

- Barbara Gordon is unable to convince her (adoptive) father James Gordon to approve of her to becoming a cop. Also, she doesn't even meet the Academy's height requirements. 
- Barbara tries to find a position within the FBI, but with no avail.
- She decides that the only way to serve the cause of justice is by becoming a vigilante. 
- She steals her father's files and uses the info to sneak into the JLA Gotham HQ. She wants to ask Black Canary to give her physical combat training. She leaves a letter on the JSA meeting table and makes certain that the security cameras see her.


Masquerade

#1 - Masquerade



- Justice Society veteran Wildcat Batgirl and discourages her from pursuing a career in crime fighting.
- In an effort to show her father up, she decides to attend the Gotham City Police Department's Million Dollar Masquerade Ball dressed as Batman.
- A masked villain named Killer Moth and his henchmen raid the event and hold everyone at gunpoint.
- Leaping into super-hero action for the first time, Batgirl begins fighting Killer Moth and his goons. She manages to disarm several of his cronies and chases Moth out onto the country club grounds. Killer Moth gets away by leaping aboard a hovering getaway helicopter.
- Batman and Robin arrive after the fight and begin to interrogate Batgirl.


Future-Tense

#2 - Future-Tense



- Batman and Robin begin to question this new hero known as Batgirl. Robin tries to grab a hold of her, but Batgirl kicks him away and runs off into the night, then sneaks back into her home.
- The following evening, Barbara dons her costume once again and ventures out into the night. She stops several criminals from robbing a grocery outlet. After returning home from a busy night's work, she decides to improve her crime-fighting arsenal.
- She scales one of the highest skyscrapers in Gotham City and prepares to test out her new equipment. Batman and Robin closely watch.


Afterglow

#3 - Afterglow



- Batgirl dives off the top of a tall skyscraper. Batman cuts her line with a Batarang, and Robin swoops down to catch her (her line wasn't the right type and would've dislocated her shoulders). They dose her with knockout spray and take her back to the Batcave.
- Batman begins interrogating her, then pretends to attend to other matters allowing Robin the chance to play "good cop". Robin let her run through a training simulation to test her resilience and reflexes, but she doesn't impress Batman. Batman returns to the cave and tells her that their business is too dangerous for her, and is not to be treated as a game. They spray her again with the knockout gas and return her home.
- When she awakens, Barbara is angered that Batman and Robin know who she really is. 
- The next day, Robin secretly sends her a package. The box is filled with Batarangs, smoke grenades and a grappling supplies. A note is enclosed which reads, "You look like a fast study. This'll help you cram. Trust me. He'll come around."


Cave Dwellers

#4 - Cave Dwellers



- After losing his henchmen, going broken and feeling like a failure, Killer Moth finds a new ally in a crazy pyromaniac (former FX explosions guy, Garfield Lynns), who adopts the moniker Firefly.


Moth to a Flame

#5 - Moth to a Flame



- Robin gives Batgirl a batcycle to get around the city faster. Batman secretly knows about this and endorses it, hoping they can keep her safe until she quits vigilantism on her own.
- Firefly and Killer Moth having been running a "protection racket" for other criminal in Gotham and are generally being annoying. Someone they are trying to scam has their henchmen dress up as them to Firefly and Killer Moth take Commissioner Gordon hostage, so the police will come after the real Firefly and Killer Moth to get rid of them.
- Batgirl heres the police radio about Gordon's kidnapping. 
- The JLA send down Canary to help out. Batgirl and Canary team up to save Gordon, but end up in the middle of a standoff with the real and fake Firefly and Killer Moths.


Bird of Prey

#6 - Bird of Prey



- Canary and Batgirl save Gordon, but Killer Moth and Firefly get away.
- Batgirl patrols again, realizing vigilantism is taking over her life, but she doesn't want to stop it.
- Robin gives Batgirl another batcycle to replace the one she broke last night. Together, they go to answer the Batsignal.


Hearts Afire

#7 - Hearts Afire



- Batgirl and Robin stop Condiment King on their way to fight Blockbuster (Roland Desmond), who has take a train car hostage. 
- Also on the way, Robin kisses Batgirl by surprise. She has mixed feelings about it.
- They fight Blockbuster and win, with Batgirl taking more of a lead, sick of Robin making all the decisions.
- Gordon suspects Barbara is Batgirl but she denies it. She runs out of the house, upset he went through her room, and she's Firefly burning down GCPD.


Seasoned Crime-Fighter

#8 - Seasoned Crime-Fighter



- Killer Moth and Firefly burn down GCPD. They flee by helicopter, but Batgirl attaches a de-cel cord to the chopper and is dragged behind.
- Batman and Robin follow in their own helicopter.
- Batgirl throws a grappling batarang, so now the helicopter is anchored to a building, with her dangling in between, above the Gotham Athletic Club.
- She disconnects and falls into the Gotham Athletic Club pool.
- Stalled, Killer Moth and Firefly's lose control of their helicopter. Batman and Robin arrest them.
- Batman puts Batgirl through another training simulation, featuring the Gotham rogues. She passes, showing her dedication, and he reveals his identity.
- Batman and Batgirl meet Gordon atop GCPD, and he endorses Batgirl. But, Robin is secretly posing as Batgirl so Barbara can come upstairs to meet her dad at the same time, throwing off his suspicions that she could be batgirl.


Ashes & Blood

#9 - Ashes & Blood



Batgirl: Year One is a 2003 miniseries by Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty. It is an expanded origin for Barbara Gordon as Batgirl, building on her first appearance from Detective Comics #359.


Batgirl: Year One (February, 2003 - October, 2003)

Comics