Batgirl (2024) #2 Review

Lady Shiva has returned to warn her daughter, Cassandra Cain a.k.a. Batgirl, that they’re in grave danger and need to leave Gotham immediately. The threat is the mysterious Unburied, and they have even Shiva concerned. Batgirl reluctantly agrees to team with her mother, but their foes remain determined to take them down. The first issue of Batgirl was fast paced and action heavy, and it was a lot of fun and an excellent starting point for those unfamiliar with Cassandra Cain’s version of Batgirl. Will issue #2 continue the momentum? Let’s get into it.

I thought that Batgirl #2 was another fast-paced, thrill ride with great action set pieces, and it had great character moments in the quieter parts in between the action. Writer Tate Brombal seems to have a good sense of how Cassandra Cain should be portrayed for both fans of hers and for new readers just getting introduced to this version of Batgirl. Like I mentioned in my review of issue one, this series so far is giving similar vibes to the John Wick films with its fast moving plot and intense fight scenes. And the illustrations of those fight scenes are just beautiful to look at. Artist Takeshi Miyazawa utilizes all the space in each panel to bring to life the fast-paced action. When Cassandra becomes disoriented after being knocked around, the shading that Miyazawa uses to visualize that disorientation from Batgirl’s perspective was incredible. I felt like I was getting the crap beat out of me. Plus, the ending panel with a maskless Cassandra Cain was both haunting and gorgeous.

While we still don’t know exactly why the Unburied are after Lady Shiva, we do get more backstory for them in this issue. And we also get introduced to their apparent leader, Kalden the Unseen, and his introduction had me intrigued. We are also introduced to other side characters, including Bà Bao, who immediately became my favorite character of the issue. We are barely introduced to this petite old woman, and I felt an emotional connection to her when certain things happen to her towards the end of the issue. Even though this issue was primarily set up, I was just riveted throughout. I am hoping for more development of Lady Shiva and Cassandra’s relationship but based on how things are going right now, I’m pretty sure Brombal, Miyazawa, and co., will be able to deliver. I honestly have not that many criticisms. While the story itself isn’t groundbreaking, I feel that it doesn’t need to be. I’m just having a blast reading it.

Recommended if…

You enjoyed the first issue.
You just want to read a fun, action-filled thriller.
You are a fan of Cassandra Cain.

Overall

Batgirl #2 keeps the fast-paced momentum going, and provides emotional moments for our title character. Brombal and the creative team working on this series are crafting a very fun adventure, and I can’t wait to see how Lady Shiva and Cassandra’s relationship further develops and how involved Shiva is with the Unburied and their leader.

Score: 8/10

5 comments

Kaingerc

December 6, 2024

Great showcase of Cass and Shiva in this
a story doesn't have to be too complex or original to be entertaining as long as they get the characters right

Though one nitpick, I know they didn't want this to become a team book and involve a bunch of other Bat people (at least not too much too soon) , but I gotta question Cass' rationale here.
how is endangering a bunch of moderately trained randos better than endangering your highly trained adoptive family?!

Also, I assume the writer knows this, and I guess it was just an assumption made by the old lady, but Cass was never raised by Shiva (met her for the first time when she was already Batgirl), instead she was "raised" by her suspiciously unmentioned biological father David Cain.

Tamajain Alexander

December 9, 2024

Why does Cassandra Cain, Luke Fox, and Tim Fox costume hide their race? Even Steel's race is hidden by his costume. I noticed that the rest of the bat family show a lot of skin but not these three. Coincidence not sure. What do you think?

Sara
December 9, 2024
Do you see it as a problem with DC? I think it's a coincidence with some pretty simple explanations. These characters are legacy characters whose costumes are variants of older characters' costumes, and one of the main features of any costume is the cowl or mask. It's just an easy way to mark characters out. In some titles, like Green Lantern, the costume variations aren't so much in the masks as in the body suits.
Cassandra's face being hidden has its explanation in her selective mutism. It's symbolic. It also distinguished her Batgirl costume from her predecessors, official Batgirl Barbara and unofficial Batgirl Helena.
Jace (Tim) Fox's face is no longer hidden. He hid it originally to conceal that he was not "the" Batman. He stopped hiding it during his solo run. Luke is the only fully armored member of the Bat-Family. It makes sense for his face to be covered up.
Maps Mizuguchi is no more concealed than any Robin, and the lower half of Duke's face is visible.
Jason didn't originally show any skin (and I would personally like to return to that look), and some versions of Stephanie's costume have had her face and hair totally concealed. Jason's costume was altered for god knows what dumb reason, and Stephanie's was altered because the artists wanted to show her pretty eyes and hair. Unlike with Cass, who was exploited all through her childhood, there's no strong argument against putting Stephanie on display. (Incidentally, in the Bronze Age Jason started out as a ginger, but dyed his hair to look more like Dick Grayson. Characters change or hide physical attributes all the time.)
1. Mothy
  December 11, 2024
  I agree with your rational with everyone except Tim Fox. The first black "official" Batman and it took how many mini-series and comic issues before he finally showed his jaw? I think at least 16 issues. Obviously POC characters don't need to show their faces, but when we had the obvious (in my opinion) black Batman choice in Luke Fox who did show his face, it felt bad. (Even David Zavimbi could have worked.)
  I also have a grudge against John Ridley, so I might be biased in that regard. I haven't enjoyed his take on most characters. I enjoyed The Other History of the DC Universe, but only in a vacuum. I wish DC had been able to do what Alan Moore did with Watchman and create stand-ins. I think it would have had a bigger impact. (Different topic, sorry.)
  I could go on a whole rant about how I think the stories he likes to tell are detrimental to the characters he's telling them through. Obviously comics aimed at older audiences should be able to deal with nuanced topics, but I don't think he does a good job at it and I just end up hating all of the characters.

