New fan art starring Batgirl takes inspiration from Adam West and his portrayal of the Dark Knight from DC Comics. Comic artist Patrick Zircher has shared a beautiful and fun take on the heroine, while throwing back to iconic imagery. While the city of Gotham is often portrayed in a dark, gritty manner, its heroes still have lots of joy and smiles to share with fans.
Adam West's portrayal of Batman in the television show from 1966 is one of the most iconic, especially given the alternate, darker tones provided by his successors in the vigilante role. It was distinctly bright and goofy, which is part of its core charm. It also makes it a stand-out among Batman related media since few film and television adaptations or comics utilize the same tone for the character. Seeing this influence brought into the current era with a more modern Batgirl look is incredibly fun.
On Twitter, Patrick Zircher shared an illustration of Batgirl, which is inspired by an issue of LIFE Magazine from 1966. The issue's cover features Adam West dressed in his iconic batsuit. This fan art from the talented comic artist channels the positive, campy vibes of the show and the portrayal. Barbara is beaming while stretching out her cape in a similarly uplifted pose.
Batgirl DID appear within Batman (1966), however, her look was different from its modern era. Barbara's suit had a brighter purple tone with a thicker, more noticeable utility belt. Her cape was still yellow, though Batgirl has had many cape alterations over the years. Additionally, her cowl within this fan art is more similar to the modern style, with less of a division between cowl and mask like Yvonne Craig's portrayal. Barbara has also traded her purple heels from the 1960s costume to her modern yellow bat-accent trimmed boots. The same is true of her gloves, which are yellow instead of purple, matching her '60s suit. This illustration is gorgeous and cheerful, showing Batgirl's fun-loving side while bringing together the best of Batgirl's looks from over the years.
Patrick Zircher has provided art for numerous Marvel and DC Comics, including a bit of work on Birds of Prey. Predominantly he has worked on Action Comics, Cable & Deadpool, and New Warriors, as well as assorted issues for The New 52: Future's End, Green Arrow, Nightwing, Iron Man, Thunderbolts, and Hulk, among others. The fan art of Batgirl is beautiful and it would definitely be amazing to see Zircher illustrate the heroine more. Barbara is a stunning hero with a lengthy comic history and numerous skills, making her a great choice for additional - or even alternate - portrayals within comics. Batgirl has been amazing within many eras of comics, and blends in well with various era inspirations, as this Adam West Batman era-inspired fan art shows amazingly.
Source: Patrick Zircher
