The first 'Bat-Girl' was Betty (later changed to 'Bette') Kane, niece of Kathy 'Batwoman' Kane. Her first comic-book appearance was in Batman #139, cover-dated April, 1961. By the time the Barbara Gordon version of Batgirl was created, the original Bat-Girl had been retired from the Batman titles--though she would gain a second life through the Teen Titans comic book as a member of Titans West and a new costumed identity as Flamebird.