Helena Rosa Bertinelli is an antiheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The third character to use the Huntress codename and once a claimant to Batgirl, she was introduced as a new interpretation of Helena Wayne as part of DC's post-Crisis on Infinite Earths relaunch. She was later established to be the modern-day equivalent, namesake, and predecessor of Helena Wayne. Originally sharing a similar design to Wayne, the character's look was later updated in 2014 to give her a darker skin tone to differentiate the two characters.

A Sicilian-descended teacher and vigilante whose origins mirrors those of Batman but utilizes lethal force; the daughter of an infamous Mafia boss in Gotham City, her parents and brothers are gunned down by a rival family with her as the sole survivor. She is then trained in martial arts and archery by other relatives and allies in Sicily. As an adult and desiring revenge, she begins her career as a vigilante first targeting mafia mobsters and then super-villains, clashing with Batman and various allies due to her lethal methods. While a reluctant ally of the Batman Family, the character has also served in several teams such as the Justice League International, Outsiders, and serves as a reoccurring member of the Birds of Prey. After the New 52, the character also once served as the high-ranking super-spy codenamed Matron, a field operative, partner to Agent 37 (Dick Grayson), and instructor in Spyral until Minos' corrupt leadership became apparent, leading her to take command of the organization for a time until she parted ways and returned to her vigilante life.

Huntress has been adapted into numerous media outside comics, including television series and films. Tara Strong and Amy Acker voice the character in Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Justice League Unlimited respectively, while Jessica De Gouw and Mary Elizabeth Winstead portray Huntress in Arrow and Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) respectively.

Publication history Helena Bertinelli was introduced in The Huntress #1 (April 1989), written by Joey Cavalieri and drawn by Joe Staton, co-creator and long-time artist of the Helena Wayne Huntress. Staton recalled, "I think Paul [Levitz] realized that I felt my involvement with Helena had been abruptly cut short [by the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths], so I was always in line to be a part of any reworking of the character. I don't recall how Joey Cavalieri came to be the writer on the Helena Bertinelli version, but I think we did some nice work on that run. Helena Bertinelli could never have the deep resonance of Helena Wayne, because she didn't have the whole Batman/Catwoman backstory at her command, but Joey worked her into a different mythos, that of the mob, also dark, noirish".

Fictional character biography Origin Huntress series

In the 1989 Huntress series, Helena Bertinelli was born into one of New York City's most prominent mafia families. In this iteration of the character, she was kidnapped as a child (aged 6) by a rival mafia Don purely to psychologically torture her father. Her parents, Guido and Carmela, send her to a boarding school and assign a bodyguard for her protection where she learns all forms of combat. After she witnesses the mob-ordered murder of her parents at the age of 19, she crusades to put an end to the Mafia. She travels, accompanied and trained by her bodyguard Sal, before returning to New York to make her debut as the Huntress.Huntress #1 (April 1989)

Cry for Blood Huntress' origin was revised in 2000 in the six-issue Batman/Huntress: Cry for Blood limited series written by Greg Rucka, art by Rick Burchett and Terry Beatty. Helena Rosa Bertinelli witnesses the murder of her entire family in their home when she is aged 8; a young Helena believes Franco Bertinelli to be her father, but her father is actually Santo Casamento, the don of a rival mafia family, who was carrying on an affair with Helena's mother, Maria. Helena is framed for two murders, which puts her in direct conflict with Batman and Nightwing. In an extended retreat with Richard Dragon and Vic Sage (Question), she tries to achieve better emotional balance, returning to Gotham City to confront her true father and learn more about her family's murder. She faces a choice between the more ethical woman she is becoming and the earlier Helena, who still hears the vengeance call as "blood cries for blood".

Huntress: Year One Huntress starred in her own six-issue biweekly Year One miniseries from May to July 2008 by Ivory Madison and Cliff Richards.Steve Ekstrom IVORY MADISON: TALKING ABOUT HUNTRESS: YEAR ONE NEWSARAMA March 10, 2008 http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=149603 The story recounts and expands upon the beginning of Helena's vigilante career. She is in Sicily, days from turning 21 and receiving the inheritance from the murder of her family, which occurred before her eyes when she was eight years old. Learning more about her family's murder at the hands of boss Stefano Mandragora,Huntress: Year One #2 (July 2008) Helena adopts a costume disguise and weaponry to seek revenge, confronting not only the men who ordered her family's death but the assassin himself.

In the process, she establishes herself as angrier and more violent than a standard costumed hero, foreshadowing the conflicts with more mainstream heroes, predominantly Batman. She crosses paths with Barbara Gordon (destined, like Oracle, to be a close friend and colleague), Catwoman, and Batman, who will become partial mentor, partial antagonist during her subsequent career as a Gotham superhero. She states that her compulsion derives from the moment before her family was murdered when she believes she could have acted to save them. The story ends with her renouncing the Bertinelli legacy of crime and "baptizing" herself as Huntress.Huntress: Year One #6 (September 2008)

Relationship with Batman Batman rarely accepts the Huntress, regarding her as unpredictable and violent. However, when Commissioner Gordon questions Batman about his attitude towards the Huntress, Batman replies, "You know exactly why I don't approve...You're not the only one she reminds of Barbara", in reference to Barbara Gordon, who had previously fought crime as Batgirl.Batman Chronicles #1 (July 1991) Others in the Batman family feel differently; for instance, Tim Drake has a good relationship with her. Early in his career, he works with the female vigilante and later clears her name in a murder case.

