42 Years Later, DC Completely Reshapes a C-List Batgirl Villain into a Massive Cosmic Threat

Warning! Contains spoilers for Birds of Prey #10!

The Birds of Prey always try to do good in the world — which is why it’s so surprising that one new character states that former Batgirl Barbara Gordon kills her mother in the future. While it’s still unclear exactly what circumstances lead to this future, it seems that Barbara Gordon is destined to murder an old C-list villain, who has finally reached her full potential as a cosmic threat.

Barbara Gordon has been kidnapped by a villain who seems to have a very personal interest in killing her. While it’s nothing new for Barbara to anger villains, this latest attack against the former Batgirl seems even more personal than usual. Black Canary and the rest of the Birds learn exactly how and why the villain is attacking the team’s founder in Birds of Prey #10 by Kelly Thompson and Robbi Rodriguez.

While questioning the new character Cela on why Barbara was captured, Cela reveals the bombshell that she is one of several massively super-powered daughters of former Batgirl villain the Velvet Tiger — now known as Lani Lockhart — and that Barbara Gordon, with the help of the Birds of Prey, will murder Lani in the future.

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Batgirl Villain the Velvet Tiger Gives Birth to Seven Children with Cosmically-Threatening Powers

Created by Barbara Kesel and Trevor von Eeden, the Velvet Tiger Debuted in 1982’s Detective Comics #518

Originally known as Lani Gilbert, theVelvet Tiger debuted as an extortionist who specialized in blackmail. All she wanted in the world was power, and she was willing to do anything to get it. She crossed paths a few times with Barbara Gordon, who made her dislike of the Velvet Tiger well known. Despite having a fairly cool looking design, Lani never seemed to achieve much, as she was essentially sacrificed to Lobo by DC to try and lighten up his book. This “sacrifice” didn’t work, and she reappeared in other DC comics, popping up here and there but never really getting a major role.

After the New 52 DC reboot, the Velvet Tiger appeared again as an antagonist to Barbara Gordon during her Batgirl of Burnside era. But once again, she seemed ultimately unimportant and was quickly forgotten. It seems that the most important thing Lani Gilbert has done so far is give birth to super-powered children and be murdered by Barbara Gordon. But exactly why Babs would murder such a forgotten villain is unclear. Whatever the reason, Lani’s daughter Maia seems hellbent on getting revenge, and she has already murdered the rest of her sisters and consumed their powers to do it, with only her sister Cela surviving.

Velvet Tiger’s Legacy Is the Most Dangerous Part of Her

Lani Gilbert’s Daughter Is Quickly Becoming a Cosmic Threat

While Lani herself was an unremarkable extortionist, her daughter Maia has incredible powers, such as creating pocket dimensions and taking on a dark monster form with her shapeshifting. She’s also shown the ability to possess people as powerful as Big Barda. Overall, Lani Gilbert was a forgotten Batgirl villain who never accomplished anything, and yet her murder seems to have put the entire universe at risk. It remains to be seen if Batgirl and the Birds of Prey can defeat Maia or solve the murder of Lani Gilbert.

Birds of Prey #10 is available now from DC Comics!

BIRDS OF PREY #10 (2024)
	Writer: Kelly Thompson Artist: Robbi Rodriguez, Gavin Guidry Colorist: Jordie Bellaire Letterer: Clayton Cowles Cover Artist: Leonardo Romero, Jordie Bellaire