'Shadow of the Batgirl' is a YA graphic novel introduction to Cassandra Cain to mainstream audiences, similar to DC Ink titles such as 'Teen Titans: Raven', and 'Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass'.
The graphic novel is short, quiet and understated, but a great coming of age tale for Cassandra Cain. She is a teenage assassin trained from birth by her criminal father to be nothing but a killing machine, until one night, the horror of what she's doing comes crashing into her and turns her whole world upside down; in the form of one of her dying victims saying the word "Daughter" with fear and love in his eyes. "Daughter" is one of the very few words Cassandra understands - she was raised to know and interpret body language, not spoken and written language - or she thought she did. Her own father never said "Daughter" with love and care.
Confused, heartbroken and frightened, Cassandra runs away from the life of an assassin and organised crime. She ends up in a restaurant owned by an awesome, old Asian lady named Jackie (it's great that an Asian heroine has an Asian female mentor), and then she lives in secret in a library, where she tries to figure out who she is now, and if she can ever get away from who she was before.
By viewing the wheelchair bound Barbara Gordon teaching kids creative writing in a library circle, Cassandra learns to speak, read, and write. She decides she wants to be a hero, like Batgirl, a favourite topic of Babs', a hero who has mysteriously disappeared.
Both Barbara and Jackie become mentors and mother figures to this young girl who is new to the world. Cass is emerging from her father's dark, violent, loveless world a kindhearted if naive teen vigilante. Starting out small, in the library Cass will act to try to make her home a better place. In her hiding place and sanctuary in the library, she keeps books, newspaper articles, and a mouse she was going to kill (it is a symbol and reflection of herself, and Jackie calls her "little mouse"). She also experiences first love with a boy with his own dreams to chase, who also wishes to be who he wants, away from his parents' expectations.
But with all this newfound comfort, reeducation, and friendships and family, Cassandra's evil father is out there in Gotham, waiting for her to slip up and show herself, and she knows it. She panics, and may start hurting people again, and distancing herself away from them again, in the panic of her past...
'Shadow of the Batgirl' is a fresh take on Cassandra Cain's origin and how she came to be the new Batgirl. How wonderful that she is the hero of her own story again after many years! Author Sarah Kuhn (she of 'Heroine Complex' and 'I Love You So Mochi' fame) aimed to make an Asian girl the heroine and focal point in a story that is hers, and she succeeded. To date this is one of my favourite interpretations of Cassandra Cain's character.
Cass is tragic, withdrawn, secluded, yet kind of adorable and sweet in how hard she tries to be a good person, in defiance of how she was raised. She is a child - lithe, petite and nimble - looking at the world through new, untainted and un-brainwashed eyes. Cassandra is an abused, inhumanely sheltered and inexperienced teen seeking redemption after her traumatic, guilt-fuelled past.
Barbara Gordon in this story is more lighthearted and... I don't know, sillier, than what I'm used to. Odd given her backstory. But I guess a positive and nonetheless human attitude is laudable disability rep, and Babs gets to be active and present in most action scenes (how she keeps appearing in upper floors of buildings without elevators in sight, or even how she enters the library each day without ramps in sight, on the other hand...). Barbara is a gadget and techno geek, who creates a criminal tracking app called Oracle. Jackie is great and three dimensional, too, and she can fight! She can protect herself. Spoilers, but no one is ever a damsel in distress in this story - yey!
'Shadow of the Batgirl' contains exceptional diversity rep. However, there is no overt LBGTQA rep (I suspect a hint about Jackie, though, in a throwaway line about her passionate first kiss), and the book overall, as I've said, is a little too short. I want more of Cassandra Cain as Batgirl in her new costume, and not just in one panel at the end, darnit!
It can be read as slightly juvenile, but not simple. It explores a lot about Cass's character - as a case study and a coming of age journey, that's almost mundane when compared to the journeys of other DC heroes, and of other Gotham Bat family member's backstories, but that's not a bad thing. It's refreshing and, in a strange yet sensible and understandable angle, relatable.
Young girls are sure to fall in love with Cass, and so will love 'Shadow of the Batgirl'.
In addition, the artwork is cute, reminiscent of Noelle Stevenson.
Love too that it is primarily set in a library! And in a Chinese restaurant!
It's also worth noting that I read this comic shortly after seeing the new 'Birds of Prey' movie, which also features an alternative - though much more loosely adapted - interpretation of Cassandra Cain. In the film she isn't an assassin, but a foster kid and pickpocket, and she doesn't become Batgirl, who apparently does not and never has existed in the DC cinematic universe. They'd better fix this soon or else. Anyway, I'm glad that this young Asian heroine is receiving the recognition she deserves in the mainstream, with different reinventions and takes to her character.
Final Score: 4/5
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