alive Surpasses Getting Shot by Joker as Her Most Brutal Injury
Barbara Gordon Just Can’t Catch a Break When It Comes to Suffering Life-Changing Injuries
Batgirl is now defined by two major injuries in the DCU: being paralyzed after the Joker shot her in the spine inThe Killing Joke—by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland—and being burned alive and dropped from a skyscraper by Damian Wayne. Whileher injury inThe Killing Jokereshaped her character in an unprecedented way, being burned alive and falling from a great height is undoubtedly more brutal. This latest injury has also drastically altered Barbara’s outward appearance, making it nearly impossible for fans and characters in the story to seeBatgirlwithout recalling the timeRobinalmost succeeded in killing her.
DC VS. VAMPIRES: WORLD WAR V #5 (2024)will be released on August 23, 2025, from DC Comics!
