DC Comics needs to put a bigger spotlight on the friendship between Supergirl and Batgirl, and this fan art by Mike Maihack shows just why that is. Superman and Batman might be DC’s “World’s Finest,” but Supergirl and Batgirl in all of their iterations are some of DC’s most prominent female figures. Given their shared position in DC, it’s surprising to think the two rarely interact in recent comics.

Maihack’s artwork on Instagram is enough to showcase the potential of Supergirl and Batgirl’s dynamic that DC has yet to fully tap into. Maihack’s fan-favorite art featuring Batgirl and Supergirl often depicts the two women in wacky, cheerful situations, whether sharing some couch-bomb time or trading costume inspiration.

Despite the long history between Supergirl and different iterations of Batgirl, the two iconic female characters have lost their close connection in recent years. It’s rare to see them share a panel together, but when they do, it makes for entertaining viewing that could be all the more entertaining material for a series.

DC Needs to Explore More of Supergirl and Batgirl’s Friendship

The Best World’s Finest Duo?

During the Silver Age, Supergirl and Batgirl had an established friendship within the DC Universe, so much so that Barbara Gordon read the eulogy for Kara’s funeral in Crisis on Infinite Earths by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez. Before that, they had a handful of regular team-ups until Supergirl’s death. Once their characters were reinvented for a new era of DC, the new versions of these characters didn’t have as close-knit of a bond as they used to, and as a result, didn’t appear together as frequently. As it stands, the duo is best remembered today for their team-ups in the DCAU, not the comics.

Interestingly enough, Supergirl and Batgirl’s most notable team-up in modern comics comes from an Elseworlds tale. The 1998 Elseworld’s Finest: Supergirl and Batgirl #1 by Barbara Kesel, Matt Haley, Moose Baumann, and Bill Oakley takes place in a world where Superman and Batman never existed, and thus, Supergirl and Batgirl are the most prominent superheroes in their universe. The orphaned Batgirl and the Supergirl in this world had personalities closer to the canon Superman and Batman than to how Babs and Kara are typically portrayed. Still, their partnership makes for an interesting reading experience.

DC Needs to Revisit Its Best Friendship

Could There Be a Batgirl/Supergirl Series in the Future?

There was a time when the Batgirl/Supergirl friendship was showcased thoroughly and was a joy to witness — until DC forgot that friendship. Now is as good a time as ever to revisit that dynamic. As the fan art above highlights, Kara and Babs’ personalities compliment each other in a way that could provide for some wholesome moments. In a world where Batman and Superman’s current ongoing World’s Finest comic thrives on Silver Age wholesomeness, there’s no reason why DC can’t attract the same magic with Supergirl and Batgirl.

Source: Mike Maihack (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)