Hey there again, it’s Crooker back with issue #2 of the brand new Cassandra Cain led Batgirl series, written by Tate Brombal with Takeshi Miyazawa and Mike Spicer doing pencils and coloring. I gave this book’s first issue quite the glowing review as a return to form for the character last time (due in part to my notorious and cool Cass Cain essay published on this very site), and this issue is a chance to see if the book has some real legs beyond that. Let’s see, shall we? (Spoilers, it does, duh)
DC
First of all, the characterization is continued in a straight line from the first issue, to great effect. While the last issue was more about Cass’s point of view, we hone in a bit more on Shiva this time. We’re still not privy to her inner thoughts, with the main inner monologue still coming from Cass, but the story of the issue is more about what she says and hears. The inclusion of a small business/shelter/thing that Cass has apparently been frequenting off-panel was great, giving the sense that not much has changed for her relationship with the city since her original run.
It also has the added bonus of putting us in Shiva’s shoes, since we didn’t know our girl has been doing this any more than her own mother has, and we the readers tend to be privy to our heroes’ daily lives like that. The relationship Cass seems to have with this community isn’t something new we’re being introduced to through her, it’s something she’s clearly been doing for awhile (all the while being likened to a stray cat, even being nicknamed as such which is… so damn adorable. No notes, she IS like a cat…bat. Whatever).
DC
It seems to me the mission statement of this issue and maybe the series overall would be to give some much needed humanization to the relationship between mother and daughter, with Shiva herself being given a lecture on motherhood while clearly not feeling comfortable being praised for “raising” a daughter she’s not only had no part in the life of, but has actively tried to murder. Obviously this is stirring something in her, but it’s still hard to say whether this will be a permanent change for her character or a temporary and fleeting emotional arc. Knowing Shiva, the latter is more likely, but it would be nice to see her become a LITTLE nicer… just a little.
Oh, and again, the dialogue from Cass is spot on. I need to keep mentioning that because it is literally one of the most vital aspects to the character and it is so nice to finally be reading Cass dialogue again that actually sounds like and how she’d say it.
DC
The art is very good this issue too, just like last time. I love the way Cass moves, her body language. The shots of her training other people while Shiva is being patched up are great, and helps show a subtle growth in her character since the old days, where she struggled to teach Spoiler anything without punching her out immediately. The fight scenes really take advantage of both of the book’s lead players prowess, with some crazy dynamic shots and fluid body motions giving a strong impression of their talents. And of course, you should all be well familiar with Mike Spicer thanks to Skybound’s Transformers, and his great color sensibilities grace this book as well.
Batgirl #2 lets me breathe a sigh of relief. It’s proof that not only is Brombal not a one-issue wonder, but somebody who really, truly cares about this character like I do. Not just Cass, but Shiva too, everything surrounding them both. It’s a book that both characters deserve, and as Cass Cain’s #1 fan (fight me, FIGHT ME), I think the book is in very safe hands.
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