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This comic is the first appearance of the Huntress, but it tells the origin of a few others as well. Take the Green Arrow for instance. Some pirates take his wallet and kick him overboard while he’s on a cruise ship, and he has to learn how to fend for himself on a deserted island. He also manages to tear up his only set of clothes and only left himself some jean shorts. That’s smart thinking, Oliver Queen. I’m not saying Green Arrow plays for the other team or anything, but he did make himself a pair of jean shorts, and his name happens to be Oliver Queen.
Of course, the most interesting origin of this tale is of the Huntress. The Huntress origin story reveals that Batman and Catwoman have a child together, and their combined skills of detective work and lock picking are inherited in their daughter. In the story, Catwoman accidentally dies from a fall when Batman causes her to be shot from a misfire. This Catwoman accidental death sets the stage for the emergence of the Huntress. Batman raises daughter Helena to be a vigilante, introducing the concept of Batman’s daughter to the DC universe.
The Huntress is a great character, and I’m glad she was introduced in this issue. She’s one of the few characters that has been around since the Silver Age and still has a prominent role in comics today. I think the story is an interesting read because it shows how some of the most famous characters were created. It also shows how some of them have changed over time. For example, Green Arrow used to be a rich playboy who had no idea how to fend for himself in the wild, but now he’s an expert archer who can survive on his own for months at a time.
I recommend DC Superstars 17 to anyone who likes reading about superheroes or just wants to see how some of them were created. The advertisements in this comic are the best. The back cover has a hilariously cheesy ad for shoes, in the guise of a comic. After the hero wins, two kids say that his shoes saved the world. I’m not kidding. Other stupid ads include to send 1 dollar for a life-like “bi-onic hand”. There are also a couple of ads for BB guns. Remember, kids, BB guns aren’t toys. Which is why they are being sold in children’s magazines and alongside some story of people shooting guns on the opposite page. This comic is great, you have to get it. (Affiliate Link)
The Legacy of Huntress
Appearing in DC Comics for the first time in 1977, Huntress Helena Wayne, also known as DC Helena Wayne, has become a cherished and profound personality within the DC universe. As the Batman and Catwoman daughter, her ancestral heritage has evolved and taken on different forms. Starting from her origins as a vigilante seeking revenge for her mother’s death to her current role as a member of the Birds of Prey, The Huntress has consistently captured people’s attention through her strength, skills, and vulnerability.
Helena Wayne, otherwise known as The Huntress, was part of an alternate reality called Earth-Two where Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle were in a relationship and had a daughter. This version of the character had a deep-seated hatred towards criminals, and she used her detective skills along with being a martial artist to fight against them. Her narrative was not initially central to the main DC universe, but it found an echo with the audience, and soon after, a group of devoted fans started supporting her.
The Huntress origin story is deeply rooted in the legacy of her famous parents. As the daughter of Batman and Catwoman, Helena inherited her father’s detective skills and her mother’s agility. Growing up in Gotham City, she was trained by her father to become a formidable crime-fighter. Her weapon of choice, the crossbow, became her signature tool in combating crime.
A novel referred to as The Huntress was published in the 1980s, introducing a new version of the character named Helena Bertinelli. In this case, the character is developed with a completely different background history, where her parents were members of a notorious mafia family. After seeing her parents’ brutal killing, she finds herself becoming a vigilant idealist seeking revenge for all those who had wronged her. This version of The Huntress made quite a mark in DC Comics and even enjoyed her own solo series.
As time passed, the development of Huntress’s character in the comic book industry was provided by numerous writers and artists who made their specific contributions. Notable among them were Paul Levitz and Joe Staton, who played crucial roles in shaping the character’s early appearances. She later became one of the Birds of Prey – a group of female superheroes fighting together, and even entered into romantic relationships with other DC Universe members like Dick Grayson (Nightwing) and Green Arrow.
The Huntress’s story took a significant turn during the Crisis on Infinite Earths event, which reshaped the DC multiverse. This cosmic upheaval led to changes in her backstory and relationships. In the post-Crisis continuity, Helena Wayne’s history was initially erased, but she was later reintroduced as a character from Earth-2, a parallel world where she continued to operate as the daughter of Batman and Catwoman.
One of the Huntress’s most notable partnerships is with Power Girl, another hero from Earth-2. Together, they’ve had numerous adventures and have become a formidable duo in the DC universe. Helena’s membership in the Justice Society of America (JSA) further cemented her place among DC’s premier heroes, allowing her to work alongside other legendary characters and carry on her father’s legacy.
Over the past years, The Huntress has been featured in different media versions such as TV series and films. In Arrow, the famous television series, she is depicted as an anti-hero with mixed feelings and a troubled nature, which increases her complexity and adds depth to her personality even more. She was also seen in the 2002 TV series Birds of Prey, where Ashley Scott portrayed the character.
The enduring popularity of the Huntress, whether as Helena Wayne or Helena Bertinelli, is a testament to the character’s compelling backstory and complex personality. From her origins as the child of Gotham’s most famous hero and villain to her evolution as a standalone hero, the Huntress continues to captivate readers and viewers alike. Her story serves as a unique exploration of legacy, identity, and the ongoing battle for justice in the DC universe.