Carrie Kelly
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Carrie Kelly is a fictional character from Frank Miller's graphic novels Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (1986) and its sequel Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again (2001). She becomes the new Robin in D.K.R. when she saves Batman's life. Later in D.K.S.A., she adopts the identity Catgirl. She was the first female Robin in the history of the Batman franchise.
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[edit] Roles
[edit] The Dark Knight Returns
Kelly's first appearance was in the critically-acclaimed graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns. Kelly is a thirteen year old schoolgirl whom Batman saves from muggers on the night of his return from retirement. She then spends her lunch money on a Robin outfit and set out to attack petty con-men and to find Batman. Kelly uses a slingshot as a weapon. Batman accepts her as Robin when she saved his life just as he was on the verge of being killed by an enemy. She then played a crucial part in the final battle with the Joker. In the series, Jason Todd's death had led to the Dark Knight's retirement, but Batman still accepts Kelly.
Unlike the previous Robins, Kelly is not an orphan, but she appears to have rather neglectful parents who are never actually seen (one of them mutters "Didn't we have a kid?" while their daughter is witnessing the fierce battle between Batman and the Mutants.) It is hinted through their dialogue that they were once activists and possibly yippies during the 1960s, but have since become apathetic stoners.
[edit] The Dark Knight Strikes Again
In The Dark Knight Strikes Again, Miller's sequel to D.K.R., Kelly is sixteen and calls herself Catgirl, Batman's able second-in-command. She wears a skin-tight cat costume with a leopard pattern, and has apparently now been trained extensively in combat. Her equipment includes rollerskates she uses to maneuver herself in battle and an arm cannon that fires batarangs. Catgirl is treated by Batman as a "soldier" who oversees an army of "batboys" to help save the world from a police-state dictatorship, led by Lex Luthor and Brainiac.
She attempts to kill the new Joker with arrows, thermite, acid and C4. However he still returns to make an attempt on her life, turning out to be a now homicidal Dick Grayson, who holds resentment towards her. Her face is badly lacerated in the fight. Thinking that she is about to die, she tells Batman that she loves him, with Batman later reflecting that he feels the same, but it is unclear whether this is in a sexual or paternal sense. She is rescued by Elongated Man.
[edit] Impact
- Although Kelly was the first female Robin, the stories in which she appeared were never canonical. However, since then Stephanie Brown has assumed the Robin identity (albeit only for a short while).
- In a scene in Teen Titans Vol. 3, #18, when the Titans were transported 10 years into the future, we are shown a graveyard full of deceased Batman allies and villains. One tombstone reads "Carrie Kelley".
- In the Alex Ross-illustrated Kingdom Come graphic novel, Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman meet for lunch in a superhero-inspired restaurant. They are served by a waitress dressed as Robin who may have been modeled on Carrie Kelley. When she arrives at the trio's table to take their order, she welcomes them to the restaurant and introduces herself by saying "Hi, I'm Robin", to which Batman dryly replies "Of course you are."
[edit] Other Media
- In The New Batman Adventures episode "Legends of the Dark Knight", a girl named Carrie, who closely resembles Carrie Kelley, is one of three children telling their interpretations of Batman. The story she tells is similar to the scene in which Batman battles the mutants in Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, and includes herself as Carrie/Robin. She is voiced by Anndi McAfee.
[edit] See also
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