Batgirl is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, depicted as female counterparts to the superhero Batman. Originally created by Bob Kane and Sheldon Moldoff, the first incarnation of the character, the "Bat-Girl" Betty Kane, debuted in Batman #139 (1961). The Bat-Girl character was removed from publication a few years later and was subsequently replaced by the "new" Batgirl Barbara Gordon, who debuted in 1967.