Wouldn't it be nice if one of Oracle's mentors made an appearance ?

[Ghostwise]

(Yes, I have work to do and I'm procrastinating. Shut up.)


In the thread about buying a Mac I joked about Hackers File, and I'm thinking about it again.


In that early 90s 12-issues series, Barbara (already a confirmed hacker) worked as part of the informal support group for the big dog in computer science and hacking in the DC Universe - Jack "Hacker" Marshall. She was the oldest of the group (called the Speed Metal Kids since it was the 90s) and her skills and contacts proved invaluable in solving the plot.


Hacker was IMO an interesting character, having him work a bit with one of his old protégées would be cool, it could be an occasion to write a techno-thriller story, and Gail has a track record of bringing back super-obscure characters (seriously - Liza Warner. Liza Effing Warner.)


Just my two eurocents. :cool:

[buttler]

See, if it were me, I'd want it to be the TRS-80 Whiz Kids.

[Spiffy]

It would take a little doing, because the rolling timeline. The character of Jack "Hacker" Marshall would either have to be changed a bit, to represent the kind of hacker who operated only a few years ago, OR a big retcon would have to occur where Babs was considerably younger (perhaps her pre-Batgirl years--presumably in the revised timeline its at least possible that Babs has been a hacker her entire life and we simply never knew it during her Batgirl years), with all the other current Superheroish stuff taken out, thus also pretty much rewriting the original story.

I don't even recall the original story though, so I may be blowing out my ass here on whether it could even be rewritten that way.

[dupersuper]

(Yes, I have work to do and I'm procrastinating. Shut up.)


In the thread about buying a Mac I joked about Hackers File, and I'm thinking about it again.


In that early 90s 12-issues series, Barbara (already a confirmed hacker) worked as part of the informal support group for the big dog in computer science and hacking in the DC Universe - Jack "Hacker" Marshall. She was the oldest of the group (called the Speed Metal Kids since it was the 90s) and her skills and contacts proved invaluable in solving the plot.


Hacker was IMO an interesting character, having him work a bit with one of his old protégées would be cool, it could be an occasion to write a techno-thriller story, and Gail has a track record of bringing back super-obscure characters (seriously - Liza Warner. Liza Effing Warner.)


Just my two eurocents. :cool:

She IS 1 of the increasingly rare DC writers I'd trust to not randomly kill him off...


It would take a little doing, because the rolling timeline. The character of Jack "Hacker" Marshall would either have to be changed a bit, to represent the kind of hacker who operated only a few years ago, OR a big retcon would have to occur where Babs was considerably younger (perhaps her pre-Batgirl years--presumably in the revised timeline its at least possible that Babs has been a hacker her entire life and we simply never knew it during her Batgirl years), with all the other current Superheroish stuff taken out, thus also pretty much rewriting the original story.

I don't even recall the original story though, so I may be blowing out my ass here on whether it could even be rewritten that way.

You're overthinking; he just has a retro fashion sense. He's "old school".

[Ghostwise]

You're overthinking; he just has a retro fashion sense. He's "old school".

He had a horrible 1980s green jacket he had obviously been wearing for ten years and ill-fitting anarchy symbol black T-shirts, yes. He probably still wears those. :tongue:


But Marshall's age was already a problem in his few appearances - he was afraid that the new, bright kids had an edge over him because they had grown up with more recent tech. IMO there's no special need to age him or anything.

[jimno]

It's funny how Birds of Prey delves into Black Canary's past a lot but doesn't touch on Barbara's much. It's not like Richard Dragon shows up to check on her. Barbara has a past with new team members Hawk and Dove, but there's been no indication so far that Barbara, Hawk or Dove recall working together. And that seems odd, since Dawn figured out that Barbara was Batgirl. Oh, and Barbara has total recall. Maybe the current sriter will touch on this, but I am not hopeful.

[dupersuper]

It's funny how Birds of Prey delves into Black Canary's past a lot but doesn't touch on Barbara's much. It's not like Richard Dragon shows up to check on her. Barbara has a past with new team members Hawk and Dove, but there's been no indication so far that Barbara, Hawk or Dove recall working together. And that seems odd, since Dawn figured out that Barbara was Batgirl. Oh, and Barbara has total recall. Maybe the current sriter will touch on this, but I am not hopeful.

Do they even know who Oracle is yet, though?

[Corrina]

Do they even know who Oracle is yet, though?

Jim Gordon was a guest star several times in Gail's run. As was Dick Grayson. And Spy Smasher's origin delved *heavily* in Babs' past.

We also learned where Oracle got her computer supplies and various other tidbits. Not to mention that as much attention as Canary gets for the finale of Sensei & Student, Oracle got captured and,by sheer intelligence and persistence, not only escaped on her own but set up shop in the enemy lair.

Babs didn't have the huge character arc that Canary did during Gail's run. But also I think there was no need. Babs/Oracle didn't need rehabilitation.

Anyway, this is my long-winded way of saying that I think we'll probably get plenty of Babs and her connections, if the earlier run is any judge.

[dupersuper]

Jim Gordon was a guest star several times in Gail's run. As was Dick Grayson. And Spy Smasher's origin delved *heavily* in Babs' past.

We also learned where Oracle got her computer supplies and various other tidbits. Not to mention that as much attention as Canary gets for the finale of Sensei & Student, Oracle got captured and,by sheer intelligence and persistence, not only escaped on her own but set up shop in the enemy lair.

Babs didn't have the huge character arc that Canary did during Gail's run. But also I think there was no need. Babs/Oracle didn't need rehabilitation.

Anyway, this is my long-winded way of saying that I think we'll probably get plenty of Babs and her connections, if the earlier run is any judge.

I'm asking if Hawk and Dove know? Otherwise there's no reason for their history to be brought up at all yet, aside from Babs thought bubbles on why she's hiring them.