Watch out, Batkid. There’s a new hero in town.
This is Kyrax, the writer and cosplayer known as “The Batgirl of San Diego.”
She took publishers to task at 2011's San Diego Comic Con about their treatment of female creators and lack of independent heroines. Her efforts initiated a wave of changes on DC’s part, but few were as monumental as her daughter's.
Via Flickr
You see, Kyrax has a young daughter, and she too likes to cosplay.
“A couple of years ago, my kid and her cousin were playing pretend with Ben, a family friend,” wrote Kyrax. “They were playing superheroes, but Ben suggested that, instead of being Batgirl or Robin, she make up her own character.”
And thus, a new hero was born: Blue Bird.
“She started off as not much more than a name and an idea, but from these humble beginnings, Blue Bird grew into something really special.
"[...] I can't sew, but I got busy with blue duct tape and an oversized blue T-shirt, and soon she had boots and a cape to go with her mask. She helped make the belt, fashioning the all-important Blue Bird symbol out of clay and painting it herself.”
Like her mother, Blue Bird wanted to see more girls creating comics. So, she created one herself.
“From there, it was but a short step to drawing her own comic detailing the exploits of Blue Bird: the teenage superhero with who could fly and communicate with birds of all kinds. She drew up a two-page 'Episode Zero' comic and showed it to me. I loved it.”
Via twitter.com
