There’s a lot of potential within the Bat Family. Among them is Cassandra Cain, Batgirl (formerly Orphan). She has evolved since making her debut in Batman No. 567. She went from being someone who spoke with one-word or broken sentences (if at all) to learning to communicate properly with the help of Clayface (that happens in Detective Comics by James Tynion IV). Thankfully, her personality being upgraded hasn’t affected her fighting skills. She’s still dangerous, she’s just become more interesting.
DC Comics has shown Cassie is a hero who can be one of the focuses in a series and she doesn't need Batman to do it. Batgirls by Becky Cloonan and Michael Conrad was only the beginning. Batgirl by Tate Brombal continues with issue No. 2 and shows why she is a premiere Bat Family character.
Happy Bat Day! Batgirl #1 is out!! Be sure to pick up a copy!! #batgirl #DC_Comics #cassandracain pic.twitter.com/2zJS6GZkaL
— Takeshi Miyazawa (@takmiyazawa) November 6, 2024
Like Batgirl No. 1, this issue starts with Cassandra Cain talking about how she reads people. This time, it’s more than that. She explains this poeticly. She says, “My sight is my prophecy, and my fists are my medium."
As readers go through her thoughts, Batgirl looks at the movements of her enemies and adjusts her attacks. It’s like being in the mind of an artist. The fighting in this series is all great, but the depth made this story worth buying.
Cassie takes her mother Shiva to get her wound attended to by a woman she befriended named Ba Bao. While Ba Bao is stitching Shiva, she gives her some advice. Ba Bao tells her that listening instead of ordering and arguing with Cassie (who she calls Kitty Cat) is the only way to get through to her. This was the first time Lady Shiva took someone else’s advice concerning her daughter.
It’s here! And it looks beautiful. I can’t wait for everyone to grab their copy. A huge thank you to Jessica Berbae @tatebrombal and @spicercolor ! We did it!! #dccomics #batgirl #cassandracain pic.twitter.com/wxbh0RgbKa
— Takeshi Miyazawa (@takmiyazawa) October 29, 2024
Thankfully, Shiva listens and Cassandra is receptive. Because, when Kalden the Unseen comes, he tears through Batgirl, Ba Bao, and Ba Bao’s sons with ease. Without another option, Batgirl and Lady Shiva make their way to safety. Unfortunately, Ba and her sons didn’t make it out. When Cassandra realizes she endangered her friends, she'll be heartbroken and blame herself.
If you’re a fan of Cassandra Cain, this will be the first time you've seen her beaten this badly. She's lost before, but not like this. Cassie couldn't even see Kalden to read him. He was too fast. It’s also one of the few times Lady Shiva has run from a fight.
The story behind how Kalden the Unseen is so good and why he and his group want Shiva and Cassie dead should be good. It will make their eventual defeat epic. More importantly, Lady Shiva and Cassandra Cain’s relationship should grow as Batgirl continues. That's not to say they'll be closer or start teaming up, but Lady Shiva should learn a lesson about caring for her daughter and understanding that she doesn't always know what's best. Stay tuned to Caped Crusades to see if that happens.
Batgirl is written by Tate Brombal with art by Takeshi Miyazawa.
Are you reading Batgirl by Tate Brombal? Do you like Cassandra Cain as a character? Let us know on the Bam Smack Pow Bluesky, Instagram, and Twitter.