The original Huntress (1947), Paula Brooks, was a super villain in the Golden Age. Originally a super hero named the Tigress, Paula turned to crime, adopting the Huntress identity. As Tigress she fought in World War II, using her agility and crossbow abilities to help defend her country. On a mission to battle some Nazis, Tigress was seemingly killed and eventually revived. This revival is what led Paula Brooks to take a more villainous nature.

After Tigress tossed her good name for the evil ways, as all bad girls do, she got married. She married another villain, Sportsmaster (“Crusher” Crock). After which she gave birth to a girl, Artemis Crock, who became the new Tigress.

The next Huntress was Helena Wayne, last name sound familiar? She is the daughter of Batman and Catwoman. This Huntress was educated and once she graduated from College, she joined a law firm that was run by Dick Grayson (Robin, if you didn’t know). But her mother, unwillingly, returned to her Catwoman persona and died as the result. Helena did exactly what her father did upon the death of his parents, get revenge. After revenge is found, so is the alter ego . . . Huntress.

Huntress was quite resourceful, she created her own costume made up of materials from her parentâ’s equipment. She later joined the Justice Society of America. During her time in the Justice Society, she met Power Girl, and the two of them became “best friends” immediately.

But, the Huntress dies when she attempts to save the lives of some children.

The Huntress was given a third life. Any relation to batman is completely removed. She is now italian Helena Rosa Bertinelli and Is a Mafia Boss’s daughter. Introduced in April of 1989 in Huntress #1, when she was only six years old, she was kidnapped and raped by a man from a rival Gotham Mafia Family. Her parents decided to send Helena to boarding school and hired her a personal bodyguard that would protect her as she grew up. She was sent to Europe for protection. At the age of 15 she learned that she came from one of Gotham Cityâ’s most influential Mafia families. When Helena was at a family wedding, her entire family was massacred by another Mafia family. She swore to rid Gotham of Mafia families and began her journey to become a vigilante.

Another limited series returned the Huntress, this time without the name change. Helena witnessed her parentsâ’ (Franco Bertinelli and Maria Panessa) murder at the age of 8. But later finds out that it was not her family that was killed. She as the love child of her mother and Mafia Don Santo Cassamento. Raise and trained by the mafia and when she discovered her families dark secret started the long road to revenge with the inspiration of Batman.

Helena decided to take on the persona of Batgirl at the absence of Batman. On her first night out as Batgirl, she discovered that the criminals feared her more as Batgirl then as Huntress. Upon Batmanâ’s return, she is told that she may keep this identity under the condition that she does not fail him. She eventually does fail when she could not protect Batmanâ’s territory from Two-Face and 200 of his henchmen. Batman held Helena responsible for the failure, she was stripped of her Batgirl title and returned to being Huntress. Soon afterwards, the Joker shot Huntress several times when she was able to stop him from murdering all of Gotham Cityâ’s newborn infants, but this time she doesn’t die.

The Huntress finally found home with the Birds of Prey. The Birds of Prey are all female heros, that is right a band of women fighting justice. Here is where she has found Lady Blackhawk, a “companion”.

Now 61 years later we have “Year One Huntress” from DC Comics. The story is just the beginning. We see the development of Helena skills within her isolated life.

Back from education she is staying at the farm, alone. We are introduced to the horrific pain of watching her family murdered through snippets, we are introduced to her youth and development as a hunter through well developed storyline.

We see her strength, even protecting a man from a wild boar with her bare hands. She is always on the defense against strangers and the effect of a traumatic childhood memory. Helena protects herself first, ask questions later.

The question is this the beginning of a villian or of a hero? I can’t wait for Issue #2.

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