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Flamebird is the name used by six different fictional comic book characters who have appeared in books published by DC Comics, specifically from the Superman and Batman mythos.

The primary character to use the Flamebird name is Bette Kane, who was the pre-Crisis hero Bat-Girl. However, the original pre-Crisis Flamebird was Jimmy Olsen, who was later succeeded by a Kandorian scientist. In post-Crisis, a Kryptonian hero used the name Flamebird, and in a "One Year Later" storyline, so has Kara Zor-El.

Flamebird characters are also often associated with characters who use the name Nightwing.

Pre-Crisis history

Jimmy Olsen

In pre-Crisis continuity, Flamebird is an alias used by Jimmy Olsen in adventures shared with Superman in the shrunken Kryptonian city of Kandor.

In Superman #166 (January 1964), the imaginary sons of Superman go to Kandor, and take on the Flamebird and Nightwing personas.

Ak-Var

Van-Zee is a Kandorian scientist who becomes Nightwing to rescue a captured Superman. His assistant Ak-Var later becomes Flamebird.

Post-Crisis

Bette Kane

For a brief time in the 1970s, Bette Kane joins Titans West as "Bat-Girl". In post-Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity, Kane never becomes Bat-Girl and instead assumes the Flamebird moniker. Furthermore, Superman and Jimmy Olsen never became Nightwing or Flamebird.

Kara Zor-El

In Supergirl #6, Kara Zor-El assumes the Flamebird identity to fight crime in Kandor, alongside Power Girl as Nightwing.

Thara Ak-Var

In Superman: New Krypton, Thara Ak-Var and Chris Kent become Flamebird and Nightwing, serving as the avatars of their namesake entities.

New 52

Following the events of Infinite Crisis, it is revealed that Bette Kane is the cousin of the current Batwoman, Kate Kane. After being injured in battle, she acquires pyrotechnic technology and becomes Hawkfire.

In other media

The Bette Kane incarnation of Flamebird appears in Teen Titans Go! as a potential recruit for the eponymous group.

References

1. Superman #158 (January 1962)
2. World's Finest Comics #143 (August 1964)
3. Superman Family #185 (September–October 1977); first appearance as Flamebird in #184.
4. Superman Family #188 (March–April 1978)
5. Beatty, Scott (2008). "Flamebird". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The DC Comics Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1. OCLC 213309017.
6. Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 137. ISBN 9780345501066.
7. Schultz, Mark (w), Mahnke, Doug (p), Nguyen, Tom (i). "Return to Krypton, Part Three: The Most Dangerous Kryptonian Game" Superman: The Man of Steel, no. 111 (April 2001). New York: DC Comics.
8. Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 94–96. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0.
9. Action Comics #875 (May 2009)
10. Action Comics Annual #12 (2009)
11. Detective Comics #863
12. Batwoman #1

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