Bette Kane is a character revamp of the 1960's Betty Kane also known as Bat-Girl. “Betty” like her Aunt, Kathy Kane (Batwoman), vanished into limbo Post-Crisis. The character was giving new life by George Perez in Secret Origins Annual #3 when she became “Bette” Kane aka Flamebird. Edit

Pre-Crisis: A New Beginning 

________________________________________________________________________

Flamebird's 1st Costume

Bette Kane was born blonde, blue-eyed and beautiful. It was not long before she quickly garnered the adulation of those around her. Whether that fueled her thrill seeking and high competitive nature is still a conundrum. However, the constant attention would grow to bore Bette and would eventually be perceived by others as spoiled. Bette grew to become a champion tennis player while still in her early teens, a beauty pageant winner since the age of five, skilled in martial arts, and an Olympic gymnast and swimmer.

 

Excelling in all of her goals, there was one Bette still found beyond her grasp. At an early age Bette discovered Robin (Dick Grayson), the teen wonder and longed to meet her teenage crush. Failing in all previous attempts, Bette decided to meet Robin on his own terms and fashioned a costume similar in colors to his. Calling herself Flamebird, Bette managed to have some high-profiled crime fighting exploits gaining her media coverage. To her dismay none captured any sort of response by Robin. 

 

Titans West 

_______________________________________________________________________

It wasn’t until the formation of Titans West that Bette finally achieved her goal and met Robin. Just after winning an exhibition tennis tournament aboard the aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Tippecanoe, Bette found herself alongside other super-teens like herself (Beast Boy, Golden Eagle, and Hawk) in a rescue attempt of the civilians aboard the aircraft carrier as it floated high above the sea. As a team the young heroes bring the carrier back down to sea level. Bette and the others were then introduced to Dove and Lilith. Lilith gathered the young heroes together and told them how she foreseen many more disasters all created by the villain Mr. Esper. She recommended they go to the East Coast and ask the Teen Titans for help (especially Robin’s leadership). 

The Teen Titans had faced their own disaster with the villain Captain Calamity. When the two teams met the plot unfolded that Mr. Esper had used the power of his helmet’s “sonic whisper” to tap into Lilith’s mind to gain access to her powers. Captain Calamity was first an illusion of Mr. Esper, but when the teams defeated him he had made Mr. Esper the illusion and assumed the identity of Captain Calamity.

 

After the case had ended, Robin voiced his concerns about two Titan teams existing and his unwillingness to lead both. Flamebird and the rest of Titans West were offended at Robin’s assumptions and stormed out on the Teen Titans. The main reason that Golden Eagle joined the team was because he thought that it would give him a great amount of money, however wouldn’t be long before both teams disbanded.Titans West continued on a little longer after this before finally disbanding altogether. Dishearten, Bette moved on, putting her crime fighting days behind her and continuing her education and tennis career. 

 

It wouldn’t be long before Bette found herself missing the thrill and excitement that being a crimefighter provided. Flamebird would reappear once again on a mission into the afterlife with Hawk and Dove II, which involved many of the former Titan West members. Her enthusiastic attempt to resurrect Titans West after this was unfavorably met by the other former members. Another incident would draw Flamebird out as she was captured by a probe sent by the malfunctioning Cyborg aka Victor Stone, who had become a menace to the Earth. Fighting alongside all previous Titans, Flamebird helped protect Victor Stone’s soul from the JLA. This event would usher in a new Titans team, which dampened Bette’s spirits when Nightwing (formerly Robin) and the other original Teen Titans overlooked her for membership.

 

A Turning Point
______________________________________________________________________

A short time later, Bette was called to to aid Gar Logan, aka Beast Boy. Overlooked by the Titans as well Gar found himself in fighting to defend his name against crimes committed by someone posing as Beast Boy. Upon helping Gar, Bette found herself fighting alongside Nightwing. At one point he pulled her aside and basically tried to convince her to give up crime fighting altogether. The shock of this caused Bette to reevaluate her goals and devotion to crime fighting. A renewed spirit arose within Bette along with a new costume and an amped up arsenal of gadgetry.

As the all-new Flamebird, Bette helped Gar capture Gemini, the imposter committing the crimes. After this Bette and Gar hung out together and even shared an apartment. Gar’s cousin, Matt would try one last attempt to bring about a new Titans West (dubbing it Titans LA). A bitter Duela Dent tried to cause havoc during the recruitment drive, but Bette managed to subdue her. The team never got off the ground before the members went their separate ways.

 

The Adventures Continue 

_____________________________________________________________________

No longer hung up on the whole team aspect, Bette was content to strike out on her own. She was next heard to be captured, along with other heroes, by a Brianiac-worshipping cult leader trying to replicate the abilities of heroes. Bette and the others were rescued by Vixen and the Birds of Prey operative Huntress. From there Bette rallied alongside a majority of current and past Titans in an attempt to take down the terrorizing Dr. Light.

 

Flamebird showed up again during Infinite Crisis (see IC #4) where she once again joined a majority of Titans only this time to take down Superboy-Prime. After the battle a recreated Earth-2 appeared. Bette and most of the members of the Justice Society of found themselves teleported there. Here we discover Bette Kane /Flamebird is the Earth-2 counterpart to Betty Kane /Bat-Girl. When Crisis on Earth Infinite Earths was over Flamebird replaced Bat-Girl on the sole remaining Earth. However, all of this has yet to be confirmed anywhere else.

Bette appeared back on “New” Earth just in time to join other heroes against the Invasion on Metropolis (see Villains United Special).  

 Bette also briefly joined the Teen Titans (most likely as a favor for Gar) during the year-long gap after Infinite Crisis. There is still much to be revealed about Bette Kane’s past and the chronicles of her life.

 

Titans Tomorrow - Possible Future?

_______________________________________________________________________

The Teen Titans encountered their future selves. It was revealed that Bette Kane was killed by Duela Dent, but later resurrected by Tim Drake (now Batman) by means of the Lazarus pit. Bette assumed the alias of Batwoman from then on.  When Tim and the other former Teen Titans (now Animal Man, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Dark Raven and Aquawoman) began taking over the , Bette helped formed Titans East with Cyborg, Terra, Bumblebee and Captain Marvel (formerly Jr.) to oppose them. The Teen Titans, with the aid of Titans East, managed to defeat their darker adult counterparts.

 

However, when the Titans Tomorrow Future was revisited recently changes are revealed due to affects of the unpredicted early deaths of Kon-El, Bart Allen and Duela Dent. Miss Martian darker adult self plays a big role in the new version and Bette Kane remained Flamebird while Cassandra Cain became Batwoman.

 

Skills and Abilities 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Flamebird is an Olympic-level athlete (excelling in gymnastics and swimming), trained for strength and endurance.  She is also highly skilled in several forms of martial arts.  Majoring in sports medicine in college, Bette most likely has knowledge in using the various pressure points of the human body to subdue her opponent.

 

Equipment
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
 

Flamebird wears a costume that is highly resistant to damage. It’s fireproof and insulated to protect against extreme heat and cold.

 

Flamebird carries a utility belt (similar to Batman & Robin) with individual compartments that house such thing as a radio/transmitter, gas bombs, gas mask, flares, flashlight, first aid kit, throwing discs (bird-a-rangs), tracers, and grabbling hook and  line.

 

She’s increased her arsenal to include a pair of billyclubs, flare lenses in her mask that emit powerful burst of blinding light, and bird-like bolas that send electrifying currents through an opponent snared in them.