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A campaign participant petitions DC Comics regarding its decision to erase the paralysis of its most prominent character with a disability.

[Video transcription:

My name is Eric Glover, and I believe that Barbara’s not broken because you already fixed her. You raised her up from the misogynistic mess that first paralysed her and re-established her as a feminist icon: stronger than ever, smart as a whip, and still sexy as hell.

When you redefined her as a leader whose purpose helped her stand tall, even from a wheelchair, you proved once again that the world of comics is a place where regret can make way for revision, mistakes can be corrected and the dead can be resurrected - both literally and figuratively.

In the case of Barbara Gordon, it seems you’ve changed perspective on what needed revising; what counted as a mistake and how you’ve defined resurrection. You’ve touted Barbara’s healing as a triumph and return, a development that restores her to the walking hero she was always supposed to be. When in fact, as Oracle, you’d already made her a better superhero than she’d ever been. Her new role with a disability was her triumph and return, and a comeback unlike anything we’d seen before in comics - or anything we’ve seen since.

But I’m not sharing this message with you to teach you a lesson, I’m actually doing this to tell you about a lesson I’ve been taught. Unlike thousands of dedicated Oracle fans, both with and without disabilities, I personally did not read Oracle’s comic books before you took away her paralysis. Unfortunately I took it for granted that Barbara Gordon would always be a symbol of disability and quality in your comic books, without necessarily showing you how important I believed her to be with my own money.

With that in mind, I feel just as responsible for what’s happening to Barbara Gordon now as you are. But I’m hoping this is where you and I can make sure regret makes way for revision. The second you choose to believe in Barbara Gordon as a disabled, capable heroine again, I promise I will step up as a lifelong supporter of her comics.

As you’ve demonstrated, nothing is irreversible in your line of storytelling. You and I can use that as an opportunity to right a wrong. Because when it comes down to it, comics are essentially about second chances. And I hope you’ll give me mine.

Text: Visit Barbara’s Not Broken on Facebook

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