Gabe Giles

December 17, 2024

I'm glad that we're seeing Cass' blunt honesty here, but I'm hoping that future stories will have her helping people. I liked the character who considered helping people with their groceries, comforting a scared child while running from an attacker, rescuing falling rats, stopping police officers from shooting people, and rescuing a baby even if it meant interfering with Bruce's plans, to be important activities.

Kaingerc
December 6, 2024
Great showcase of Cass and Shiva in this
a story doesn't have to be too complex or original to be entertaining as long as they get the characters right
Though one nitpick, I know they didn't want this to become a team book and involve a bunch of other Bat people (at least not too much too soon) , but I gotta question Cass' rationale here.
how is endangering a bunch of moderately trained randos better than endangering your highly trained adoptive family?!
Also, I assume the writer knows this, and I guess it was just an assumption made by the old lady, but Cass was never raised by Shiva (met her for the first time when she was already Batgirl), instead she was "raised" by her suspiciously unmentioned biological father David Cain.
Tamajain Alexander
December 9, 2024
Why does Cassandra Cain, Luke Fox, and Tim Fox costume hide their race? Even Steel's race is hidden by his costume. I noticed that the rest of the bat family show a lot of skin but not these three. Coincidence not sure. What do you think?
1. Sara
  December 9, 2024
  Do you see it as a problem with DC? I think it's a coincidence with some pretty simple explanations. These characters are legacy characters whose costumes are variants of older characters' costumes, and one of the main features of any costume is the cowl or mask. It's just an easy way to mark characters out. In some titles, like Green Lantern, the costume variations aren't so much in the masks as in the body suits.
  Cassandra's face being hidden has its explanation in her selective mutism. It's symbolic. It also distinguished her Batgirl costume from her predecessors, official Batgirl Barbara and unofficial Batgirl Helena.
  Jace (Tim) Fox's face is no longer hidden. He hid it originally to conceal that he was not "the" Batman. He stopped hiding it during his solo run. Luke is the only fully armored member of the Bat-Family. It makes sense for his face to be covered up.
  Maps Mizuguchi is no more concealed than any Robin, and the lower half of Duke's face is visible.
  Jason didn't originally show any skin (and I would personally like to return to that look), and some versions of Stephanie's costume have had her face and hair totally concealed. Jason's costume was altered for god knows what dumb reason, and Stephanie's was altered because the artists wanted to show her pretty eyes and hair. Unlike with Cass, who was exploited all through her childhood, there's no strong argument against putting Stephanie on display. (Incidentally, in the Bronze Age Jason started out as a ginger, but dyed his hair to look more like Dick Grayson. Characters change or hide physical attributes all the time.)
  1. Mothy
    December 11, 2024
    I agree with your rational with everyone except Tim Fox. The first black "official" Batman and it took how many mini-series and comic issues before he finally showed his jaw? I think at least 16 issues. Obviously POC characters don't need to show their faces, but when we had the obvious (in my opinion) black Batman choice in Luke Fox who did show his face, it felt bad. (Even David Zavimbi could have worked.)
    I also have a grudge against John Ridley, so I might be biased in that regard. I haven't enjoyed his take on most characters. I enjoyed The Other History of the DC Universe, but only in a vacuum. I wish DC had been able to do what Alan Moore did with Watchman and create stand-ins. I think it would have had a bigger impact. (Different topic, sorry.)
    I could go on a whole rant about how I think the stories he likes to tell are detrimental to the characters he's telling them through. Obviously comics aimed at older audiences should be able to deal with nuanced topics, but I don't think he does a good job at it and I just end up hating all of the characters.
Gabe Giles
December 17, 2024
I'm glad that we're seeing Cass' blunt honesty here, but I'm hoping that future stories will have her helping people. I liked the character who considered helping people with their groceries, comforting a scared child while running from an attacker, rescuing falling rats, stopping police officers from shooting people, and rescuing a baby even if it meant interfering with Bruce's plans, to be important activities.

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