Posted By Dan Greenfield on May 16, 2025 | 4 comments

A FRANCO FREE-FOR-ALL FRIDAYS birthday salute…

By FRANCO

I would sit and watch for anything superhero. Starved for heroes in bright, spandex costumes. I would watch The Electric Company just to see if Spider-Man was going to show up that week. 

With the 1966 Batman TV series, we had the Dynamic Duo of course, but there was that awesome, every once in a while when Batgirl would show up. I would get so excited during the opening credits because there would be those little extra snippets with her swooping in on her Batrope and then riding by on her motorcycle. My afternoon was set.  More heroes. Oh, man. What a trip! She was awesome! Purple is my favorite color!

You have understand what life was like back in the 1960s and ’70s. We didn’t get a lot of superhero stuff on the three to six channels we had. (Gosh darn, I have the overwhelming feeling to yell at all of you to get off my lawn right now!)

The late Yvonne Craig, who was born 88 years ago, on May 16, 1937, played the Dominoed Daredoll. She was in a bunch of stuff and started as a ballet dancer. I remember her from being in a film with Elvis (two actually, I looked it up), and as the green Orion girl on the original Star Trek. But she was most famously Batgirl!

Also, I bet you didn’t know Robin and Batgirl were paid — and not equally by Batman — for being crime fighters! I don’t mean the actors, I mean the heroes themselves!

Reprising her role as Batgirl in 1973, she did a PSA about equal pay for women. It’s fun; check it out if you’ve never seen it. Spoiler: Adam West isn’t in it. The guy who plays Batman, Dick Gautier, was none other than the voice of Serpentor in the G.I. Joe cartoon series. Gives new meaning to the quote: “You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” Which is from a Batman movie! (Dear god, I’m such a nerd!)

Anyway… It’s Yvonne Craig’s birthday. Thanks for Batgirl. Also I basically look for any excuse to draw Batgirl.

Happy Friday!

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MORE

— The TOP 13 Yvonne Craig BATGIRL EPISODES — RANKED. Click here.

— The All-Time Best Version of WONDER WOMAN. Click here.

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Franco and his forehead have traveled the world and he writes and draws stuff. Franco is the creator, artist and writer of Patrick the Wolf Boy and Aw Yeah Comics! Franco has worked on books/comics, including Tiny Titans and Superman Family Adventures. Franco was also a high-school teacher and is one of the principal owners of Aw Yeah Comics retail stores. Dan made Franco add that he has won three Eisners.