Hold on to your seats, clutch your pearls, and rejoice in celebration because Cassandra Cain is taking center stage in her first solo Batgirl series in nearly two decades! When a deadly group of assassins shows up to kill Cassandra, Lady Shiva comes to the rescue, and they must put their complicated past aside and work together as mother and daughter to ensure they make it out alive. Unfortunately, things are never as easy as they seem, and Cass must embark on a jaw-dropping, martial-arts filled adventure in her quest for truth and justice…and revenge?! It’s a Batgirl book like never before, so join us as we dive into the psyche of one of Gotham’s deadliest fighters, while exploring her deep and complex relationship with her mother. Batgirl #1 shines the spotlight on Cassandra Cain in a fairly new-reader friendly debut.
Written by Tate Brombal, Batgirl #1 is an action packed start that throws readers into the action quickly. And with a character of few words, action is exactly the language this comic goes for. It opens with Cass confronting her mother who is there with a warning. The two of them are being hunted by a mysterious group who then attacks.
Batgirl #1 doesn’t break any ground but it keeps things very focused on Cass and her mother, Lady Shiva. It dives into the relationship they have which is best described as love/hate. Where Brombal’s writing really stands out is the focus on Cass’ “language.” Cass focuses in the movement and expressions of individuals and much of the story is told through that. We learn so much through Cass’ observations as to her mother’s reactions and micro-tells.
All of that is courtesy of Takeshi Miyazawa whose art focuses in on all of those details. Miyazawa is joined by Mike Spicer on color and lettering by Tom Napolitano. The art narrows in on the details Brombal lays out with panels highlighting the small details which tell so much of the story.
Batgirl #1 doesn’t break new ground but it does everything really well. The storytelling is things we’ve seen before but Cass’ observations and how that and the art come together to deliver the details feels fresh and different. While this may appeal mostly to fans of Cassandra Cain, it’s a debut that’s well worth checking out.
Story: Tate Brombal Art: Takeshi Miyazawa
Color: Mike Spicer Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle
