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February 20, 2006
The End of Batgirl, but not Cassandra Cain
Spoilers ahead. I've never been a big fan of the new Batgirl. She debuted in the Batman crossover event No Man's Land with a startling mask that had the mouthpiece stitched together. Turns out that the new Batgirl, who we later discovered was an Asian girl named Cassandra, was taught not to speak by her father, David Cain. Her mother was Lady Shiva, one of DC's most deadly assassins, who routinely fought Batman, the Question, and Black Canary. Cassandra's inability to speak was one reason I never got into the 
character, even though a good portion of Batgirl's 73-issue run involved her learning to talk and read. Now with the Infinite Crisis turnover, there are various rumors that there will be a character called Batwoman. What would happen to Cassandra?
In Batgirl 72, Cassandra was actually killed by her step-brother, stabbed right through the heart. The last few issues of Batgirl have been as bloody and violent as Kill Bill. Cassandra was on a quest to learn if Lady Shiva really is her mother (yes), but in order to confront Shiva, she had to fight the League of Assassins (a terrorist outfit run by Ra's al Ghul's daughter Talia). Batgirl 73 opens with a dream sequence where Cassandra is talking to the ghost of The Spoiler, and then it turns out that Cassandra is alive--rejuvenated by one of Ra's Lazarus Pits. Shiva has resurrected her for a pretty stupid reason: yeah, you're my daughter, and now we're gonna fight to the death. Stupid, stupid. Cassandra snaps Shiva's neck and impales her on a hook, dangling above the Lazarus Pit. Cassandra whimpers, "Sorry, Mom." Not sorry because she did all of the above; sorry because she can't grant Shiva's death wish. You just can't raise your kids with decent values anymore! Leaving Shiva above the Lazarus Pit means that the little minx will be back.
Cassandra walks off to wander the world, abandoning the bat-costume. This is the last issue, so it's a permanent change. Will Cassandra become a new hero or a really wicked villain? Her past history indicates that she has a fucked-up psyche and is one seriously damaged chick. I think she would be an interesting nemesis for Batman, she since knows all of his secrets. Nuff said.
External Links:
Wikipedia's entry on Cassandra Cain
Comments
I am a bit sad, that this new batgirl leaves. I liked her. Her costume was a bit too much of fetishwear for me, but at least she was different and and intriguing character.
Now who is going to take her place? Oh wait. No need to. With already like 150 batman titles a month it was only logical to drastically change this one (the only batgirl) title..
Well enough of this muttering. So, somehow she is still around, which makes me happy. I wouldn't like to see her as an opponent for batman - she doesn't deserve this - but I defintely would like to see her again...
Posted by: Aya Ayuvara | March 14, 2006 4:59 AM
