Barb Wire was a superhero published by Comics Greatest World, an imprint of Dark Horse Comics. The character first appeared in Comics' Greatest World: Steel Harbor in 1993. The original Barb Wire series published nine issues between 1994 and 1995 and was followed by a four-book miniseries in 1996. A reboot was begun in 2015 and lasted eight issues.
Creators
Regular series:
1: John Arcudi, writer/Lee Moder, pencils/Ande Parks, inks
On a version of present-day Earth where superhuman abilities and more advanced technology exists, Barbara Kopetski grew up in Steel Harbour when it was still a thriving city with steel industry, raised with her brother Charlie by her parents and grandmother. Barb's mother was a police officer while her father was a former marine who became a steelworker. Her mother later died, as did her father after he spent some time bed-ridden and developed Alzheimer's disease. Barbara left Steel Harbour for a time as the city's economy started to spiral and crime began rising. Soon, much of the city is controlled by warring gangs rather than local government. Barbara Kopetski — now better known as Barb Wire — is a bar owner of the Hammerhead, moonlighting as a part-time bounty hunter to help pay the rent and her staff, working with the police directly or bail bondsman Thomas Crashell. Thanks to Barb's parents and her life outside of the city, she is an excellent hand-to-hand combatant skilled in various firearms, making her a deadly opponent. Aiding her bounty hunter activities is Charlie, acting as her mechanic and engineer, and others such as Avram, a cyborg sometimes known simply as "the Machine." Though she has loyal allies and her bother, Barb Wire is a harsh, guarded person who looks at the world with suspicion and cynicism, considering herself a loner at heart. After Barb Wire returns, Steel Harbour only becomes more dangerous. In 1993, a second American Civil War begins when Golden City announces its secession from the Union. The announcement leads to protests and riots in several cities. The Steel Harbour Riots leave some neighborhoods in literal ruin, with hundreds of buildings destroyed or abandoned in the area known as "Metal City." Many are forced to leave the city or take to the streets, and the gangs start moving to take more control. Not wishing to see her home burn down or crumble into nothing, Barb Wire now starts acting at times as a vigilante, hoping she can at least stop the city from descending even further.
Other characters
Supporting characters
Charlie Kopetski, Barb's blind, mechanical genius brother. He invents most of her weapons and metahuman restraining devices. He also despairs that he must fix the things that she continuously breaks during her escapades.