Huntress is briefly involved with the Justice League International when she happens upon a brainwashed Blue Beetle attempting to murder Maxwell Lord.Justice League America #26 (May 1989) The League is impressed and asks her to join. Although League members help her on one of her own cases and she gets a tour of the group's New York City embassy, she never officially joins the team.Justice League America #30 (September 1989)

During the League's restructuring following the Rock of Ages crisis, Batman sponsors Huntress' membership in the Justice League,JLA Secret Files #2 (August 1998) hoping that the influence of other heroes will mellow the Huntress, and for some time, Huntress is a respected member of the League. Under the guidance of heroes such as Superman, Helena grows in confidence, even playing a key role in defeating Solaris during the DC One Million storyline; inspired by the time capsules students in her class had been making, she realizes they had over 800 centuries to set up a plan that would result in Solaris's defeat in the future. She also helps the League defeat foes like Prometheus and encourages Green Lantern to fight Queen Bee's hypno-pollen during her invasion of Earth. She is later forced to resign after Batman stops her from killing Prometheus while he is incapacitated.JLA #40 (April 2000)

Career in Gotham No Man's Land In the 1999 No Man's Land storyline, an earthquake levels Gotham City. The United States government declares Gotham a "No Man's Land" and Batman disappears. To bring order to the city, Huntress assumes the mantle of Batgirl, and she discovers criminals fear her more as Batgirl than they do as Huntress.Batman: No Man's Land #0 Batgirl fails to protect Batman's territory from Two-Face and his gang, leading to an argument between her and Batman. Huntress refuses to follow Batman's exact orders and gives up the Batgirl costume.Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #120

Huntress teams with former police officer Petit and his men, who had broken off from the group led by former commissioner James Gordon. Petit believed that extreme force was the only way to survive No Man's Land. Batman intentionally drove Huntress to join Petit, knowing she could keep Petit in line and prevent him from hurting innocent people. On Christmas Eve, Joker attacks Petit's compound. Petit is killed and Huntress stands her ground, barely surviving the attack as the Joker and his men overrun the compound. Batman and Nightwing intervene in time and Huntress is taken to a field hospital operated by forces who want to rebuild Gotham City.

Birds of Prey and the Outsiders

Huntress becomes involved with Oracle and Black Canary in the comic series Birds of Prey. She bonds with Black Canary when they oppose a man called Braun, who had seduced and left them both. Huntress continues to work with the group, although her relationship with Oracle is strained and sometimes antagonistic due to Huntress' recklessness and Barbara's controlling nature.

She is made one of Oracle's full-time agents in Birds of Prey #68, after responding immediately to Barbara's intercepted call for help (intended for Dinah Lance). With two active agents on rotation, the lighter workload allows for Oracle to set up day jobs for Huntress and Black Canary; as an elementary school teacher and florist, respectively. The realization of her childhood dream of teaching gives Helena a great sense of fulfillment and inspires her stronger sense of protectiveness. For a time her straightforwardness continues to put her at odds with Barbara and even the accommodating Dinah, but eventually, her selflessness and desire to help her colleagues without hesitation win their trust, and she becomes a valued and integral member of the team.

During the Birds of Prey "Hero Hunters" arc, Huntress realizes Oracle has been manipulating her psychologically to make her "behave" properly, in the same way, a teacher attempts to reform a troubled child and leaves the group. She later rejoins along with newcomer Lady Blackhawk who becomes another core member for the team. Upon Black Canary's departure of the team in Birds of Prey #99, Huntress becomes Oracle's most senior and trusted operative and field commander.

Huntress appeared in the Hush storyline. She saves Batman's life from a criminal gang after he suffers a fractured skull in a fall. Batman realizes that she is "so much like I was when I started out", and "she's better than she knows..." In the story, Huntress continues a feud with The Scarecrow. She later appears with a new costume and equipment, paid for by Thomas Elliot. While under the influence of Scarecrow's fear toxin, she fights Catwoman, thinking her to be her old self and wants to be more like the Dark Knight.

Huntress is asked to fill in an empty spot for the Outsiders after Arsenal sustains major injuries on a mission.Outsiders (vol. 3) #8 She leaves the team after just one mission.Outsiders (vol. 3) #12

One Year Later

In 2006, the narratives of most DC Comics superhero series skipped one year. In the One Year Later stories, Huntress works with Oracle's group. With Black Canary's departure from the team (issue #99), in issue #100 Huntress becomes the team's field commander.

Huntress later returns to Gotham after the Birds disband, aiding Cassandra Cain in maintaining order after Gotham descends into chaos during the midst of the Battle for the Cowl event.